Did you escaped a trauma or stressor feeling intact and like yourself? However, after months or years start to experience flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, low self-esteem, mood swings, or other similar afflictions? If so, unfortunately, you might be experiencing delayed-onset PTSD.
This can occur after a scary or stressful event, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe. To be diagnosed with PTSD, you will have suffered the symptoms for at least one month after experiencing the event. In many cases, symptoms may occur in a delayed manner, which is what we call delayed-onset PTSD.
What Is Delayed Onset PTSD?
Delayed onset PTSD is simply posttraumatic stress disorder that has surfaced, or been diagnosed six months or longer after the traumatic event has taken place. For example, many people may not experience the symptoms of PTSD until months or years after the traumatic event has taken place.
Why Does Delayed Onset PTSD Happen?
It is possible you were able to shut away feelings for a long time, but now they are emerging to the surface. This can happen for many reasons. One reason is being exposed to stressors in life such as unemployment, losing a loved one, or chronic stress, or by experiencing another traumatic event. This can stir up PTSD symptoms and exacerbate them, which results in a delayed onset PTSD diagnosis.
Another possibility is that the symptoms worsened overtime, and the delayed onset PTSD is more prevalent further down the line. This is common in adults who may have been traumatized as a child and have locked away those memories, developing a trauma response much later in life.
Recovering from trauma happens in stages. In some cases, you might be feeling safe and secure in your current life. Once you relax, the trauma feelings can free themselves and help you heal.
Delayed Onset PTSD Symptoms
The symptoms for delayed onset PTSD are very similar in nature to traditional PTSD symptoms. Some common ones are:
Vivid flashbacks, nightmares, or recollections of the event
Panic attacks and/or chest pains
Changes in mood and behavior
Irritability
Anxiety
Being jumpy or startled easily
Memory loss of the event
Inability to concentrate or focus
Social withdrawal
Avoidance of triggers
Feeling guilty or to blame
How To Cope
We all deal with trauma differently. What works for some may not work for others. That being said, the most effective way to treat PTSD is to treat the trauma responses that you have following the event. While you may think something like poor sleep or anxiety is not the biggest part of your PTSD, it can worsen over time and make things more difficult for you to manage.
The symptoms of delayed onset PTSD can range from minor to severe, but each one can interfere with your life, and can put you at risk of worsening your PTSD or developing disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
Therefore, it is vital that you speak to a licensed counselor or therapist even if it has been years after the event. They will help you uncover healthy coping strategies, and assist you with identifying your triggers, so that you can minimize them. It is a long process, but you can lessen your symptoms over time and begin to heal from your trauma.
You can also join support groups within your local community to connect with others going through a similar experience to you, and realize that you are not alone. This can help you build a healthy, strong support system around you to help you through this.
It is also important to note that if you don’t have a diagnosis of PTSD, but you are experiencing some symptoms, and you worry that you are traumatized, then you should reach out to a therapist or counselor for treatment. Please contact us for a free consultation.
Learn more about our PTSD treatment in Colorado.
