Coping with PTSD is challenging, and it doesn’t just affect the mind—it can shape every part of daily living. An estimated 12 million adults in the U.S. experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder each year. Learning about how it can affect every day life can be pivotal in being able to cope with symptoms effectively. PTSD impacts our well-being, relationships, work, and physical health.
How Does PTSD Influence Emotional and Mental Health?
Experiencing a traumatic event can leave our bodies in a constant state of hypervigilance. I would describe it as having the constant thought of “when is the other shoe going to drop?”. Anxiety and depression can develop as a result and the intensity of both can actually lead to emotional numbness. Emotional overload can also lead us to experience dissociation. Flashbacks, nightmares, and distressing memories that invade daily life. These come at unexpected moments and can severely disrupt your functioning.
What Are the Effects of PTSD on Relationships?
PTSD can make social interactions feel exhausting or risky. When our bodies are in a constant state of hypervigilance, we can start to develop trust issues, even with loved ones we once trusted. Our body takes input in multiple forms and a seemingly innocent situation could trigger us into a flashback that makes use believe that we are re-experiencing the traumatic event.
Emotional withdrawal can lead individuals with PTSD to slowly disconnect from loved ones either by isolating themselves or rejecting others. Individuals may avoid talking about feelings, especially trauma-related topics. They may also misinterpret others’ intentions or become defensive.
Can PTSD Impact Work and Daily Responsibilities?
Just as with any other mental health disorder, PTSD can impact our work and daily responsibilities. Because the brain is in a state of constant alert, this can lead to trouble concentrating or being caught up in a dissociative state by experiencing intrusive thoughts or flashbacks.
Due to lower motivation, it can feel difficult to complete tasks and the emotional weight can slow down progress on goals and make daily functioning feel overwhelming. Work place accommodations, such as flex time, quiet workspaces, or mental health days.
How Does PTSD Affect Physical Health?
Due to one of the symptoms of PTSD being experiencing nightmares related to the trauma, these can lead to impaired sleep that, which affects daily functioning. Anxiety and hypervigilance can also disrupt patterns of restful sleep. A person can sleep 8 hours per night yet wake up feeling tired. Lack of rest makes it harder to concentrate, be patient, and stay productive during the day.
Chronic pain can be a somatic response to trauma. It is not uncommon for a person to experience discomfort or pain in a body part in which trauma was experienced. EMDR is a recommended approach for people who continue to experience pain or bodily discomfort related to their trauma.
PTSD keeps the body stuck in a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn state—even when no real danger is present. Due to this, a person can experience constant adrenaline, tension, or numbness, making it hard to feel safe or relaxed in the body.
Conclusion
Many people with PTSD improve significantly with proper treatment and support. They are able to engage in healthy relationships, improve occupational functionality and resume to a post-trauma life full of wellness. Combining self-care with professional help is important for a holistic healing approach. The most important work will happen outside of therapy through having a good support system, effective self-care strategies and a team of professionals that can assist you in managing your symptoms.
If you or someone you know is experiencing PTSD symptoms, reach out to a mental health professional. Healing is possible, and no one needs to face PTSD alone.
Note: While I am a mental health professional, this information is not a substitute for a formal evaluation. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out at (407) 906-5214 to schedule an appointment for tailored support.
Mental health is a complex and highly individualized matter, and what works for one person may not work for another. The best course of action for anyone dealing with mental health concerns is to schedule an appointment with us for a personalized assessment, diagnosis, and treatment options. Please remember that seeking help from a licensed mental health expert is a vital step in addressing mental health challenges.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, contact emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.
This blog post was written with the assistance of AI.
