- Nightmares, disturbed sleep or lack of sleep
- Vivid and destructive flashbacks
- Intense distress when triggered at reminders of the trauma
- Feeling on the edge, panicking, or ‘hypervigilance’ when reminded of the trauma
- Physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea, or trembling
When an individual feels stressed emotionally, their body releases hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. This is the body’s automatic way of preparing to respond to a threat, sometimes called the “fight, flight, or freeze response”. Individuals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder continue to produce these hormones when they’re no longer in danger, which is thought to explain physical symptoms similar to symptoms of anxiety such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains, and stomach aches.