01/17/2026
Thoughts?
HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP? WHAT ARE THE OFFICIAL PTSD, C-PTSD, MENTAL TRAUMAL, and TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SYMPTOMS?
Living with PTSD symptoms and mental trauma in general can ostracize one from society, separate you from your loved 🥰ones and change everything in your life. You wanna love them and help but they seem hard to reach and even self indulgent to some people. How can I help? (Dixon’s list and 2c only based on lived experiences and evidence based health modalities of treatment)
1. Understand that it’s usually a lifetime challenge for us.
2. Learn the symptoms. There are 17 real symptoms (listed below) that are acknowledged by the DSM and agreed upon by millions of health practitioners, healers, and treatment providers.
3. Just BE there. Call them. Hug them. Love them. Help them Share YOUR healing medicine Save a place in your heart and space in your life for them. Above all, be patient.
4. “Suck It Up, Buttercup” is NOT good advice. Brain trauma manifests physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It shows up on a brain scan. It causes physical stomach issues in many. It’s as real as a broken arm
5. LEARN TREATMENT OPTIONS. There are many modalities of treatment for PTSD, beain injuries and trauma however many are band aid solutions and not everything works for everyone equally.
PTSD SYMPTOMS
Here is a numbered list of PTSD symptoms based on the DSM-5 criteria:
Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience.
Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience.
Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again.
Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience.
Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (e.g., heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating).
Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience.
Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (e.g., people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations).
Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience.
Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (e.g., having thoughts such as: I am bad, there is something seriously wrong with me, no one can be trusted, the world is completely dangerous).
Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it.
Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame.
Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy.
Feeling distant or cut off from other people.
Trouble experiencing positive feelings (e.g., being unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people close to you).
Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively.
Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm.
Being “super-alert” or watchful or on guard.
Feeling jumpy or easily startled.
Having difficulty concentrating.
Trouble falling or staying asleep.
*This list is adapted from the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
