Recognizing Early Warning Signs for PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can vary over time. Understanding PTSD early warning signs is important to detect potential symptom triggers and worsening conditions.

Identifying Early Warning Signs

Managing PTSD symptoms requires continuous effort and adherence to healthy coping strategies. Occasionally, stressors or mood changes affect these strategies. This may lead to relapse, with PTSD symptoms reappearing or intensifying. Therefore, identifying early relapse signs is critical.

"Relapse prevention" is used in substance misuse contexts, but it can apply to other conditions like PTSD.

Relapse Prevention in PTSD

• Relapse prevention strategies are designed to reduce symptom worsening or unhealthy behavior recurrence, like substance abuse.
• These strategies involve:
• Identifying symptom worsening early warning signs
• Recognizing high-risk situations
• Understanding the potential contributions of daily decisions to relapse (e.g., skipping meals, increasing vulnerability to bad moods.)

PTSD Warning Signs

Symptoms often appear with warning signs. These may be minor indicators such as specific emotions, altered thoughts, or behavior changes. Here are common ones:

Thought Changes:

• "I don't want therapy anymore."
• "Nothing works for me. I'll never improve."
• "Nobody cares about me. What's the point?"
• "Feeling down may mean falling into depression again."

Mood Changes:

• "Everyone irritates me."
• "I don't feel happy, even with loved ones."
• "I'm jumpy and on edge."
• "My mood changes quickly from happy to down or terrified."

Behavior Changes:

• "I don't have energy for self-care, like showering."
• "I isolate myself by avoiding others."
• "I drink more to numb my feelings."
• "I've become less talkative."

Your Warning Signs

Understanding your warning signs helps prepare you for PTSD symptom recurrence. It allows you to address them before they become overwhelming.

• Identify your warning signs and develop a plan of action.
• Seek professional help to identify and manage PTSD symptoms and relapse prevention.
• Engage in stress inoculation therapy for managing stressful situations.
• Work with your therapist to determine effective coping strategies.
• Share your warning signs with a loved one for support and vigilance.