PTSD symptoms in women include repeated flashbacks of personal abuse, fear of repeating trauma, increased awareness of surroundings, difficulty sleeping, inability to trust, exaggerated responses, addiction, fear of danger, insomnia, anxiety, depression, guilt, and suicidal thoughts.
Symptoms of PTSD in women can be similar to those in men, although there are usually some marked differences. Women are more likely to experience repeated flashbacks of the traumatic event, which almost always involves some sort of personal abuse. There may be a constant fear of repeating the trauma and an increased awareness of one’s surroundings. Some women may find it difficult to sleep due to this overwhelming fear and may develop further mental health disorders, such as chronic anxiety or depression. Some of the additional symptoms of PTSD in women can include inability to trust, inappropriate or exaggerated responses to stimuli, and addiction to alcohol or drugs.
Women who have experienced a traumatic event such as rape or some other vicious attack often live in a constant state of fear. In fact, this overwhelming sense of dread is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD in women. It can become difficult for a woman with this disorder to have a healthy social life because she is convinced that there is danger lurking around every corner. If the perpetrator was male, she may begin to see all males as a very real threat to her safety, resulting in relationship difficulties.
Insomnia is often reported as one of the main symptoms of PTSD in women. A woman who has been physically assaulted in the past may interpret every little noise she hears at night as someone trying to break in and hurt her again. This unrelenting anxiety will often spill over into everyday life causing the affected woman to flinch at every noise or overreact to situations because she always feels on edge. You may be aware of your own tendency to overreact and fear rejection from others, increasing your feelings of isolation.
Depression can be among the most dangerous symptoms of PTSD in women. Feelings of fear, anxiety, and isolation can cause a woman with this disorder to feel depressed and hopeless. She may also begin to feel guilty and convince herself that the trauma was somehow her fault or that she should have been strong enough to prevent it. Severe depression can lead to alcohol or drug addiction as the woman begins to grasp any way to reduce the pain, even if only for a moment. Suicidal thoughts or actions are not uncommon among women with severe cases of PTSD.
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