Triggers can include sights, sounds, smells, or thoughts that remind you of the traumatic event in some way. Some PTSD triggers are obvious, such as seeing a news report of an assault.

How does PTSD get worse?

Those who develop posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of experiencing trauma often suffer from nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, hypervigilance, and/or depressed mood. They may also go through periods of heightened irritability, hostility, and self-destructive behavior.

Can PTSD worsen over time?

Some Veterans begin to have PTSD symptoms soon after they return from war. These symptoms may last until older age. Other Veterans dont have PTSD symptoms until later in life. For some Veterans, PTSD symptoms can be high right after their war experience, go down over the years, and then worsen again later in life.

What triggers PTSD years later?

KEEP IN MIND: Although most people with PTSD will develop symptoms within 3 months of the traumatic event, some people dont notice any symptoms until years after it occurred. A major increase in stress, or exposure to a reminder of the trauma, can trigger symptoms to appear months or years later.