Offices in Saskatoon & Watrous

Healing Waters Counselling Studio

  • What is PTSD and how do I know if I have it?



    PTSD symptoms are divided into four separate clusters, including:

    1. Re-experiencing 

    Re-experiencing, or reliving, the traumatic event includes these symptoms:

    Frequently having upsetting thoughts or memories about a traumatic event

    Having recurrent nightmares

    Acting or feeling as though the traumatic event were happening again, sometimes called a flashback

    Having strong feelings of distress when reminded of the traumatic event


    2. Avoidance 

    Actively avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of the traumatic event includes these symptoms:



    Making sure you're too busy to have time to think about the traumatic event

    3. Hyperarousal

    Feeling keyed up or on edge, known as hyperarousal, includes these symptoms:

    Having a difficult time falling or staying asleep

    Feeling more irritable or having outbursts of anger

    Having difficulty concentrating

    Feeling constantly on guard or like danger is lurking around every corner

    Being jumpy or easily startled

    4. Negative thoughts and beliefs

    Thoughts and feelings about yourself and others may become negative and can include these symptoms:

    Having a difficult time remembering important parts of the traumatic event

    A loss of interest in important, once positive, activities

    Feeling distant from others

    Experiencing difficulties having positive feelings, such as happiness or love

    Feeling as though your life may be cut short

    Many of these symptoms are an extreme version of our body's natural response to stress. Understanding our body's natural response to threat and danger, known as the fight or flight response, can help us better understand the symptoms of PTSD.


    To be diagnosed with PTSD, you don't need to have all these symptoms. In fact, rarely does a person with PTSD experience all the symptoms listed above. To receive a diagnosis of PTSD, you only need a certain number of symptoms from each cluster.

    Additional requirements for the diagnosis also need to be assessed, such as how you initially responded to the traumatic event, how long you've been experiencing your symptoms, and the extent to which those symptoms interfere with your life.

    Coping With Symptoms

    The symptoms of PTSD can be difficult to cope with, and as a result, many people with PTSD develop unhealthy coping strategies, such as alcohol or drug abuse or deliberate self-harm. Because of these risks, it's important to develop a number of healthy coping strategies to manage your PTSD symptoms. Coping strategies you can work on incorporating in your life include:

    Learning how to cope with anxiety

    Finding healthy ways to manage your emotions

    Learning how to cope with unpleasant thoughts and memories

    Managing sleep problems

    Being able to identify and cope with PTSD triggers

    Managing flashbacks and dissociation

    Getting Treatment Is Important

    If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, it's important that you get the help you need. Many people have recovered from PTSD through treatment. However, unaddressed symptoms of PTSD can get worse over time and may contribute to the development of other psychological disorders, such as major depression, substance use disorders, eating disorders, or anxiety disorders.

    Healing Waters Counselling Studio offers PTSD counselling for individuals and on-site Trauma counselling for families, first responders and businesses.