Symptoms of PTSD
Traumatic event: actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence
Re-experience: intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, memories, images
Avoidance and numbing: detachment from others, flattening of affect, loss of interest, lack of motivation
Unable to function: significant impairment in social, occupational, and interpersonal functioning
Month-long: the above symptoms last more than 1 month
Arousal: startle reaction, poor concentration, irritable mood, insomnia, and hypervigilance
Symptoms of General Anxiety
Anxious, nervous, or worried on most days about a number of events or activities
No control over the worry
Duration of 6 months for the above two symptoms
Irritability, concentration impairment, restlessness
Energy decreased, sleep impairment, tension in muscles
Symptoms of Depression
Sleep disorders (either increased or decreased sleep)
Interest deficit (anhedonia)
Guilt (worthlessness, hopelessness, regret)
Energy deficit
Concentration deficit
Appetite disorder (either decreased or increased)
Psychomotor retardation or agitation
Suicidality
Symptoms of Addiction
Impaired control over substance use: consuming larger amounts, for longer time, persistently trying to cut down unsuccessfully, craving
Social impairment: substance impairs the ability to function at work, school, or home
Risky Use: recurrent use in physically unsafe environments, persisting despite knowledge of consequences
Pharmacologic: tolerance (higher doses required), or withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop use.
Common Major Life Changes
Moving
Serious Accident
Developing a severe illness and/or recovering from one
Rites of passage: entering puberty, adulthood, menopause, aging
Career changes: a promotion, a new job or career, a layoff, retirement, challenging coworker(s)
Family Dynamics: a new baby or another addition, an empty nest, a break-up/divorce, a marriage, a death, entering a new relationship
Education: leaving or returning to school, going to a new school, graduation
Common Family Issues
Parental relationship problems: parents who are constantly fighting
Financial concerns: stress and conflict related to money and bills (systemic issues, job loss, inability to work, uncontrolled spending, gambling problems, etc.)
Health Conditions: one or more family members are experiencing a health challenge (physical or mental)
Toxic Behaviors: manipulation tactics, dishonesty, scapegoating, sometimes personality disorders of family members
Unaddressed Trauma: trauma that has not been effectively and healthily recognized, processed, and healed (either as a family or individually)
Unhealthy Expectations: pressure to conform to unhealthy and/or impossible standards (e.g. school, emotionally, or conflict avoidance)
Too Much or Too Little Time Together
Poor or Nonexistent Communication: lack of healthy, honest, and frequent communication
Symptoms of Grief/Coping
*this can be in response to a person, the end of a relationship, or losing a job/home
Shock and Numbness
Overwhelming Sadness (can include outward displays such as crying a lot)
Tiredness or exhaustion
Anger toward the person you've lost or the reason for your loss
Guilt about feeling angry, about something you said/did not say, or not being able to stop your loved one from dying
Symptoms of Self Esteem/Self Image Issues
Imposter Syndrome: using accomplishments or false confidence to mask their insecurities, feeling that failure will reveal their true flawed self
Rebellion: pretending not to care what others think of you, with feelings of inferiority manifesting as anger or blame
Victimhood: believing you are helpless in the face of challenges, using self-pity to avoid changing your situation (may rely on others to save or guide them)
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