What is Delayed-Onset PTSD?

Everyone deals with trauma differently. What could be a regular Tuesday for you could be life-altering for others. How you process trauma is also going to be different. This also includes when symptoms begin.

‍

After trauma, some people develop PTSD almost right away. Why does it take months or years for others to start showing symptoms?

Defining PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health and behavioral disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a dangerous, shocking, or scary event.

How Does PTSD Develop?

When you experience a traumatic event it may take a while to process it. You could experience flashbacks and feel a heightened sense of anxiety or danger. These symptom clusters are a normal part of the healing process after experiencing trauma. 

‍

Your brain is working on putting that memory where it should go, but your brain might not be able to properly put that memory in its place. This could be affected by your place in life, ability to cope, and prior mental resilience. Processing that traumatic memory and storing it correctly means that while you can recall it from time to time, it doesn't have a lasting effect on your emotions or well-being.

‍

PTSD develops when your brain is unable to correctly process trauma. Instead of the memory getting stored correctly, it hangs outside of your brain’s proverbial filing cabinet and causes distressing symptoms.

Can PTSD Symptoms be Delayed?

Yes, and it’s called delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder. 

‍

Instead of post-trauma symptoms persisting for a long time after the traumatic event, they are mild or non-existent, but surface months or years later. Symptoms are considered delayed if they start 6 months after the event or events.

‍

This form of PTSD is most known to show up in adults who suffered an unresolved trauma when they were younger, but it can also happen in many other circumstances.

What’s The Difference Between PTSD and Delayed-Onset PTSD?

The largest difference between PTSD and Delayed Onset PTSD is the time it takes for symptoms to present themselves. 

‍

  • PTSD symptoms start shortly after the traumatic event and don’t normally go away without some form of formal intervention.
  • Delayed-onset PTSD symptoms only become present months or even years after a traumatic event. People may feel the usual distress after the event, but it won’t become a disorder until a later time.

Why PTSD Can Occur Long After The Traumatic Event

The mechanism that dictates how the brain stores memories is wonderfully complex and doesn’t always work right. Memories from traumatic events aren’t always processed correctly and they can become recessed and almost forgotten. However, these memories can affect you long after the event takes place.

Worsening Symptoms

PTSD usually develops within the first 3 months after experiencing trauma and to receive a formal diagnosis you have to fulfill several conditions. However, symptoms of PTSD can start as minor inconveniences that wouldn’t fulfill a formal diagnosis.

‍

In the case of delayed-onset PTSD, those minor symptoms can be present right after the traumatic event, but worsen over time.

New Stressors

New stressors open you up to new mental health battles. Dealing with additional stress makes you more susceptible to experiencing PTSD symptoms. Stress is tiring, and you may lose the energy you were using to cope with or bury trauma.

Experiencing Another Traumatic Event

Living through additional trauma can also be a cause of delayed-onset PTSD. Because memories from PTSD are not “filed correctly”, they require a certain amount of energy to cope with. Similar to what happens when experiencing new stressors, going through another trauma can “open the floodgates” of those old memories and emotions.

‍

When experiencing another traumatic event, you are more likely to experience delayed PTSD from older unresolved trauma.

Who’s at Risk for Delayed-Onset PTSD?

There is little research about understanding the risk factors of delayed-onset PTSD, but there is one agreed-upon factor that greatly increases the likelihood of experiencing it.

‍

People who have experienced trauma whose PTSD symptoms did not meet the requirement for a formal diagnosis within that 3 month period are at a high risk of experiencing delayed-onset PTSD.

‍

However, there are ways to prevent it.

Preventing Delayed-Onset PTSD

People who have healthy coping skills are much less likely to develop any form of PTSD. However, some events might be too difficult for anyone to process alone. When you experience or witness a trauma, seek help.

‍

Another preventative measure against developing PTSD of any kind is having a solid support group. Supportive friends, family members, and prior therapy can equip you to better deal with the symptoms of living through a traumatic event and therefore can help you process trauma correctly.

Seek Help After a Traumatic Event.

Traumatic experiences aren’t easy to navigate, regardless of your diagnosis or risk for developing PTSD.

‍

Find support and formal help after the traumatic event. You may not meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, but you can still seek trauma therapy after experiencing trauma. It may help you process and resolve the trauma, reducing the likelihood of delayed-onset PTSD.

‍

Our experienced and compassionate team of therapists are all trained in treating trauma. We can help you resolve those memories, regardless of how they affect you or how long it’s been. Talk to us today about starting trauma therapy at Sequoia.

Treating Delayed-Onset PTSD

The best treatment for PTSD is a blend of talk therapy and medication. Some therapies used for treating PTSD include:

‍

‍

Each of these is effective on its own, but when paired with other forms of therapy, they can be very effective at treating PTSD. During these treatments, you’ll learn healthy coping mechanisms as well as at-home practices that will improve your quality of life.

Finding Treatment at Sequoia Behavioral Health

Whatever trauma you’ve been through and whatever kind of PTSD you’re experiencing, Sequoia Behavioral Health is here to offer you holistic treatment that will focus on your whole person. We create an environment of trust so you feel safe and empowered during treatment.

‍

Our inpatient facility is designed to feel like home away from home and our treatment plans are designed to match your needs. Contact us to find out if Sequoia Behavioral Health is the right fit for you.