Negative Effects of PTSD

The negative effects of PTSD are significant and pervasive. One of The Meadows’ Senior Fellows, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, is the New York Times bestselling author of The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, which addresses how trauma manifests itself in the physical body. He states in his book, “Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are constantly bombarded by visceral warning signs, and, in an attempt to control these processes, they often become expert at ignoring their gut feelings and in numbing awareness of what is played out inside.”

Unable to resolve the traumatic experience, a person with PTSD will suffer from disruptive psychological and physiological symptoms. Nightmares, insomnia, chronic pain, and hypervigilance are all hallmarks of PTSD. This can affect not only the person, but their relationships, work, and social life. Untreated PTSD can result in broken marriages, suicide, job loss, and a deeply impaired ability to interact normally with the world.