Important Signs and Symptoms of PTSD You Shouldn't Ignore

Avoiding Reminders Of The Traumatic Event

Avoidance symptoms may include making an effort to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event and avoiding people, activities, and places that are reminders of the traumatic event. Avoidance is a common reaction to trauma, but when it is a main coping strategy and interferes with daily living, it becomes a problem requiring treatment. Using avoidance as a main coping strategy can cause PTSD symptoms to worsen. While not all avoidance is harmful, avoidance can be healthy under certain circumstances, if used as a primary coping method for dealing with trauma, it can have harmful effects psychologically and in daily functioning. The best thing to do if experiencing avoidance after trauma is to seek medical attention and therapy to learn how to deal with thoughts and feelings post-trauma in a healthier way.