It’s not rare that people confuse these two terms. Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are concepts that sound similar and even share some symptoms. My name is Jen Stuart and, in today’s post, we will discuss the main differences between PTS and PTSD.

Differences between PTS and PTSD

• PTS is a normal response

PTS is the natural body response to trauma. When facing stressful situations, our nervous system process the stimuli immediately to generate an appropriate reaction to it. PTS falls into the fight or flight response. The body gets ready to either get away from the source of danger or fight against it.

• PTSD is a clinically diagnosed condition

PTSD in veterans is very common, but it can happen to anybody who has experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event. What is PTSD?  It’s a mental health problem, listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It’s not a normal reaction and it injures the nervous system. This mental health condition engages the amygdala, that becomes hyper-reactive, and the prefrontal cortex, that becomes less active. 

• Not all trauma survivors experience PTSD

While all trauma survivors experience PTS, since it’s a body reflex, not all of them suffer from PTSD. We are all unique, and so our experience can vary. That’s because people can perceive the same experience in many different ways. The impact is never the same since backgrounds and bodies are not identical.

• PTSD lasts for more than a month

It affects life in such an intense negative way because it doesn’t go away with time. PTSD requires treatment. Among the many therapies available, you can find Trauma Sensitive Yoga useful since it’s a discipline that offers specialised attention: you can resource to Yoga for Traumatic Stress Disorder as your main treatment or as a complementary one.     

• Symptoms

Some PTS symptoms are sweaty hands, accelerated heart rate, insecurity, concern, etc. After the traumatic event, they might be more cautious when engaging in an activity related to the trauma. They might not feel too confident to retake their usual activities at first, but they will.

PTSD symptoms, on the other hand, have a long term effect. They include PTS symptoms, but they are more intense and progress over time. That feeling of insecurity can become paranoia and isolation, and preoccupation can lead to negative coping strategies. Other symptoms are:

• Intrusive memories about the trauma, such as flashbacks, nightmares, etc.
• Permanent alert mode on
• Avoidance of everything related to the trauma, neglecting its existence
• Panic attacks
• Body aches
• Bonding issues with others and with yourself
• Suicidal thoughts

• PTSD triggers

PTS has a short-term effect, but PTSD stays in the body. Certain things can make the person relive the trauma. What triggers PTSD? Any stimuli that can be perceived by the body and associated with the traumatic event, such as noises, sights, names, etc.  

To change your relationship with trauma, you can start recovering from PTSD practicing Trauma Sensitive Yoga, a discipline that reconnects your body and mind through techniques such as interoception and mindfulness. It can help you regain ownership over your life, empowering you by giving you back the right to take decisions, holding a safe space for you.