Signs of High Functioning PTSD

Do you have suspicions that you are suffering from PTSD, but are not exactly sure? Maybe you are unsure if what you went through qualifies as traumatic, or perhaps you have doubts as to whether you have PTSD because you are still able to go throughout your day and fulfil tasks and responsibilities. Perhaps you have seen cases of PTSD in others (whether in person or in media), and have thought that what you go through is not as severe, invalidating your own feelings. Here are a few signs of high functioning PTSD.

Please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional if you are struggling. Videos are not to be substituted for professional help or advice.

Are you suffering from CPTSD? Learn more about it here:

Writer: Paula C.
Script Editor: Vanessa Tao
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
VO: Amanda Silvera (www.youtube.com/amandasilvera)
Animator: Chantal Van Rensburg
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.​
Kraybill, O. G. (2021, June 30). PTSD: An unconscious choice to stay alive. Psychology Today. Retrieved from www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/expressive-trauma-integration/202106/ptsd-unconscious-choice-stay-alive
Krouse, L. (2021, February 6). What is PTSD? Verywell Health. Retrieved from www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-ptsd-5084527#toc-ptsd-symptoms
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, July 6). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
Post-traumatic stress disorder . Psychology Today. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder Symptoms. Psychology Today. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.psychologytoday.com/intl/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
Wolff, C. (2018, June 6). 7 unexpected signs you have high-functioning PTSD. Bustle. Retrieved from www.bustle.com/p/7-unexpected-signs-you-have-high-functioning-ptsd-9304071

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Learn About Controlling Stress Now And Relax

While stress is a part of life, too much stress can have terrible effects on your health. Anxiety, heart attacks and other grave health issues can occur as a result of too much stress. In this article you can learn good techniques for cutting a lot of the stress that affects you in everyday life.

Making duplicate keys and keeping them in safe places will give you one less thing to stress about! Being locked out of your home or car can ruin your entire day so think ahead and have a few spares made and stored wisely to avoid being stuck. These easy trick will save you time and save the stress of having to worry about it!

If your stress stems from issues at work or school, you should try to think optimistically. When you are skeptical, you only have negative thoughts internally, which can lead to fear and anxiety. Think positively about landing a deal or getting a good grade on a test to eliminate stress.

Stop drinking caffeine. Don’t stop cold-turkey, gradually wean yourself, or you will get headaches that could last several days. Drinking less caffeine will help you deal with stress. Caffeine gets you amped up and can cause you to be irritated or stressed by things that normally wouldn’t stress you.

Although it may seem incredibly silly, the very act of counting to ten slowly can really help you to clear your head and allow you to move past the stress. If you think that there is no way that this could help you out, you should give it a try.

One great way to deal with stress is to take up reading as a hobby. This is important because sometimes, reading a book can immerse you more than watching a movie or anything else could. If the book is engaging enough, you may shortly find yourself in your own world, free from all that ails you.

Gardening, or digging around in the dirt, is a great physical activity for reducing stress levels. If you live in a house you shouldn’t have any problems building a garden in your yard.

Stress is given the nickname of the silent killer. This is because many people do not even realize that it is something dangerous and so they take no actions to try and reduce it. The truth is that stress release cortisol, a chemical which accelerates your heart rate eventually leading to heart problems.

If you are not the kind of person who enjoys running than you can also consider some type of martial art. The act of hitting an object or other person in an appropriate context can really help to ease the desire to hit people in the absolute wrong situations in life.

One great way to deal with stress is to try to visualize something calming. This is important because if you are somewhere that does not allow for some sort of physical relaxation, you can try to imagine it and calm yourself down. An example would be to imagine the relaxing nature of a hot shower while you are at an office meeting.

There are times where just talking with someone you really trust can be enough to reduce your stress. You will probably feel better if you talk about what’s bothering you or spiking your anxiety. Whether it’s face to face or on the phone, make sure the conversation is the centerpiece and that it has your full attention.

One great stress reliever is a massage. If you have a partner or close friend, see if they’re interested in trading massages. If not, pay to have one done professionally. Having the tension worked out of your muscles can have a profound effect on your state of mind and relieve a lot of stress.

A little daydreaming can prove invaluable in defusing the stress you feel in life. Visualize a special place where you want to be, and then let your thoughts wander. This sort of exercise is fantastic for helping your brain cope with stressful situations.

Be wary of prescription drugs. While various prescription drugs like Valium, Xanax, and Ativan are often prescribed to treat the symptoms of anxiety, these drugs might actually have a counterproductive effect on our reaction to stress. Just as is the case with common drugs like alcohol and tobacco, prescription drugs can actually make us more sensitive to stressful events.

Learn to forgive others if you want to reduce the stress in your life. If you spend all of your time dwelling on how others have wronged you, you will just end up grumpy and miserable.

Plan your day, but allow yourself the opportunity to change plans. People tend to pack their day so full of things that they end up exhausted and unsatisfied with what they have accomplished. Learn to understand when you are pushing yourself too hard and need a break. It is perfectly acceptable to tell yourself that you are tired and you will finish things tomorrow.

Stress is a major factor in all of our lives, in order to minimize the stress and keep your life in balance, don’t overreact. Whatever the situation is, just take it in stride, keep your emotions in check, and don’t overreact. Just slow down, think clearly, and you will find a solution to the issue.

Take yourself away from the particular circumstance. Take a moment to think about how you can and will handle the situation, and the stress of it will dissipate.

To get your mind off the stressful things in your life, engage in a hobby. A hobby is something that you enjoy and look forward to doing. When you set aside time for a hobby, you are giving your mind a chance to re-energize. After your mind is refreshed, you will be ready to face the rest of your day.

As said previously, everyone gets stressed out sometimes. There is a variety of options with regards to relieving stress, many of which are quite simple. Handling stress in a direct, calm manner will help you keep your blood pressure under control.