Trauma doesn’t affect everyone the same way, and its aftermath can show up in many different forms. For some women, the effects are immediate – emerging within days or weeks of a frightening or life-threatening event. For others, the symptoms unfold more gradually and persist over time.
As we observe PTSD Awareness Month this June, it’s vital to understand the difference between post-traumatic stress syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder – especially how these conditions uniquely impact women.
What Is PTSS?
PTSS, also known as acute stress disorder, is a set of trauma-related symptoms that appear within 30 days of a distressing event. These symptoms are a natural response to overwhelming stress and may include:
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Intrusive memories of the event
- Emotional numbness or dissociation
- Hypervigilance or irritability
- Avoidance
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
While some mental health professionals view PTSS as a “less severe” precursor to PTSD, that’s not always the case. A 2023 study found that 20% of people with PTSS reported severe symptoms, while another 40% reported moderate symptoms. Even if the condition is temporary, it can still cause emotional pain you shouldn’t ignore.
Untreated PTSS may evolve into PTSD, becoming entrenched in long-term patterns of fear, avoidance or self-destruction.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD involves ongoing symptoms that can significantly impair your daily life. PTSD includes all the characteristics of PTSS, but its duration, frequency and intensity may be more severe or long-lasting.
The criteria for PTSD typically include:
- Reexperiencing the trauma through flashbacks, nightmares or intrusive thoughts
- Avoidance of reminders, people, places or emotions linked to the trauma
- Negative mood changes, such as persistent guilt, shame or emotional numbness
- Heightened arousal, including startling easily and feeling on edge
Untreated PTSD can last for months or even years, especially when it results from adverse childhood experiences, abuse, sexual violence, bullying or other profoundly personal forms of betrayal.
Why Women Experience Trauma Differently
Women face unique vulnerabilities and are more likely to experience interpersonal trauma, such as:
- Sexual assault or abuse
- Intimate partner violence
- Emotional neglect or betrayal
- Loss of children, pregnancies or loved ones
These types of trauma often strike at the heart of your identity, safety and self-worth – leading to intense emotional reactions and a higher likelihood of developing PTSD. Unfortunately, many women automatically downplay their pain or prioritize others’ needs, making it harder to recognize a problem.
Healing From Trauma at Rising Roads Recovery
You don’t need to check every box to seek trauma-informed treatment. You can benefit from therapy if you experience:
- Persistent anxiety or fear
- Changes in sleep patterns, appetite or energy
- Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself
- Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
- Difficulty maintaining relationships or trusting others
- Thoughts of self-harm or self-destructive behavior
Whether your trauma is recent or something you’ve carried for years, healing is possible. Our therapists use evidence-based, clinically advanced treatments for PTSD and other manifestations of trauma. We provide the safety you need to escape survival mode and make a fresh start. Contact us today to learn more.
