Homelessness and PTSD
When you have PTSD, it’s hard to feel safe. The traumatic event – whether it’s rooted in natural disaster, combat, sexual assault, or a traffic accident – can take hold, and you find you can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe you have nightmares and trouble sleeping. Sometimes you may feel on edge and unsettled or don’t find pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Other times you feel it’s just easier to be alone. Feelings like these are common after experiencing trauma. For many people, the feelings can pass in a few weeks or months, but for others these symptoms last longer.
PTSD symptoms fall into four categories: reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoiding things or places that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and hypervigilance. For someone to be clinically diagnosed with PTSD, they need to show symptoms in all four categories. Especially untreated, PTSD symptoms can impact a person’s ability to remain housed.
PTSD symptoms can happen at any age, and they can come and go but only a mental health care provider can make this diagnosis. Knowing if you have PTSD is the first step to receiving effective treatment. It is important to talk with a doctor if you think you have symptoms.
Remember that you’re not alone and there are treatments that can help you feel better and take back control of your life. There are even treatment options for those who have been living with symptoms for years.
Common treatments for PTSD include trauma-focused therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE), both of which have been shown to relieve symptoms. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another evidence-based therapy that helps people process traumatic memories. In some cases, medication can be prescribed to help manage anxiety, depression, and sleep issues that often accompany PTSD.
Along with professional care, there are many self care strategies that can support recovery. Practicing mindfulness, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and engaging in physical activity can help reduce stress and improve emotional wellbeing. Building a support system by connecting with friends, family, or peer support groups can also be a vital part of healing. While living with PTSD is different for everyone, taking small, consistent steps toward care and recovery can make a difference.