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PTSD and flashbacks
If you think you might have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or you're struggling with your memories, we can help you cope.
What is ptSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition that can affect someone after they've had a very frightening experience and felt their life was in danger.
Whether you get PTSD has nothing to do with being weak or strong. Someone with PTSD might:
- have nightmares or flashbacks about what happened
- spend lots of time thinking about or remembering what's happened
- try to avoid places that remind them of what's happened
- feel anxious or start to have other mental health issues
- struggle to concentrate or get to sleep at night
- feel unable to cope.
Not everyone who has a frightening experience will develop PTSD. But if you're worried about your mental health, it's important to get help. Find out more about the symptoms of PTSD.
4 things to do if you're worried
- Talk to an adult you trust.
- Visit your doctor.
- Do things to feel calmer.
- Talk to Childline.
Visiting the doctor
It can be scary talking about what's happening, but your doctor is there to help. Only a doctor can diagnose you if you think you have PTSD.
If you want to visit your doctor, it can help to plan what you want to say or make a list of your symptoms using DocReady.
Dealing with flashbacks or memories
Focus on what's around you
Try our ideas to ground yourself when things are feeling overwhelming. Give yourself time to find something that works for you.
Talk about it
Talking about things can be tough, but it can help you feel safer and show that you're not alone. Talk to someone you trust or a Childline counsellor.
Let yourself go places that worry you
You might want to avoid places that bring up difficult memories. But this can make you feel worse in the long term. If you're scared to go somewhere, it can help to take someone with you or make a plan of how to stay calm.
Ask for help at school
Your teachers might not realise that you're struggling to concentrate at school. Talking to someone you trust at school, or asking someone to talk for you, can help them support you.
Get some sleep
Going to bed can be scary when you're worried about your thoughts and memories. But sleep can make it easier to cope and feel better. We've got advice on getting to sleep.
Coping if you feel unsafe
If your thoughts or memories are making you feel unsafe, there are things you can do:
- Make a safety plan
This could include things you can do to calm down, a list of who to talk to and what to do in an emergency. - Talk to someone you trust, like your parents or carers
Other people can help you feel connected to what's happening now and not the flashback, and they can stop you feeling like you're alone. - Find out more about what happened
Understanding more about what happened and how you can stay safe in the future can help you to feel more in control. - Talk to Childline
Childline counsellors are here to listen to you and support you no matter what's happening.
Remember that in an emergency you can always call 999.
Get more support
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