PTSD and DepressionOverviewDepression is common in men and women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . The trauma that caused PTSD also may cause depression. If you have either of these mental health problems, it is possible you have the other. You may need to treat both of them. PTSDPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening event can develop PTSD. These events include:
After going through a traumatic event, you may feel upset by things that remind you of what happened. You may have nightmares, vivid memories, or flashbacks of the event and feel like it's happening all over again. You also may avoid situations that remind you of the event, and you may feel numb or lose interest in things you used to care about. Depression happens more often than any other medical problem in women who have PTSD, and it occurs often in men with PTSD. footnote 1
DepressionDepression can make you feel overwhelmed, sad, or hopeless. You may feel like your problems are piling up, and you can't fix them. These symptoms can last for a long time, or they might come and go. Being depressed doesn't mean you're weak, and it doesn't mean you're just feeling sorry for yourself. It is a problem that can be helped. Common symptoms of depression are: footnote 2
Other symptoms of depression include losing or gaining weight, sleeping too much or too little, and feeling unworthy or guilty.
Get treatmentIf you think you have PTSD or depression, talk to your doctor. Starting treatment is the best thing you can do. Both PTSD and depression can lead to suicide. Call 911 or other emergency services if you (or someone you care about who has depression or PTSD):
Take any warning signs of suicide seriously. Health ToolsHealth Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Interactive tools are designed to help people determine health risks, ideal weight, target heart rate, and more.
Related InformationReferences
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff Current as ofMay 3, 2017
Current as of: May 3, 2017 Kessler RC, et al. (1995). Posttraumatic stress disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52(12): 1048-1060.
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Trauma- and stressor-related disorders. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed., pp. 265-290. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
|
Search the
Healthwise Knowledgebase Topic ContentsThis information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org. © 1995-2018 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. |