Patient information from BMJ

Post-traumatic stress disorder: questions to ask your doctor

Last published:Oct 14, 2020

If you have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you may want to talk to your doctor to find out more. Here are some questions you may want to ask.

Why did I get PTSD?
How long will I feel like this?
I felt bad after what happened, but now I feel worse. Why can't I get over it?
Are there any treatments that will help me?
What is the best treatment?
Are there any treatments I should avoid?
Should I try to forget about what happened?
Should I avoid things that remind me of what I have been through?
I keep having flashbacks and feel as if I'm going through the trauma all over again. How can I stop this happening?
I want to talk to someone about what I've been through, but I can't talk about it with my family or friends. Who can I talk to? Is there a support group or support services?

The patient information from BMJ Best Practice is regularly updated. The most recent version of Best Practice can be found at bestpractice.bmj.com. This information is intended for use by health professionals. It is not a substitute for medical advice. It is strongly recommended that you independently verify any interpretation of this material and, if you have a medical problem, see your doctor.

Please see BMJ's full terms of use at: bmj.com/company/legal-information. BMJ does not make any representations, conditions, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that this material is accurate, complete, up-to-date or fit for any particular purposes.

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