Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the most-searched anxiety topics globally — over 132,000 monthly searches in the UK and US combined. It is also one of the most under-diagnosed, particularly in cases that don't fit the stereotype of combat or single-event trauma.
This guide covers the full symptom profile.
1. Re-experiencing symptoms
2. Avoidance symptoms
3. Negative changes in mood and thought
4. Hyperarousal and reactivity
The five-symptom rule
For a clinical PTSD diagnosis, symptoms must persist for more than one month, cause significant distress or impairment, and not be explained by substances or another medical condition.
Why PTSD is so often missed
Sufferers frequently present to GPs with sleep problems, anger issues, anxiety, depression or unexplained physical symptoms — without ever connecting them to a past traumatic event. Trauma can also be cumulative (childhood adversity, prolonged stress) rather than a single incident, which fits the criteria for Complex PTSD (see our separate guide).
Why recovery is fully possible
PTSD is, at its core, a sensitised threat-response system that has been locked into the "on" position by trauma. The same mechanism that generates ordinary anxiety disorders generates PTSD — just calibrated by a specific historical event.
The LAR programme addresses that sensitised response directly. For PTSD specifically, we work alongside trauma-informed clinical care where appropriate.
The next step
If any of this resonates, book a free 30-minute Recovery Call with one of our LAR Coaches. No pressure, no obligation — just a real conversation about what is happening to you and whether the LAR programme is the right fit. Sessions are delivered worldwide via Zoom, Phone or FaceTime.
