Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be challenging. As someone in college, trying to juggle classes and social commitments while managing your PTSD symptoms can feel overwhelming. If your PTSD feels especially overwhelming, you may wonder whether it will ever go away.

PTSD is a mental health disorder caused by trauma. PTSD can develop after continual trauma or a single traumatic event. People can develop PTSD at any age; many people start to experience PTSD symptoms in college or continue to experience previously existing symptoms when they enter college. One study found that, between 2017 and 2022, the prevalence of PTSD among college students more than doubled. Potential factors contributing to this rise may include on-campus violence and pandemic-related stressors.

For college students experiencing PTSD symptoms, finding relief is likely a top priority. Learning more about PTSD symptoms can help you get a better understanding of what to expect and how you can take an active role in your own recovery.

“Does PTSD go away?” Exploring PTSD symptom duration

PTSD symptoms don’t have a fixed duration. The duration of symptoms varies from person to person. For some, symptoms may fade within a period of months. Others may experience PTSD symptoms for many years. One key factor in determining symptom duration is treatment. Healing is possible, and seeking treatment can be the first step toward change.

With treatment, many people experience significant improvement. Even if your symptoms don’t go away completely, they may become much more manageable. Without treatment, PTSD symptoms may linger for years and even worsen. Healing from trauma isn’t always a linear process. You may notice improvement for a long period and then experience a new surge of symptoms. Getting professional support can be essential for staying on track through all the ups and downs of your mental health journey.

Potential symptoms of PTSD

If you’re not sure whether you’re experiencing the symptoms of PTSD, learning more about the symptoms can be informative. Here are some key symptoms of PTSD:

• Intrusive memories — Intrusive memories often come with PTSD. These memories can feel very vivid, as if you are reliving past traumatic events. They can also appear unexpectedly. You may experience flashbacks at seemingly random points during your day. Intrusive memories can be distressing; they can disrupt your daily life and keep you from focusing. They can also add to any anxiety you’re already experiencing. You may worry about when you’ll experience your next flashback. If you have intrusive memories, seeking treatment can be essential to finding relief. A licensed clinical therapist can work with you to reduce the frequency and intensity of your flashbacks. You can also build coping mechanisms to help you manage any flashbacks you do experience.
• Hypervigilance — Hypervigilance refers to a state of being on edge or overly alert. When you’re hypervigilant, you may feel nervous or worried. You may feel like staying alert is necessary to keep yourself safe. In addition to causing anxiety, hypervigilance can also be exhausting. Addressing your PTSD symptoms can help you find ways to relax and get the rest you need.
• Emotional numbness — Some people with PTSD can feel disconnected from their emotions. This numbness often develops as a way to cope with intense emotions connected to the trauma. However, it can have harmful effects. Emotional numbness can make it hard to connect with other people. It can also prevent you from experiencing positive emotions and feeling motivated. With professional treatment, you can process your feelings and reconnect with your emotions.
• Irritability — If you have PTSD, you may sometimes feel frustrated or angry without understanding why. PTSD can disrupt the way your brain processes emotions. As a result, you may have a hard time managing feelings of anger and frustration. You may feel easily irritable. Professional treatment can help you manage your feelings and cope with unpleasant emotions.

Get help managing your PTSD symptoms at Lightfully U

It can be hard to manage your PTSD symptoms alone. Fortunately, help is available. At Lightfully U, we offer compassionate mental health care specifically geared toward college students. We can treat a range of symptoms with our Precision Care Model (PCM). Using the most effective aspects of evidence-based modalities such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), PCM targets the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms. This approach can help you process your trauma and improve your PTSD symptoms. Some individuals also benefit from psychotropic medications alongside therapy.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to start addressing your PTSD, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.