What characterizes avoidance in PTSD?

What characterizes avoidance in PTSD?

• A. Re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive thoughts
• B. Increased negative thoughts
• C. Nightmares
• D. Avoiding situations that remind the person of the traumatic event

Answer: (D)

Avoidance in PTSD means deliberately steering clear of reminders of the traumatic event. People with this pattern try to avoid places, people, conversations, activities, or even internal cues like memories or feelings that trigger distress. This protective effort reduces immediate anxiety but can prevent processing the trauma and maintaining the disorder over time. The choice describing avoiding situations that remind the person of the traumatic event matches this behavior exactly. By contrast, re-experiencing symptoms involve intrusive memories or thoughts, nightmares are another form of intrusion, and increased negative thoughts reflect mood/cognition changes rather than avoidance.

Avoidance in PTSD means deliberately steering clear of reminders of the traumatic event. People with this pattern try to avoid places, people, conversations, activities, or even internal cues like memories or feelings that trigger distress. This protective effort reduces immediate anxiety but can prevent processing the trauma and maintaining the disorder over time. The choice describing avoiding situations that remind the person of the traumatic event matches this behavior exactly. By contrast, re-experiencing symptoms involve intrusive memories or thoughts, nightmares are another form of intrusion, and increased negative thoughts reflect mood/cognition changes rather than avoidance.