What PTSD Really Looks Like — And Why It's Often Misunderstood

Wellbeing Team
May 31
2 min read

When you hear the word “PTSD,” what comes to mind?

Flashbacks? Nightmares? Veterans?

Those are valid — but they’re just part of the picture. PTSD can affect anyone who’s experienced trauma, and it often shows up in quiet, misunderstood ways — especially in high-functioning people.

At Wellbeing, we help clients navigate the messy middle of trauma recovery, whether they’ve had a formal diagnosis or not. Let’s break down what PTSD actually is, how it may be showing up in your life, and what healing can look like.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition that can develop after exposure to traumatic events — including physical danger, emotional abuse, sexual assault, medical trauma, or ongoing stress without support.

It’s your brain and nervous system’s way of trying to protect you — by staying on high alert, avoiding reminders, or dissociating from the pain.

How PTSD Really Shows Up

Not all PTSD looks like panic attacks or flashbacks. In fact, it often looks like:

Always feeling on edge or overaware of surroundings
Sudden emotional numbness or shutdown
Trouble sleeping or focusing
Avoiding certain people, places, or emotions
Chronic stomach issues, headaches, or fatigue
Feeling emotionally distant from others
Overfunctioning or perfectionism as coping

Some people also experience C-PTSD (Complex PTSD), which develops from ongoing, repeated trauma — like childhood neglect, emotionally unsafe environments, or prolonged relational abuse.

“But I’m High-Functioning — Could I Still Have PTSD?”

Yes. Many people with PTSD:

Are successful at work
Are caregivers, parents, or helpers
“Seem fine” from the outside
Haven’t identified their experiences as trauma — yet

If you’ve learned to survive by staying busy, emotionally detached, or in control, your nervous system may still be stuck in survival mode — even if you’re performing well on the outside.

What Healing PTSD Can Actually Look Like

Healing from PTSD is not about “getting over it.” It’s about creating safety in your body and relationships so that your brain doesn’t have to stay stuck in protection mode.

At Wellbeing, we support this through:

Trauma-informed therapy that helps you reconnect to your body and emotions safely
Ketamine therapy for processing stuck trauma and restoring neuroplasticity
Medication management when symptoms are too overwhelming to work through alone
Nervous system support that meets you where you are, not where you “should” be