PTSD and physical health problems

When you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you may have physical symptoms that have no obvious cause. Some studies suggest that having PTSD also may raise your risk of having other medical conditions.¹ More research is needed to find out what other conditions are associated with PTSD.²

Having other conditions like depression or anxiety with PTSD also may result in having more physical symptoms.²

Physical health problems and mental illness can occur together in a number of ways:

• Medicine used to treat a health problem may lead to a mental illness, such as depression, or make it worse. For example, depression can be a side effect of some drugs.
• Health problems and mental illness may have a common cause, such as stress.
• Health problems and mental illness can bring a sense of loss. You may feel that your life isn't the same as it was before you got sick.
• Health problems can change the quality of your life. You may go through changes at work or at home. For example, a sickness may cause you to lose your job, which can cause stress. This added stress could make your PTSD symptoms worse.
• Mental health problems can cause physical health problems and vice versa.

When you have a physical illness and a mental illness, it can be much harder to cope. Being sick can impact every area of your life. It can change how you think and feel about yourself and your relationships. It may affect your ability to work and enjoy life.

It's possible that your mental illness and health problems aren't related. If you have PTSD and also get sick, this doesn't always mean PTSD is the cause of your sickness.

Getting the right treatments for PTSD and other health conditions is the best thing you can do. Talk with your doctor and your family about how you can cope with your health problems.

Citations

1. Green BL, Kimerling R (2004). Trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and health status. In PP Schnurr, BL Green, eds., Trauma and Health: Physical Health Consequences of Exposure to Extreme Stress, pp. 13–42. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

2. Jankowski K (2006). PTSD and physical health. A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet. Available online: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_physical_health.html.