What Are the 5 Stages of PTSD: Understanding the Journey to Healing?

What Are the 5 Stages of PTSD? Understanding the Journey to Healing

The Struggle of PTSD: A Path to Understanding

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) isn’t just about a traumatic event; it’s about the aftermath. It’s the way the mind and body try to cope with something unbearable. You might have heard about the "five stages of PTSD"—but what does that really mean? Well, it's a bit more complex than just stages. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, thoughts, and reactions that leave you feeling exhausted. And it’s not the same for everyone. But, let me tell you something: understanding the stages can make all the difference. So, let’s break it down together.

Stage 1: The Impact of Trauma – The Initial Shock

The first stage of PTSD typically starts right after the traumatic event. This is the initial shock, the disbelief. It’s when the mind is in complete chaos, trying to process what just happened. For some, it might feel like they’re detached from reality—almost like they're watching themselves from the outside.

The Emotional Weight of Shock

When something traumatic happens, your body goes into survival mode. You might feel numb, disconnected, or just plain lost. This is your brain's way of protecting you, right? But here’s the thing: that emotional numbness can be dangerous because it delays processing the trauma. I had a friend who went through something similar after a car accident—she literally couldn’t feel anything for weeks. But, eventually, all those emotions start to surface.

Stage 2: Denial – "It Didn’t Happen, Not to Me"

At some point, you might begin to deny what happened. This stage is pretty common, and I’ve seen it in people close to me. It’s not that they don’t remember, but it’s as if they can’t accept the reality of it. The trauma was too much, so they shut it out.

The Temporary Escape

Denial can feel like a temporary escape. It’s like your brain is putting up walls to protect you from an emotional flood. And while this might sound like a good coping mechanism, it’s just a bandaid. Trust me, it only lasts for so long. I remember chatting with a colleague who went through a rough time after losing someone close. He kept saying, "It wasn’t that bad, I’m fine," but we all knew it was eating him up inside.

Stage 3: Anger – The Burden You Can’t Shake Off

As the trauma sinks in, anger often becomes the next stage. It’s the frustration of not being able to control what’s happening to you. You’re angry at yourself, at the world, or even the people who weren’t there when you needed them. This anger can come out of nowhere, and sometimes, you don’t even know why it’s there.

The Guilt and Frustration Cycle

For some, anger isn’t just about lashing out at others—it’s also about the guilt they feel. "Why didn’t I stop it?" "Why didn’t I see it coming?" The questions pile up and feed that burning frustration. I know a guy who lost his job during the pandemic. He was so angry, not just at the situation but at the fact that he couldn’t prevent it. The guilt was overwhelming. But eventually, he realized that anger was his mind’s way of showing it hadn’t fully processed the trauma. It’s a tough one to shake off.

Stage 4: Bargaining – The "What If" Stage

Bargaining is a stage that seems a little odd but makes a lot of sense when you’re going through it. You’ll start thinking, "If only I did this differently… maybe I could’ve avoided it." You might even try to make deals with yourself or with a higher power—anything to take away the pain.

Struggling with "What Could Have Been"

At this point, you’re not really trying to make sense of the event. Instead, you’re trying to rewrite it in your mind. "What if I made a different decision?" This can be emotionally exhausting, and I’ve seen it a lot with people who’ve been through traumatic losses. A friend of mine lost a sibling to a violent act. For months, he was stuck in the bargaining phase, replaying every moment leading up to the event. "What if I had gone with them? What if I had stopped them?" But the truth is—sometimes, there’s no "what if."

Stage 5: Acceptance – Moving Forward, Not Forgetting

The final stage of PTSD is acceptance. This doesn’t mean you forget what happened. It means you come to terms with it. You begin to live with it, not as an obstacle, but as a part of who you are. It’s a hard thing to explain—acceptance doesn’t mean "it’s okay," it means "I’m okay despite it."

The Healing Process

Here’s where it gets tricky, though. Acceptance doesn’t mean the pain goes away—it’s still there. But instead of fighting it, you learn how to live with it. A couple of years ago, I worked with a woman who had been through severe trauma. At first, she couldn’t talk about it. But over time, she reached a point of acceptance. It wasn’t a clean process, and sometimes, she’d still struggle. But she had learned to accept the experience, not as something that defined her, but as something that had shaped her journey.

Why It’s Okay to Not Follow These Stages Perfectly

Now, don’t think you’re going to go through these stages in some neat order. PTSD isn’t that simple. Some people might jump between these stages. You might find yourself stuck in one stage for longer than expected. Heck, I know people who have skipped some stages entirely. And that’s okay. Healing doesn’t look the same for everyone.

In the end, the key is not rushing through the stages. PTSD is a long process, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time. If you’re in any of these stages, or if someone close to you is, don’t beat yourself up for not being "over it" yet. Healing is messy, but it’s real. And it’s possible.

Final Thoughts: Hope on the Horizon

The five stages of PTSD are a part of a process, but they don’t define you. You are more than your trauma. The healing journey is tough, but you’re tougher. Don’t forget, it’s okay to ask for help—whether from loved ones, professionals, or just someone who understands what you're going through. The path may seem long, but trust me, it’s a path worth walking.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.