Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition caused by a trauma. The trauma can be a one-time thing (such as being victim of a crime) or long-term (such as living in a war zone or through a natural disaster). No one knows why some people bounce back after a trauma while others develop PTSD or why some people experience PTSD symptoms within weeks of the trauma and others may only start having symptoms years later.

Patients treated for sepsis in an ICU undergo several traumas. They have a serious illness, potentially bringing them to the brink of dying. Their body is subjected to numerous medical interventions. They are often in severe pain, and they feel scared and helpless. Add to this being in the busy ICU environment 24 hours a day, and the situation is primed for a psychological reaction like PTSD.

Some of the symptoms of PTSD include:

  • Having intrusive memories
  • Reliving events
  • Having upsetting dreams or nightmares about the event
  • Avoiding anything that may remind you of your experience
  • Feelings of hopelessness, depression, and anxiety
  • Easy startling
  • Trouble sleeping or concentrating
  • Sleeping too much
  • Getting irrationally angry or aggressive

The symptoms may come and go, or they may linger.

Depression affects family members too

When a loved one is critically ill, family members often feel helpless. They may relive events, wondering if they could have done something different, even once the emergency is over. They may feel guilt over past issues or fear for the future. Their experience is very different from that of the patient, but they, too, have gone through a stressful time and this may go unrecognized, and may lead to depression or anxiety.

Recognizing the problem

Recognizing the problem is the first step towards helping sepsis survivors and their loved ones to deal with lasting psychological issues. People who experience signs of PTSD, depression, or anxiety should acknowledge this and seek help from their doctor or qualified mental healthcare practitioner. These conditions can often be successfully managed through a combination of self-care, counseling or medications.

PTSD can be part of post-sepsis syndrome, or PSS. Learn more here.

To learn more about PTSD and sepsis, read:

This PTSD Awareness Day, Remember the Caregivers

Would you like to share your story about sepsis or read about others who have had sepsis? Please visit Faces of Sepsis, where you will find hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from sepsis.

The American Psychiatric Association has more information about PTSD.

If you suspect sepsis, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital and tell your medical professional, “I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SEPSIS.” 

Would you like to share your story about sepsis or read about others who have had sepsis? Please visit Faces of Sepsis, where you will find hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from sepsis.

Suggested Citation: Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 2023. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/

Updated May 30, 2023.

Read Personal Stories of Sepsis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Rachel Davis

Survivor

On August 3rd, 2021, I was admitted to the hospital with a breakthrough case of Covid-19. (Sepsis and COVID-19) I was fully vaccinated six months prior. My CT scan showed ground glass opacities in my right lower lung. I was blessed that my oxygen saturation was within normal limits. I was in the hospital for three weeks. Upon my discharge on 8/23/21, I stayed with a dear friend for approximately two weeks. Because of malnutrition and Covid, I believe, I was immunocompromised. I had leukopenia, low neutrophil and absolute neutrophil counts, and I was anemic. (Sepsis and Impaired Immune System) ... Read Full Story

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Alexa Foutch

Survivor, Survivor

I am a 16 time sepsis survivor. 3x septic shock survivor. What started as an asthma attack that put me on a ventilator, and I ended up vomiting which turned into aspiration pneumonia, however, I just kept getting sick after that though. I was septic with COVID and other illnesses. Come to find out I have primary ammagammabulemia. Because of sepsis I had to give up PTA school, am on supplemental oxygen 24/7 due to chronic respiratory failure, and have been on life support 14 times, I struggle every day with the after-effects of sepsis. I have been diagnosed with ... Read Full Story

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Jackie D.

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I’ve suffered from Crohn’s and dysautonomia and other disabling autoimmune diseases for ten years. (Sepsis and Autoimmune Diseases) Last May I had multiple tooth abscesses and other medical procedures going on. (Sepsis and Dental Health) Two weeks after, our older daughter and our son graduated college and I was much more tired than usual. My family was watching TV that evening and I was curled up on the couch totally detached from everything going on, and my left hip was hurting worse than it ever had in a decade. Though exhausted, I couldn’t sleep all night, and by 5 a.m. ... Read Full Story

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Judith Lipton

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I nearly died of sepsis almost exactly one year ago, starting on May 22, 2020. I want to tell my story especially since I may be among the few people who have lived through severe encephalopathy and survived without incapacitating brain damage. I also want to educate people about the signs of sepsis, and the need for informed consent. Thanks for listening to me. Even though I am a physician myself and my husband is a professional biologist, we did not recognize the initial signs of sepsis. We should have gone to the hospital right away, as soon as I ... Read Full Story

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Jennifer I

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I gave birth on 3/17/20. I was released after 4 days. The next day of being home, I started to feel ill. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth) Heart racing, dizzy, chills. My OB recommended I wait it out due to the Covid situation in the hospitals. The next day, I was much worse. Couldn’t speak or barely breathe. Felt like I had pins and needles all over my body. My husband called 911. I was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with severe sepsis from a UTI. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) I was on infusion antibiotics for 14 days ... Read Full Story

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition caused by a trauma. The trauma can be a one-time thing (such as being victim of a crime) or long-term (such as living in a war zone or through a natural disaster). No one knows why some people bounce back after a trauma while others develop PTSD or why some people experience PTSD symptoms within weeks of the trauma and others may only start having symptoms years later.