PTSD developing several months after incident?

[penguinl0v3s]

I was in a situation (shooting) and right after the initial event I was pretty much fine. 10 months later, I'm starting to have daily nightmares about gun violence. Has this happened to anyone else? Is it possible to experience delayed processing to this extent?

 

[SadFoxDreamer83]

I was in a situation (shooting) and right after the initial event I was pretty much fine. 10 months later, I'm starting to have daily nightmares about gun violence. Has this happened to anyone else? Is it possible to experience delayed processing to this extent?

Either it is post-traumatic syndrome, or that situation was recorded in your subconscious and it surfaces while you sleep. I would try not to think about it and not give it importance, but if after a few months you are still like this, what I would do is try to go to shooting practice, so that when you handle weapons you will lose the subconscious fear of them.

 

[L'absent]

Yes, it is absolutely possible to experience delayed processing of a traumatic event like a shooting. What you're describing aligns with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can emerge months or even years after the initial event. The brain often suppresses or dulls reactions to trauma to help you function, but over time, when the mind perceives it as "safe" to process, symptoms can surface as recurring nightmares, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, anxiety, or avoidance of situations related to the event. This delayed reaction is completely normal and widely recognized in psychology, and many people have experienced similar delayed responses.

 

[Worndown]

I was robbed at gunpoint 43 years ago. While it never goes away, you learn to manage it.
You might want to seek some counseling for this. They can help you with strategies for processing this. It does not need to hurt you.

 

[divinemistress36]

Im sorry you went through that. Yes, my ptsd didnt show up till a few years after incident. Look into emdr therapy