06/22/2026
Why do some people develop PTSD and other people do not?
Not everyone who lives through a dangerous event develops PTSD—many factors play a part. Some of these factors are present before the trauma; others play a role during and after a traumatic event.
Risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing PTSD include:
✅ Exposure to previous traumatic experiences, particularly during childhood
✅ Getting hurt or seeing people hurt or killed
✅ Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
✅ Having little or no social support after the event
✅ Dealing with stressors after the event, such as the loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home
✅ Having a personal history or family history of mental illness or substance use
Resilience factors that may reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD include:
✅ Seeking out and receiving support from friends, family, or support groups
✅ Learning to feel okay with one’s actions in response to a traumatic event
✅ Having a coping strategy for getting through and learning from a traumatic event
✅ Being prepared and able to respond to upsetting events as they occur, despite feeling fear
Learn more from the National Institute of Mental Health at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/.../post-traumatic-stress....