here's some tips to help you write a traumatised character who might have PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder. this happens after a person is put through a traumatising experience.

one thing to always remember, is that trauma is a disturbing event that has happened to a person. trauma is subjective. meaning it depends on the individual its happened to. like, it wouldnt be a traumatising event to you, but to other people it might be.

1) nightmares. nightmares are a big one. they will dream up of trusted people hurting them, loved ones betraying them, the people who originally hurt them coming back and can be completely different from what actually happened

2) extreme paranoia. the person will constantly look over their shoulder and think about worse case scenarios frequently. they will double check not only themselves but the people and things around no matter what.

3) randomly thinking about what happened and for a few moments; you're not where you are physically, you're back to wherever you were when you were hurt.

4) they will most definitely avoid talking about it. they will avoid the subject that has anything to do with it, doesn't matter how small. they will tense up and freeze due to the fact that they start seeing flashes of the thing or person that gave them the trauma. they will also have a hard time trusting again.

5) talking about it will not make it better. even though it is good for the character to talk about it, it still won't help them. it might even make it worse in some cases.

6) certain sounds, words, or smells will take them back to the place where they were given the trauma. like if a war vet were to hear a gunshot, that would most likely take them back to the war, especially if they have PTSD. 

7) the person cannot go back to their old selves. no matter how much you try.

8) old habits will come back.

(going out on a limb here)

lets say you've been kidnapped - youre tied to a chair and youre in a solid room with one door. you try to find certain things to help you a. get out of the room and b. get out of the rope you're tied with. when youre finally rescued, those same habits are going to come back to you when you enter a restaurant. youre looking for every single exit in the building and you prolly dont even notice.

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