For a PTSD diagnosis, a person must have 1 or more of the following Criterion C symptoms:

• Avoidance of distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about the traumas
• Avoidance of external reminders (e.g., people, places, conversations) that cause distressing memories, thoughts or feelings about the trauma

The avoidance symptoms consist of behaviors in which individuals with PTSD may engage to reduce the likelihood that they will be exposed to trauma reminders, or to minimize the intensity of the psychological response when they are exposed to trauma reminders.

Examples:

• A motor vehicle accident survivor avoids driving
• A hurricane survivor avoids going outside in bad weather
• An assault survivor drinks to avoid internal reminders like fear