The effects from this traumatic event, that happened a little over 5 months ago, are still haunting me. The nightmares, being afraid of every sound, noise, and basically everything is really getting to me. Anxiety and depression are now at an all time high, and I want to do something about it but I don't know what to do. I've tried a few times to bring it up lightly to my mom that I want to get evaluated, but she doesn't seem to understand. She just brushes it off, and I don't have the courage to tell her how bad it is. I don't want to seem like I'm overreacting, or that I'm making it a bigger deal than it is. I already feel bad about myself everyday and I honestly don't know how she'd take it. Does anyone have any tips about telling my parents about what has been going on?

This happened just yesterday. My family was having a big bonfire on the beach because one of my cousins is getting married. Just the fact that I was on the beach again had me on edge. I really didn't like it anyway (I'm not really a party person) but everywhere I looked I saw the lightening. It was night time, not day time like the accident, but I felt surrounded and super uncomfortable. I was basically looking the whole time at the sky for any signs of lightening. I was about to leave the party when I was saying goodnight to my mom, when there was a camera flash behind me and I swore it was lightening. I started having a panic attack and crying, and my mom tried to make a joke at first about "Oh quit acting all PTSD" but it obviously wasn't funny.. I ran off the beach into the parking lot, and she wanted to make sure I was okay, but this just proves how she thinks my being afraid of lightening is not that serious. Maybe this helped her see how serious it was, but I don't know. I tried to tell her I was sorry today, but she didn't even respond back to me..

Is that what you would call a flashback, or a trigger? What should I do? I feel like they won't take it seriously.. I'm so confused, and feeling what feels like 100 emotions at once.