Learn How PICS Affects Families
Recognize the signs
What PICS looks like with your loved one
Eats fast, like the food might disappear
Can’t relax in crowds, restaurants, or stores — sits facing the door
Up at strange hours; sleeps light; nightmares
Struggles with choices, even small ones like what to order or wear
Distant when you want closeness; angry over things that seem small
Drawn back toward substances or old connections when the pressure builds
These aren’t character flaws. They’re the five syndromes of PICS — institutionalization, post-traumatic stress, protective armor, substance use risk, and sensory overload — showing up at home.
