The nightmares last a lifetime--this I know from my own experience.
I have actually been suffering the past two months from PTSD after an incident. Both mentally and physically.
While the incident involved no physical contact, I was blocked from an exit and verbally bullied and intimidated.
I do not intimidate period---BUT--- the being trapped part set off a succession of reactions in me that continue to go on. I've also gained at least 15 pounds from stress eating I'm not even aware that I'm doing.
I can't believe how all this can come out of something that happened to me over 40 years ago, but there you go.
I wish healing and justice.