This is a book to help bring awareness to PTSD. Despite it's growth in awareness, there are still millions of individuals suffering with undiagnosed PTSD. Additionally, the full affect, and causes are still yet to be fully understood by society as a...
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(I'm so sorry that I couldn't just cut your name out!)
An entire permanent personality shift is highly unlikely, but it is possible. It is quite common for short-lived personality shifts though. A personality shift that is typically seen can include being friendly and loud, to being socially anxious and shy. Or being very forgiving to accusatory. Humble to proud, etc, etc. Something I actually have written a few times is stuff such as narcissism: Developing PTSD does not change someone from a narcissist, those behaviors are very deep rooted and are practically wired into the brain, so simply acquiring PTSD will not change this. It is less likely to see an entire personality shift, but more likely to see someone develop new personality traits, along with the old ones. PTSD may also change someone's level of intelligence, as things such as difficulty concentrating or remembering, can cause someone to be "less intelligent" than they previously were. Now, I'm not expert, but I'm pretty sure hyperarousal alone cannot cause a permanent personality change. I do believe that during the development of PTSD someone's personality may change, and then "stick" forever, but I don't think it's caused by hyperarousal, but more as a trauma response. Someone who abuses substances or alcohol may pick up a "permanent state of hyperarousal", though, since those change how the brain functions.
There used to be some research done on animals for this type of thing. Researchers would flash a light on one side of a cage, indicating the floor would soon be electrified. It didn't take long for the dogs being tested on to learn to jump to the safe side. After quite a long while of this being done, the dog continued to jump, even without the shocks taking place. It's kind of like that. It's in your brain that to survive you need to do this and this and this, or else this will happen. It's more like part of avoidance behavior.
People who develop PTSD are also more likely to develop personality disorders, such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder. The most likely permanent personality change is developing a personality disorder, depressive disorder, or anxiety disorder, as well as becoming quicker to anger and more antisocial are also common. Apart from all the information that I provided, I do not know any more about this topic, so I apologize. Sorry if this wasn't very helpful or clear, this is something much less talked about, and since I don't personally experience this I have not talked on the topic very much with my therapist either.
