 |
Post-traumatic
stress
disorder
(PTSD)
is an
anxiety
disorder
that
can occur
after
someone
experiences
a traumatic
event.
PTSD
is preceeded
by a
very
traumatic
or life-threatening
event
causing
intense
fear,
helplessness
and/or
horror.
PTSD
can result
from
personally
experienced
traumas,
such
as war,
terrorist
attacks,
violent
crimes,
a serious
accident
or injury,
a natural
disaster
or ongoing
physical
or sexual
abuse)
or from
the witnessing
or learning
of a
violent
or tragic
event.
While
it is
common
to experience
a brief
state
of anxiety
or depression
after
such
occurrences,
people
with
PTSD
continually
re-experience
the traumatic
event;
avoid
individuals,
thoughts,
or situations
associated
with
the event;
and have
symptoms
of excessive
emotions.
It can
cause
flashbacks,
sleep
problems
and nightmares,
feelings
of isolation,
guilt,
paranoia
and sometimes-panic
attacks.
People
with
this
disorder
have
these
symptoms
for longer
than
one month
and cannot
function
as well
as they
do before
the traumatic
event.
PTSD
symptoms
usually
appear
within
three
months
of the
traumatic
experience;
however,
they
sometimes
occur
months
or even
years
later.
How
common
is
PTSD?
The likelihood
of developing
the disorder
is greater
when
someone
is exposed
to multiple
traumas
or traumatic
events
early
in life,
especially
if the
trauma
is long
term
or repeated.
More
cases
of this
disorder
are found
|