Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is a psychological disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening event(s) such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in an adult or during childhood. Most survivors of trauma return to their baseline functioning given a little time. However, some individuals will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD.  Persons who struggle with PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person’s daily life. Signs and symptoms may include:

 

• Feeling very upset when reminded of what happened;

• Strong feelings in your body when you are reminded of what happened;

• Trying not to think about or talk about what happened;

• Not being able to remember part of what happened;

• Negative thoughts about yourself or others;

• Frequent strong feelings of fear, angery, guilt, shame, etc.;

• Not feeling close to people;

• Doing unsafe things;

• Being overly careful or on guard;

• Problems paying attention;

• Trouble falling or staying asleep.