What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how does it affect you?

People who have encountered or seen a traumatic incident such as a natural catastrophe, a catastrophic accident, a terrorist attack, war/combat, or rape, or who have been threatened with death, sexual assault, or significant injury, may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD has been referred to by a variety of titles in the past, including 'shell shock' during World War I and 'battle exhaustion' following World War II, although it is not limited to combat veterans. PTSD may affect everyone, regardless of race, nationality, or culture, and at any age. Every year, about 3.5 percent of individuals in the United States suffer from PTSD.

People with PTSD have powerful, unsettling thoughts and sensations about the traumatic incident that continue long after it's occurred. They may have flashbacks or dreams about the experience, and they may feel sad, fearful, or angry, as well as disconnected or estranged from others. Persons with PTSD may avoid circumstances or folks that remind them of the traumatic experience, and they may have intense unpleasant reactions to seemingly innocuous things like loud noises or unintentional touches.

A traumatic incident must be experienced to be diagnosed with PTSD. However, rather than being first-hand, the exposure might be indirect. Individuals who learn of the violent death of a close family member or acquaintance, for example, may get PTSD. It can also happen as a result of frequent exposure to gruesome details of the trauma, such as police personnel who are exposed to child abuse case facts.

Diagnosis and Symptoms

The following are the four types of PTSD symptoms. The intensity of specific symptoms might vary.

Intrusive thoughts, such as involuntary recollections, disturbing nightmares, or flashbacks to the traumatic incident, are examples of intrusion. People may have flashbacks that are so vivid that they believe they're reliving or experiencing the painful event.

Avoiding people, places, activities, items, and circumstances that may trigger upsetting memories is one way to prevent reminders of the traumatic incident. People may strive to forget or avoid recalling the terrible occurrence. They can be hesitant to discuss what occurred or how they feel about it.

Changes in cognition and mood: inability to recall key details of the traumatic event, negative thoughts and feelings resulting in ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others (e.g., 'I am bad,' 'No one is often trusted'); distorted thoughts about the cause or consequences of the event resulting in incorrectly blaming self or others; ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame; much less interest in previously enjoyed activities; feeling detached or estranged (a void of happiness or satisfaction).

Arousal and reactivity signs include being irritated and having furious outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive manner; being extremely aware of one's surroundings in a suspicious manner; being readily startled, or being easily startled.

In the days after being exposed to a traumatic incident, many of us suffer symptoms almost like those described above. Symptoms must endure for more than a month and create considerable discomfort or difficulty in the individual's everyday functioning to be diagnosed with PTSD. Many people have symptoms within three months of the incident, although symptoms can sometimes occur later and last for months or even years. Depression, alcohol abuse, memory difficulties, and other physical and mental health issues are all common co-occurring illnesses with PTSD.