Mental Health

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that often follows a terrifying physical or emotional event -- causing the person who survived the event to have persistent, frightening thoughts and memories, or flashbacks, of the ordeal. Persons with PTSD often feel chronically, emotionally numb.

PTSD was first brought to public attention by war veterans and was once referred to as "shell shock" or "battle fatigue". The likelihood of developing PTSD depends on the severity and duration of the event, as well as the person's nearness to it.

What triggers PTSD to develop?

The event(s) that triggers PTSD may be:

something that occurred in the person's life
something that occurred in the life of someone close to him or her
something the person witnessed

Examples include:

serious accidents (such as car or train wrecks)
natural disasters (such as floods or earthquakes)
man-made tragedies (such as bombings, a plane crash)
violent personal attacks (such as a mugging, rape, torture, being held captive, or kidnapping)
military combat
abuse in childhood

Characteristics of PTSD:

People with PTSD experience extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress when exposed to situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Some people repeatedly relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections during the day. They may also experience:

sleep problems
depression
feeling detached or numb
feeling jittery or on guard
being easily startled
loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
trouble feeling affectionate
feeling irritable, more aggressive than before, or even violent
avoidance of certain places or situations that bring back memories

Symptoms of PTSD:

Symptoms may be mild or severe, including;

irritability
violent outbursts
trouble working or socializing
flashbacks or intrusive images
(A person having a flashback, which can come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, usually believes that the traumatic event is happening all over again.)
losing touch with reality
reenacting the event for a period of seconds or hours or, very rarely, days

Diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder:

Not every person who experiences a trauma gets full-blown PTSD, or experiences symptoms at all. PTSD is diagnosed only if symptoms last more than one month. In those who do have PTSD, symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the trauma, but can also start months or years later.

PTSD can occur at any age, including childhood, and may be accompanied by:

depression
substance abuse
anxiety

The length of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, others have symptoms that last much longer.

Treatment for PTSD:

Antidepressants and anxiety-reducing medications often ease the symptoms of depression and sleep problems. Psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, is also often an integral part of treatment. People with PTSD are susceptible to other anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse.

This page was last updated on: February 5, 2008.

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