Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Post traumatic stress disorder also known as (PTSD) is an emotional condition, which follows a traumatic event such as threatened death or serious bodily industry.

The illness, post traumatic stress disorder creates intense feelings of fear, helplessness or horror.

Symptoms

Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder include:

•  A re-experience of a trauma
• Upsetting thoughts or memories

In extreme cases a flashback trauma may occur relived at full emotional intensity.

People who are diagnosed with PTSD often say that they have a general feeling of emotional numbness, experience increased anxiety and vigilance and avoid the reminders of the trauma, like specific situations, thoughts and feelings.

It is normal to experience such reactions to some extent after a trauma which is not considered as symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. 

A person with PTSD can also suffer from other psychological problems.  The most common of these are:

•  Depression
•  Anxiety
•   Drug abuse

The experience of traumatic stress is very common.

An estimated 10 percent of women and 5 percent of men will experience a form of PTSD at some point in their life.  The risk of developing post traumatic stress disorder varies greatly within the different types of trauma.

Women are more likely to develop post traumatic stress disorder after such an event like a rape or sexual assault,

The most common cause of post traumatic stress in men can be often seen after returning from the Army, Air force or Navy, in a war or in combat

A major disaster or traumatic event can and more often than not will cause PTSD on a large scale.

Post traumatic stress disorder is more likely to occur in people who have had the greatest exposure to the trauma and who has had the least support.