Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Ashna Kumar
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD is the development of symptoms following exposure to a traumatic event. Traumatic events can be experienced directly or indirectly which include assaults, serious car accident, a natural disaster, personal assault and abuse, terrorist attacks and military combat.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms
- Reliving traumatic event
- Avoiding reminders of the trauma
- Emotional numbness – feeling numb or detached
- Hypervigilance – startled easily, on edge jumpy irritable, or tense. Increased stress hormones the person may have trouble sleeping or difficulty concentrating
How does PTSD affect someone?
Effects
Any kind of extreme stress, involves direct personal experience that involve threatened or actual death or injury to a family member or close friend.
How is it diagnosed?
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Or other therapist
How is it treated?
Mental health professionals who specializes in anxiety problems. Having a support system of family and friends. Talking about the event in a safe environment. Working through memories and worries can help reduce symptoms like nightmares and flashbacks.
Fun Fact
An estimated 5% of Americans, more than 13,000,000 people experience a traumatic event and up to 20% of these people develop PTSD.