Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can develop following a terrifying event. Often, people with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to. PTSD was first brought to the public attention by war veterans, but it can result from any number of traumatic incidents. The event that triggers PTSD may be something that threatened the person’s life or the life of someone close to him or her. Or it could be something witnessed, such as a massive death and destruction of a building, such as the attacks on September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Whatever the source of the problem, some people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections during the day. They may also experience other sleep problems, feel detached or numb, or be easily startled. They may lose interest in things they used to enjoy and have trouble feeling affectionate. They may feel irritable, more aggressive than before, or even violent. Things that remind them of the trauma may be very distressing, which could lead them to avoid certain places or situations that bring back those memories. Anniversaries of the traumatic event are often very difficult.

The disorder is often accompanied by: Depression Substance Abuse One or more other Anxiety Disorders May have difficulty working or socializing

A person having a flashback, which can come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic event is happening all over again. This is an unusual case.

According to research from the Nations Center for PTSD, disasters and terrorist attack are often widespread with many people who directly experience the event and many more who may witness or be indirectly impacted. Many people may encounter behavioral and emotional readjustment problems. Experts agree that the amount of time it takes people to recover depends both on what happened to them and on what meaning they give to the events.

The events that would cause an individual to develop PTSD generally are so extraordinary and unusual, that even the healthiest person would become devastated and distressed over the event. The onset of the event is generally sudden. They can overwhelm our ability to respond appropriately.

Experts say that PTSD is a normal response to an abnormal event because the condition is completely understandable and predictable.