Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an intense emotional and psychological response to an event that was very disturbing or stressful (traumatic). It can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as rape, assault, natural disaster, accident, war, torture, or death. Post-traumatic stress also may be caused by ongoing physical or sexual abuse. Post-traumatic stress may develop immediately following a traumatic event or may occur months or even years later.

The type of event alone cannot predict whether you will develop post-traumatic stress. The development of PTSD also depends on your response to the event. For example, many people experience an event such as war, but not all of those people will have post-traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress depends on each person's ability to cope with stress, as well as other factors such as previous life experience, personality, and support from others.

Sometimes it is hard to connect post-traumatic stress symptoms with the traumatic event. A person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder might eventually work the stressful event into his or her psychological makeup. It is vital that he or she make sense of the event because this helps to reduce the devastating emotional impact. This may require long-term therapy or medication.

Early treatment following a disturbing or stressful event may help prevent PTSD and other related problems, such as alcohol or drug abuse. Early treatment includes quickly recognizing and acknowledging the traumatic event, talking about your feelings soon after the event, and being reassured that what you are feeling is normal.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress may include:

• Persistent and painful reexperiencing of the event through dreams (nightmares) or while awake (flashbacks).
• An inability to feel or express emotions toward family, friends, and loved ones (emotional numbness).
• Avoiding any reminders of the event.
• Being easily angered or aroused, on edge, or easily startled (hyperarousal).

Post-traumatic stress can occur at any age but is most common in young adults. Rape or assault is the most common cause of post-traumatic stress in women. The most common cause of post-traumatic stress in men is combat experience.

Post-traumatic stress is seen more frequently in people who are single, divorced, widowed, poor, or socially isolated. Post-traumatic stress is less likely to develop in people who have strong social support networks.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress can occur along with another mental health problem, such as depression or a panic disorder.

Counseling and medications such as antidepressants and antianxiety drugs can be helpful for people with post-traumatic stress disorder.