POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that follows 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, once referred to as shell shock or battle fatigue, was first brought to
public attention by war veterans, but it can result from any number of traumatic
incidents. These include kidnapping, serious accidents such as car or train wrecks,
natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, violent attacks such as a mugging, rape,
or torture, or being held captive. The event that triggers it 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 mass destruction after a plane crash.
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 sleep problems, depression, feeling detached or numb, or being 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. Seeing things that
remind them of the incident may be very distressing, which could lead them to avoid
certain places or situations that bring back those memories. Anniversaries of the event
are often very difficult.
PTSD can occur at any age, including childhood. The disorder can be accompanied by
depression, substance abuse, or anxiety. Symptoms may be mild or severe—people may
become easily irritated or have violent outbursts. In severe cases they may have trouble
working or socializing. In general, the symptoms seem to be worse if the event that
triggered them was initiated by a person—such as a rape, as opposed to a flood.
Ordinary events can serve as reminders of the trauma and trigger flashbacks or
intrusive images. A flashback may make the person lose touch with reality and reenact the
event for a period of seconds or hours or, very rarely, days. 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.
Not every traumatized person gets full-blown PTSD, or experiences PTSD at all. PTSD is
diagnosed only if the symptoms last more than a month. In those who do have PTSD, symptoms
usually begin within 3 months of the trauma, and the course of the illness varies. Some
people recover within 6 months, others have symptoms that last much longer. In some cases,
the condition may be chronic. Occasionally, the illness doesn't show up until years after
the traumatic event.
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