PTSD
Symptoms:
Re-Living a Traumatic Event Over and Over Again
If you have ever
been the victim of a violent crime, gone to war, or experienced
an event where you believed there was a chance you could die, you
might be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that sometimes develops after you are
exposed to a horrifying event. At any given time, PTSD symptoms
affect more than 7 million Americans. You don’t have to be
the victim of an event to suffer from PTSD symptoms; sometimes people
get PTSD symptoms after they witness others being harmed.
Whether PTSD symptoms
occur after a mugging, child abuse, car crash, or hurricane, PTSD
is a real disorder that gained public attention after it was diagnosed
in war veterans. The following are common PTSD symptoms which may
last months or even years after a traumatic event:
- Suddenly and unexpectedly
feeling as if the event is happening again
- Flashbacks of the event which
may be triggered by images, sounds, or smells
- Difficulty sleeping
- Having nightmares about the
event
- Being afraid of locations
that remind you of the event
- Feeling jumpy, irritable,
angry, and easily startled
- Survivor guilt (feeling guilty
because you lived when others did not)
- Difficulties in relationships
such as trust issues and inability to get emotionally close
to others
- Emotional numbness and detachment
The helplessness,
horror, and fear that come with PTSD symptoms may become worse over
time instead of better. Another difficulty with PTSD symptoms is
that, even after they diminish, they can reemerge years later. For
example, there have been reports that PTSD symptoms returned to
many former PTSD patients after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,
2001.
PTSD symptoms
can be minor or severe, last a few months or become chronic. PTSD
symptoms also can develop in any age group, including children.
It is important to remember that PTSD symptoms are treatable and
should be addressed before they develop into other illnesses such
as substance abuse or depression.
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