What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.

PTSD has been known by many names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the years of World War I and “combat fatigue” after World War II. But PTSD does not just happen to combat veterans. PTSD can occur in all people, in people of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and any age. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults, and an estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed PTSD in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD.

People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people. People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong negative reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch.

A diagnosis of PTSD requires exposure to an upsetting traumatic event. However, exposure could be indirect rather than first hand. For example, PTSD could occur in an individual learning about the violent death of a close family. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to horrible details of trauma such as police officers exposed to details of child abuse cases.

Symptoms of PTSD:

According to the Dept. of Veteran Affairs www.ptsd.va.gov (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/)

1. Reliving a traumatic event.

  - nightmares, flashbacks, reacting to triggers

2. Avoiding situations that make you think about a traumatic event(s).

  - feeling uneasy in crowds, fear of driving, loud or busy places.


3. Changes in beliefs and/or feelings.

  - lessening of positive feelings toward already established relationships, feelings of distrust.


4. Increase in alertness or irritability.

- trouble sleeping or concentrating. Reacting to noises or surprises, constantly being on the lookout for danger.

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1. What is a Veterans Treatment Court?
2. How do I get involved in the VTC?
3. Will it cost me anything to join?
4. What are the benefits of joining?
5. What is a SCRAM device and do I have to have one?
6. What should I do if I am having SCRAM issues?
7. How do I get to the VTC?
8. What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
9. What is Traumatic Brain Injury?