Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences a traumatic event.
Someone with PTSD may experience many troubling symptoms, including reliving their traumatic experience through memories and dreams - even nightmares. PTSD can also lead to avoidance behaviors, including repressing their emotions or avoiding any person, place, or thing that reminds them of what happened.
Physically or psychologically stressful events that commonly contribute to the development of this disorder include:
An accident such as a car crash
A distressing event such as a natural disaster
Military combat exposure
Domestic violence
Sexual assault or abuse
A vicarious trauma or personal tragedy, such as the death of a loved one
Cases of PTSD can also develop after less life-threatening, second-hand experiences, such as witnessing a violent attack.
Apart from the distressing or terrifying nature of these events and situations, people develop PTSD when they continue responding to the event long after it has passed. It's normal for someone's stress levels and adrenaline to kick in for survival purposes. However, sometimes intense levels of these, along with feelings like fear and anger, stay elevated. When this response becomes one's default pattern, and it's enough to interfere with their daily life, they may have PTSD.
And while anyone can develop PTSD, it's impossible to predict who will respond a certain way to trauma. But there are risk factors to consider that may contribute to one developing PTSD, including:
an existing mental health condition
genetics
lack of support
previous trauma
Thankfully, PTSD is treatable. Therapy helps people process their memories, thoughts, and emotions related to the event, which in turn can lessen its impact on their life. If you have been diagnosed with PTSD or think you may be struggling with it, don't hesitate to reach out for help.
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