What is PTSD? (posttraumatic stress disorder)
PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or
witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car
accident, or sexual assault. It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on
edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. At first, it may be
hard to do people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a
few weeks normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school, or spend time
with or months. If it’s been longer than a few months and you’re still having symptoms,
you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on or they
may come and go over time.
If thoughts and feelings from a life-threatening event are upsetting you or causing problems in your life, you mayhave PTSD.
Here is the good news, for some people, treatment can get rid of PTSD altogether. For others, it can make symptoms less intense. Treatment also gives you the tools to manage symptoms so they don’t keep you from living your life.
PTSD treatment can turn your life around — even if you’ve been struggling for years.
What can cause PTSD?
Any experience that threatens your life or someone else’s can cause PTSD. These types of events are sometimes called trauma. Types of traumatic events that can cause PTSD include:
* Combat and other military experiences
* Sexual or physical assault
* Learning about the violent or accidental death or injury of a loved one
* Child sexual or physical abuse
* Child sexual or physical abuse
* Serious accidents, like a car wreck
* Natural disasters, like a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or
earthquake
* Terrorist attacks During this kind of event, you may not have any control over what’s happening, and you may feel very afraid.
Trauma can take many forms.
Anyone who experienced a traumatic event. It could be something that happened to you, or something you saw happen to someone else. Seeing the effects of a horrible or violent event can also be traumatic — for xample, being a first responder after a terrorist attack.
You’re not alone.
You’re not alone.
Going through a traumatic event is not rare. At least half of Americans have had a traumatic event in
their lives. Of people who have had trauma, about 1 in 10 men and 2 in 10 women will develop PTSD.
Treatment can help — you don’t have to live with your symptoms forever.
