Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that some people develop after they experience or see a traumatic event. The traumatic event may be life-threatening, such as combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. But sometimes the event is not necessarily a dangerous one. For example, the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD. Show
It's normal to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. The fear triggers a "fight-or-flight" response. This is your body's way of helping to protect itself from possible harm. It causes changes in your body such as the release of certain hormones and increases in alertness, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. In time, most people recover from this naturally. But people with PTSD don't feel better. They feel stressed and frightened long after the trauma is over. In some cases, the PTSD symptoms may start later on. They might also come and go over time. What causes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?Researchers don't know why some people get PTSD and others don't. Genetics, neurobiology, risk factors, and personal factors may affect whether you get PTSD after a traumatic event. Who is at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?You can develop PTSD at any age. Many risk factors play a part in whether you will develop PTSD. They include:
What are the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?There are four types of PTSD symptoms, but they may not be the same for everyone. Each person experiences symptoms in their own way. The types are:
The symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event. But sometimes they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If your symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you might have PTSD. How is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed?A health care provider who has experience helping people with mental illnesses can diagnose PTSD. The provider will do a mental health screening and may also do a physical exam. To get a diagnosis of PTSD, you must have all of these symptoms for at least one month:
What are the treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?The main treatments for PTSD are talk therapy, medicines, or both. PTSD affects people differently, so a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. If you have PTSD, you need to work with a mental health professional to find the best treatment for your symptoms.:
Can post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) be prevented?There are certain factors that can help reduce the risk of developing PTSD. These are known as resilience factors, and they include:
Researchers are studying the importance of the resilience and risk factors for PTSD. They are also studying how genetics and neurobiology can affect the risk of PTSD. With more research, someday it may be possible to predict who is likely to develop PTSD. This could also help in finding ways to prevent it. NIH: National Institute of Mental Health Start Here
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National Institutes of HealthThe primary NIH organization for research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the National Institute of Mental Health NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
DisclaimersMedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines. What does PTSD do to a person?PTSD is a mental health condition that leaves a person unable to function in their daily lives. It results from the brain's inability to process a traumatic event. PTSD often causes nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and withdrawal, but you can treat it with proper care.
What are the 5 signs of PTSD?Reliving aspects of what happened. vivid flashbacks (feeling like the trauma is happening right now). intrusive thoughts or images.. nightmares.. intense distress at real or symbolic reminders of the trauma.. physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea or trembling.. What does it mean if you 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.
How do you feel when you have PTSD?Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event. Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks) Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event. Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.
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