PTSD

Simply defined, PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that develops after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.  Family members of victims also can develop the disorder.

Diagnosis requires that one or more symptoms from each of the following categories be present for at least a month and that symptoms must seriously interfere with leading a normal life:

* Reliving the event through upsetting thoughts, nightmares, or flashbacks, or having very strong mental and physical reactions if something reminds the person of the event.

* Avoiding activities, thoughts, feelings, or conversations that remind the person of the event; feeling numb to one’s surroundings’ or being unable to remember details of the event.

* Having a loss of interest in important activities, feeling all alone, being unable to have normal emotions or feeling that there is nothing to look forward to in the future may also be experienced.

* Feeling that one can never relax and must be on guard all the time to protect oneself, trouble sleeping, feeling irritable, overreacting when startled, angry outbursts or trouble concentrating.

Traumatic events that may trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.

Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma.  Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms.  People with PTSD also experience emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger.  Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people with PTSD try to avoid any reminders of thoughts of the ordeal.  PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than 1 month.

Physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal distress, immune system problems, dizziness, chest pain, or discomfort in other parts of the body are common in people with PTSD.  Often, these symptoms may be treated without the recognition that they stem from an anxiety disorder.

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