Post traumatic stress disorder is a psychological reaction to a traumatic event.

After experiencing something traumatic it is normal to feel a little anxious or upset. If this anxiousness and upset lasts longer than expected it could be classed as Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

Events that could cause PTSD:

• War
• Natural disaster
• Terrorist Attacks
• Seeing a death of a loved one
• Sexual or physical abuse
• Assault
• Rape
• Kidnap
• Car crashes
• Childhood trauma

There are lots of different symptoms of PTSD and they vary from person to person. The symptoms also dont appear straight away. They can develop hours,weeks,months or even years after the event.

Symptoms of PTSD:

• Flashbacks of the event
• Nightmares of the event
• Self blame and guilt
• Sweating when reminded or thinking of the event
• Nausea when reminded or thinking of the event
• Avoid places that remind you of the event
• Feel emotionally numb
• Have trouble sleeping
• Have trouble eating
• Feel irritable
• Have outburst of anger
• Feel on constant red alert
• Being easily startled

Those with PTSD feel constantly frightened like they are reliving the experience over and over again.

Being involved or seeing a traumatic event doesn’t always result in PTSD. Some people can recover in 6 months other times it can be chronic.