Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that occurs after someone has experienced trauma, the threat of trauma, or even witnessed a traumatic event. Symptoms can include severe anxiety, flashbacks to the event, and unwanted and uncontrollable thoughts regarding the event.
Every person has a built-in fight-or-flight response that helps to protect them in dangerous situations. In the case of someone with PTSD, however, the fight-or-flight response is triggered in the body when situations or events merely remind the person of the trauma or whenever similar kinds of events occur. Even when the events or memories are less intense, the reaction can still be extreme.
Though it is normal for a person to experience disturbing memories and have trouble sleeping after suffering trauma, with time and good care, most people recover on their own. However, if the symptoms last for months or even years, then it is probable that the person has PTSD.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not always occur right away. It is quite possible for a person to develop PTSD months or even years after the trauma occurred, causing relationship problems and issues at work.
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