PTSD

476 Words2 Pages
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD as it is better known, is an anxiety disorder caused by an event with a possibility of extreme injury or death. PTSD can occur immediately after the traumatizing event or it can occur more than 6 months after the trauma. PTSD usually gets better around 3 months after it begins and lasts for at least one month, although some people have developed a long-lasting type of PTSD which can last for years. PTSD has been shown to be caused by natural disasters, or virtually any trauma in the world. The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 caused PTSD in many people. Some of the people were not even present at the event and only witnessed it from afar or on TV. PTSD is also shown to be caused by other events…show more content…
These categories are Intrusive, Avoidant, and Hyperarousal. Intrusive means reliving or re-experiencing the traumatic events. This can happen through flashbacks of the event, such as combat flashbacks, nightmares, such as a dream of being trapped in a burning building, and even feeling anxious as if you are back in the traumatic situation. It is believed that the trauma survivors reacts the way they do to stressful situations because they are reminded or the traumatic event. Survivors might be too worried about safety even in situations where there is more than adequate safety. All of the symptoms of this category are automatic responses to the traumatic event that the mind and body of the survivor are still trying to cope with. The avoidance symptoms of PTSD include avoiding social situations, having a general loss of interest, finding it hard to express or feel love or other emotions towards others, shutting yourself away from society, and not feeling any pain or other sensation. When people have experienced trauma, any reminders or recollection of the trauma is upsetting to the survivor. Because of this, they tend to avoid society or crowded places. In the hyperarousal category of PTSD is where symtptoms such as panic attacks, being angry, or having trouble sleeping. Panic attacks can be triggered by many things including but not limited to sounds, such as a helicopter reminding a veteran of combat, a smell, such as smoke reminding someone of a fire, or a sight, such as blood reminding someone of an
Open Document