Introduction
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a label for the range of symptoms that one may experience days, weeks, months or even years after being exposed to a traumatic event or series of events.
These traumatic events include:
- child abuse and domestic abuse
- violent attacks, such as rape, mugging, or torture
- threats of violence or verbal abuse, such as bullying
- disasters, both natural and human-caused
- being kidnapped or held captive
- military combat
- accidents
Occasionally Post Traumatic Stress Disorder arises from witnessing the trauma of another person, particularly a friend or relative. The events usually involve a threat to the person's life or physical integrity. The immediate feelings are shock, horror, helplessness and intense fear. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is unique amongst mental disorders because the person has to have been exposed to a traumatic event to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.