Living With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a mental health condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. When events such as a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault occur, it is common to have upsetting memories, uneasy feelings, or trouble sleeping. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. It's important to remember that not everyone who experiences or witnesses trauma will develop PTSD.

PTSD is characterized by three main types of symptoms:

• Re-experiencing the trauma through recollections of the event, flashbacks, or nightmares.

• Emotional numbness and avoidance of places, people, and activities that are reminders of the trauma.

• Increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, feeling jumpy, and being easily irritated and angered.

On average 7 or 8 out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. Some factors that increase risk for PTSD include:

• Living through dangerous or traumatic events

• Getting hurt

• Seeing others get hurt or seeing a dead body

• Childhood trauma or abuse

• Having little or no support after the event

• Dealing with extra stress after the event, such as a death in the family, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home.

• Having a history of mental illness or substance abuse

Avoidance is a common reaction to trauma and it is natural to want to avoid thoughts or feelings associated with the event(s). When avoidance becomes the main way you cope and is interfering with your emotional recovery and healing it may be time to seek help. Talk to your doctor or mental health care professional about treatment as soon as possible to help prevent PTSD symptoms from worsening.