Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common disorder in which a person experiences disabling anxiety following a traumatic event. Symptoms include increased startle response, feeling numb, irritability, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, aggressiveness or even violence, sleep disturbance, nightmares, flashbacks (where you feel like you are reliving the event), difficulty trusting others, and avoidance of people, places or things that remind you of the trauma. Symptoms usually begin within a few months of the traumatic event but can also occur years afterward. Depression, substance abuse, and anxiety can accompany this disorder. People with PTSD often feel alone, weak, or “crazy.” Psychotherapy can help you work through your traumatic experience.