About post traumatic stress disorder

 

Typical events that can cause post traumatic stress disorder PTSD include:

• Having your life threatened, perhaps by another person or a disaster
• Being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness
• War
• Being held up or mugged
• Rape or other sexual assault
• Being involved in a motor vehicle accident, or seeing one close up
• Physical or mental abuse
• Finding someone who is badly injured or who is dead
•  

Because the event that caused PTSD is so horrible, the person's life is affected to such a degree that their previous 'normal' life is sometimes totally disrupted, and individuals who suffer from PTSD may be at greater risk of physical, mental and social health problems

Because no one can truly understand how the person feels, other people may say things like "But you should be over that by now", or "Pull yourself together". While these comments may be well-intentioned, they can come across as being critical. Not wishing people to believe that he or she is behaving irrationally or like a weakling, the sufferer of PTSD may begin to retreat from their family and friends, or seek refuge with others who are more understanding.

In addition, the person may also try to block out the memory by using drugs, such as recreational drugs, alcohol, or sleeping pills. Situations or places might also be avoided in an effort to block out the thoughts. Avoidance, either through the use of drugs o