Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that occurs and develops in some individuals after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. (psychiatry.org)
PTSD affects nearly 3.5 percent of the U.S population (psychiatry.org)
1 in 11 people are estimated to be diagnosed with PTSD within their lifetime (psychiatry.org)
Women are further prone to experience PTSD compared to men (nami.org)
Symptoms of PTSD typically commence within 3 months of a traumatic event, but can sometimes start years later.
Symptoms of PTSD can fall into four categories: Re-experiencing type symptoms, Avoidance, Cognitive and mood symptoms and Arousal symptoms. (nami.org)
Re-experiencing type symptoms entails a person having persistent, spontaneous and intrusive distressing memories (nami.org)
Avoidance could lead a person refraining from certain areas, people or potential events/scenarios that may generate reminders of the traumatic events. (nami.org)
Cognitive and mood symptoms could consist of issues recalling the traumatic event, having negative thoughts about themselves. A person may feel depressed, guilty, worried and more. Cognitive symptoms could develop out-of-body experiences or feelings of the world is “not real” also known as derealization. (nami.org)
Arousal Symptoms could cause an individual to be anxious or constantly alert for any potential danger. Arousal symptoms could include:
Having angry outbursts
Feeling tense or “on edge”
Sleeping difficulties
Being startled easily (medlineplus.gov)
In order to be diagnosed with PTSD a person must have all of the four symptoms for at least a month (nimh.nih.gov)
Children and teens can also have severe responses to trauma (nimh.nih.gov)
Symptoms of adolescents 6 years old and younger who experienced trauma can include:
Forgetting how to or being unable to talk
Wetting the bed after having learned to use the toilet
Acting out the scary event during playtime
Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult (nimh.nih.gov)
Older children and teens may have a tendency to display symptoms similar to adults with PTSD. (nimh.nih.gov)
Older kids and teens also may acquire destructive, disruptive or disrespectful behaviors (medlineplus.gov)
Risk factors that can increase the likelihood for PTSD
Getting hurt
Having a history of mental illness or substance abuse
Childhood trauma
Living through dangerous events and traumas
Having little or no social support after the event
Dealing with extra stress after the event
Seeing another person hurt, or seeing a dead body (medlineplus.gov)