Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event or series of events. These events may involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD can vary widely but typically include intrusive memories of the traumatic event, flashbacks, nightmares, and intense distress or physiological reactions when reminded of the event. Individuals with PTSD may also avoid reminders of the trauma, experience negative changes in mood or cognition, and display heightened arousal or reactivity, such as irritability, difficulty sleeping, or being easily startled.
Treatment Options
Treatment often involves therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which aims to help individuals process the traumatic experience and develop coping mechanisms to manage symptoms. Medications may also be prescribed in some cases to alleviate specific symptoms associated with PTSD, such as anxiety or depression.
