What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a severe mental health condition that develops due to terrible events. These can be stressful or terrifying problems that might occur in someone’s life, such as watching a loved one die, experiencing war, or nearly dying in a very frightening scenario or situation. 

If someone experiences multiple traumatic events, they might develop complex posttraumatic stress disorder. This condition is a lot more intricate and challenging to manage because these interrelated traumas might require unraveling several complex emotions and mental health issues.

How Does It Develop?

Understanding the potential triggers can help both of us plan your treatment more effectively:

• Sexual assault at any age, particularly when very young
• Serious accidents, such as a nearly deadly car accident 
• Dangerous physical abuse or injuries that cause a lot of pain 
• Childbirth experiences, especially troubling or difficult ones 
• Severe health problems that threaten your life and safety 
• Depression or anxiety that worsens the intensity of your symptoms 
• War, conflict, or torture (specific to soldiers or those in war zones)

What Are Its Symptoms?

If you think you have posttraumatic stress disorder, look for symptoms like:

• Unwanted and upsetting memories of the trauma that keep recurring 
• Reliving the moment as it happened (a flashback)
• Dreams or nightmares about it that seem very real
• Extreme emotional distress or physical reactions to the event 
• Trying to avoid talking or even thinking about that incident again 
• Staying away from anything that might remind you of the event 
• Negative thoughts and emotions related to the event
• Memory problems related to the event or other incidents 
• Detachment from friends and family that can become extreme 
• Emotional numbness that might adversely impact your positive emotions