What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Something horrible has happened to you or someone close to you. For example a near death experience, a car accident, war experiences or being a victim of a violent crime.

The disorder can be divided into four parts the first is trauma, the second is re-experiencing the trauma, the third is avoiding anything which is a reminder of the trauma and finally the fourth is increased arousal.

Traumas are usually violent and deadly in nature. That overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. A complicating factor is the sense of being helpless or out of control. Being shot at is a common example. Being robbed, raped, beaten or tortured. Violent natural or man made events where death is possible.

The re-experiencing the trauma involves nightmares or flashbacks. People feel they are re-living, every aspect of the trauma. They may experience illusions and hallucinations of the traumatic event. (more…)