Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental disorder that people may develop after experiencing traumatic events.
Here are some of the symptoms of PTSD:
- Intrusive memories associated with traumatic events (e.g., flashbacks, distressing dreams, intense distress when expose to cues associated with trauma)
- Avoidance (e.g., avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event; avoid people, situations, objects, activities, conversation, places that are associated with traumatic event)
- Cognitive and mood changes (e.g., inability to remember traumatic event, distorted beliefs, persistently feeling negative emotions, feelings of detachment, loss of interest, inability to feel positive emotions,
- Alterations in arousal and reactivity (hypervigilance, reckless, exaggerated startle response, reduced concentration, sleep disturbance, irritable, etc.
If you think you or your beloved ones have PTSD, seek help.
Reference: National Institute of Mental Health, 2016; American Psychiatric Association, 2013