Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is an anxiety problem that develops in some people after extremely traumatic events, such as combat, crime, an accident or natural disaster.
People with PTSD may relive the event via intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares; avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma; and have anxious feelings they didn’t have before that are so intense their lives are disrupted.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
What You Can Do
Veterans' Mental Health Care Emphasizes Recovery and Return to Full and Meaningful Lives
Six questions for VA’s chief consultant of Mental Health Services
Helping families cope with PTSD
Psychologists study ways to address PTSD in the context of relationships.
Veterans say experimental PTSD treatment has changed their lives
January 13, 2015, The Washington Post
Do most people get PTSD after terrifying incidents?
December 1, 2014, BBC News
PTSD raises the risk of premature birth
November 6, 2014, Time