3.15: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after living through or seeing a dangerous event. It can also occur after a sudden traumatic event. This can include:

• Being a victim of or seeing violence
• Being a victim of sexual or physical abuse or assault
• The death or serious illness of a loved one
• Fighting in a war
• A severe car crash or a plane crash
• Hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires

You can start having PTSD symptoms right after the event or symptoms can develop months or even years later. Symptoms may include:

• Nightmares
• Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again
• Staying away from places and things that remind you of what happened
• Being irritable, angry, or jumpy
• Feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling numb
• Having trouble remembering the event

Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop PTSD than men. Also, people with ongoing stress in their lives are more likely to develop PTSD after a dangerous event.

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