Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a

shocking, scary, or dangerous event. It is natural to feel afraid during and

after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the

body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight”

response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly

everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people

recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience

problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or

frightened even when they are not in danger.

Anyone can develop PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans, children, and

people who have been through a physical or sexual assault, abuse, accident,

disaster, or many other serious events. According to the National Center for

PTSD , about 7 or 8 out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point

in their lives. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and genes may

make some people more likely to develop PTSD than others.