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Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that some people develop after dealing with a traumatic event. The type of events that cause PTSD aren’t all the same, but they are typically shocking, scary, dangerous, or extremely negative in some way.
For many people, the emotions and issues that surround the wake of a traumatic event fade as time goes on. Usually, the most severe responses to a trauma begin to soften within a few weeks. When someone has PTSD, however, this isn’t the case. Those responses remain or recur, causing someone to relive the traumatic event or their response to it, especially when triggered by an unrelated event (such as a loud noise) or stress (such as an upcoming test or a fight with a loved one).
PTSD is experienced after trauma. But it’s not experienced by everyone who goes through trauma. Medical research indicates that certain types of traumas may create a higher risk of someone developing PTSD, and biological factors may also increase someone’s risk.
Some events that can put someone at risk of developing PTSD in the future include:
PTSD doesn’t typically manifest immediately after a traumatic event. During the first few days and weeks after a trauma, it’s natural for someone to feel disrupted and to react abnormally to a variety of situations. It’s only when this persists for as long as three months after an event that PTSD may be at play. In some cases, someone may appear to deal very well with an issue only to have PTSD symptoms show up weeks, months, or even years later.
Women are more likely to struggle with PTSD than men. However, certain types of traumatic events that can cause PTSD are more likely to be experienced by one gender over the other. For example, men are more likely to experience combat, and women are more likely to experience sexual assault.
Men | 4% |
Women | 10% |
Source: National Center for PTSD
PTSD isn’t a condition limited to adulthood. Children can also experience PTSD after living through a traumatic event, which can include a natural disaster, a car accident, or another event. The most common reason children deal with PTSD is abuse or neglect, however.
Type of Abuse | % of Cases Reported to Child Protective Services That Involve This Type |
Neglect | 64% |
Physical Abuse | 18% |
Sexual Abuse | 10% |
Mental Abuse | 7% |
Source: National Center for PTSD
PTSD symptoms vary by individual, but the diagnostic criteria for adults require that someone meet four requirements for one month or more to be officially diagnosed and treated for PTSD. Those requirements are:
Numerous treatments are available for PTSD. How and where someone is treated depends on their individual situation, mental health, and level of trauma. Here are some common methods for treating PTSD in both inpatient and outpatient environments.
The information presented in this guide is meant to be informational in nature and not act as medical advice or a treatment recommendation. The purpose of this page is to provide the public with information about PTSD. If you believe you or someone you love is dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, reach out for professional assistance from your general physician, a counselor, or a mental health clinic.