Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops after a traumatic event. PTSD has also been called shell shock or battle fatigue.

The exact cause of PTSD is unknown. PTSD is triggered by exposure to a traumatic event. Situations in which a person feels intense fear, helplessness, or horror are considered traumatic. PTSD has been reported in people who experienced:

• War
• Rape
• Physical assault
• Earthquakes
• Fire
• Sexual abuse
• Motor vehicle accidents

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD are more likely to occur if the person has:

• Previous traumatic experiences
• A history of being physically abused
• Poor coping skills
• Lack of social support
• Existing ongoing stress
• A social environment that produces shame, guilt, stigmatization, or self-hatred
• Alcohol abuse
• Family psychiatric history

People with PTSD experience symptoms of anxiety. These symptoms fall into three categories:

• Re-experiencing of the event
  • Dreams/nightmares
  • Flashbacks
  • Anxious reactions to reminders of the event
  • Hallucinations
• Avoidance
  • Avoiding close emotional contact with family and friends
  • Avoiding people or places that are reminders of the event
  • Loss of memory about the event
  • Feelings of detachment, numbness
• Arousal
  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Anger and irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Being easily startled

Physical symptoms may also occur such as:

• Stomach and digestive problems
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• Dizziness

People with PTSD may also abuse alcohol or drugs .

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. This could be done by a structured interview and/or a questionnaire. You will also likely be given a psychological assessment. PTSD will be diagnosed if you have the specified symptoms, they last for more than one month, and they result in both emotional distress and disturbed functioning (problems at school, work, and/or in family and peer relationships).

PTSD is categorized according to when symptoms occur and how long they last. There are three types of PTSD:

• Acute—symptoms last between 1-3 months after the event
• Chronic—symptoms last more than three months after the event
• Delayed onset—symptoms don't appear until at least six months after the event

There is no definitive treatment nor is there a cure for PTSD. A variety of therapies can help relieve symptoms. You will not begin treatment for PTSD until after you are completely removed from the traumatic event. You will first receive treatment for severe depression , suicidal tendencies, drug or alcohol abuse.

Cognitive-behavior therapy involves changing your thinking patterns to improve symptoms. Your therapist may teach you techniques to manage anxiety, stress, and anger.

In exposure therapy, the therapist brings back the imagery of the event in a safe place. You are gradually guided through a visualization. Re-experiencing the trauma in a controlled environment can help you let go of fear and gain control over the anxiety. For example, a study involving female military personnel found that exposure therapy was effective in relieving PTSD symptoms.

Meeting in a group with other survivors of trauma can be an effective and powerful form of therapy for PTSD sufferers.

Medication may help with anxiety, depression, and insomnia . Usually antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed. Anti-anxiety medications may be used in the short term and/or beta-blockers in the long term to calm some of the physical symptoms of severe PTSD.