Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur after experiencing or witnessing life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents or violent personal assaults such as rape. Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time.

Some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own or may get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping and feel detached or estranged. These symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to impair the person’s daily life significantly.

Clear biological changes mark PTSD as well as psychological symptoms. PTSD frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, substance abuse, memory and cognition problems, and other physical and mental health problems.

The disorder impairs a person’s ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces, family discord and difficulties in parenting.

Source: U.S. Department

of Veterans Affairs