Facts about PTSD
- About 7 or 8 out of every 100 people (or 7-8% of the population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
- About 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year. This is only a small portion of those who have gone through a trauma.
- About 10 of every 100 women (or 10%) develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared with about 4 of every 100 men (or 4%).
Possible causes of PTSD
- Serious road accidents;
- Violent personal assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery;
- Prolonged sexual abuse, violence or severe neglect;
- Witnessing violent deaths;
- Military combat;
- Being held hostage;
- Terrorist attacks;
- Natural disasters, such as severe floods, earthquakes or tsunamis;
- Diagnosis of a life-threatening condition;
- An unexpected severe injury or death of a close family member or friend.
Symptoms of PTSD
- Physical pain such as headaches or migraines, dizziness, fatigue, chest pain, breathing difficulties, stomach and digestive issues;
- Nightmares or flashbacks;
- Depression or anxiety;
- Withdrawal;
- Avoidance;
- Repression, or the intentional blockage of memories associated with a past event or experience;
- Emotional numbing;
- Hyper-arousal, jitters, impossibility to relax;
- Irritability;
- Guilt and shame.
Post traumatic stress disorder, (PTSD), has a complex and wide ranging set of symptoms. PTSD results when a person is exposed to an event in which they feel their life or someone they care about is threatened. The event causes changes in the brain which result in anxiety, depression, nightmare, intrusive memories and other emotional reactions. These symptoms impact the sufferer’s ability to relate to others and to work or even enjoy everyday life. Therapy, usually paired with medications, can help people understand their disorder and manage the symptoms and impact on their life.
