By Sami Shields of ContemporaryVA
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape, or other violent personal assault. PTSD is a real illness that causes real suffering.

PTSD has been known by many names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the years of World War I and “combat fatigue” after World War II. But PTSD does not just happen to combat veterans. PTSD occurs in men and women, in people of any ethnicity, nationality, or culture, and at any age.

While it is normal for anxiety to occur right after a traumatic event, PTSD develops later–sometimes weeks or months after the event. Symptoms of anxiety that begin within four weeks of after a traumatic event and resolve within four weeks–for example, having nightmares for a week after being in a car accident–are classified as “acute stress disorder,” and are considered to be normal. PTSD, on the other hand, develops weeks to months after the traumatic event, and symptoms can last longer.

PTSD can develop after you experience a traumatic event. Personal traumatic experiences that can lead to PTSD include military combat, torture, violent personal assault (sexual assault, rape, physical attack, robbery, mugging), being kidnapped, being taken hostage, experiencing natural or man-made disasters, severe automobile accidents, or being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. You do not have to deal with PTSD all on your own, there is great help. Contact Never Give Up, LLC, today!

Are you currently struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Let us know in the comments below or send a message here.