Symptoms Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder: when trauma means more than physical hurt Symptoms Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Symptoms Post Traumatic Stress Disorder People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have three types of complaints:

• Reliving the trauma again and again. The person relives the trauma through visions of the incident, nightmares and ‘flashbacks’ (feeling as if the traumatic incident is repeating itself at the present time).

•Avoiding things. The person avoids situations that remind her of the traumatic incident; she is unable to remember

things related to the trauma; and feels emotionally distant from people.

•Increased arousal. This means feeling more ‘awake’.

Sleep is disturbed, the person feels irritable, has difficulty concentrating and is easily startled or scared. Panic attacks can occur.

In addition, many patients with PTSD feel depressed and lose interest in daily life, feel tired or suffer aches and pains, and have suicidal feelings. People with PTSD experience difficulties in working, relationships with others and, in the case of children, studying.