PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A highly stressful, terrifying, or distressing event can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can cause nightmares, flashbacks, feelings of guilt, isolation, and irritability.

Additionally, they may have difficulties sleeping, such as insomnia and concentration problems.

The symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to impact the person’s daily life significantly.

Causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Any situation that a person finds traumatic can cause PTSD.

These can include:

• serious road accidents
• violent personal assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery
• serious health problems
• childbirth experiences

A person can develop PTSD right after experiencing a disturbing event or weeks, months, or even years later.

One in three people with traumatic experiences are estimated to develop PTSD, but it’s unclear why some people develop it, and others don’t.