PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a serious anxiety disorder that people usually get after experiencing a traumatic event. These events are often referred to as triggers. There are many events that can cause PTSD. The most common events are battle at war, sexual abuse or assault, traumatic accidents, and the loss of a loved one, usually a child or spouse. There are many symptoms of PTSD which make it hard to diagnose. These symptoms include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, and a fear of impending doom. In many cases it has been misdiagnosed as schizophrenia. And most all cases are diagnosed by a psychologist or psychiatrist after having symptoms that persist longer than thirty days, and undergoing an extensive psychological evaluation.
There is no cure, or any specific medication, for PTSD. And many different types of people can suffer from the effects of PTSD. Most of which are soldiers returning from war, and women who have fallen victim to sexual abuse. Children can also suffer from PTSD, usually brought on by some form of abuse. The more common signs that a child has PTSD are bed wetting, not talking, or even forgetting how to talk, and anti social, clingy, behavior. Teens can also be affected by PTSD, and show similar symptoms as adults, such as destructive, disruptive, and disrespectful behavior. People suffering from PTSD usually undergo two types of treatment, medications and psychotherapy, commonly referred to as >talk= therapy. Talk therapy has been effective in helping sufferers acknowledge, and avoid triggers, and cope with their symptoms of PTSD on a day to day basis. There are many different medications used to treat PTSD, which usually include a mixture of benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and anti psychotic. These drugs help reduce the main symptoms of PTSD, anxiety,