Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

(PTSD)

Daniel Ackerman
 What is PTSD?
PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder that
develops in some people who have experienced a shocking,
scary, or dangerous event. People with PTSD continue to
have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings, such as
flashbacks or nightmares, related to their experience that
can last long after the traumatic event has ended and they
are no longer in danger. PTSD can occur in all people no
matter what age, race or gender. People with PTSD may
avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic
event.
 Causes of
PTSD
• Living through dangerous events and traumas
• Getting hurt
• Seeing another person hurt, or seeing a dead
body
• Childhood trauma
• Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
• Having little or no social support after the
event
• Dealing with extra stress after the event, like
the loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss
of a job or home
• Having a history of mental illness or substance
abuse
 How does PTSD affect the mind/body?

PTSD can cause flashbacks in which you are reliving the

trauma. The flashbacks also causes physical symptoms
like a racing heart or sweating
PTSD can also cause bad dreams that are similar to
flashbacks
PTSD can cause you to never feel safe and have
frightening thoughts.
PTSD can also cause you to feel hyper or jittery and
always feel alert and on the lookout for danger.
You may also have trouble concentrating or sleeping.
Does PTSD Spread through genetics

No, PTSD only affects the person or people that witnessed

the traumatic event.
 How is PTSD treated?
And is it fatal?
•PTSD can lead some people to suicide but to
the majority of people PTSD is not Fatal
•Medications that are used for depression, also
work for PTSD.
•Psychotherapy allows the person to speak
about their experience until it no longer haunts
them as much
•Most types of talk therapy help the person
understand what happened to them.
 Fun Facts
- PTSD many names, such as “shell shock” during
WWI and “combat fatigue” after WWII. PTSD
does not just happen to veterans.
- PTSD affects about 3.5 percent of U.S. adults,
and one in 11 people will experience PTSD in
their life.
- Women are about twice as likely as men to
develop PTSD.
- Only half the number of adults suffering from
PTSD actually go and seek appropriate medical
help.
- 1 out of every 6 US soldiers coming back from
Iraq and Afghanistan has PTSD.
 Sources
• “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Feb. 2016, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
• “PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” What Is PTSD? , US Department of Veteran Affairs , 1 Jan. 2007,
www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/what-is-ptsd.asp
• “What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?” PTSD, American Psychiatric Association, Jan. 2017,
www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
• “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Fact Sheet.” Sidran.org, www.sidran.org/resources/for-survivors-and-loved-
ones/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-fact-sheet-2/