Does This Sound Like You?

Have you lived through a very scary and dangerous event? Please put a check in the box next to any problems you have.

	I feel like the terrible event is happening all over again.This feeling often comes without warning.
	I have nightmares and scary memories of the terrifying event.
	I stay away from places that remind me of the event.
	I jump and feel very upset when something happens without warning.
	I have a hard time trusting or feeling close to other people.
	I get mad very easily.
	I feel guilty because others died and I lived.
	I have trouble sleeping, and my muscles are tense.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
PTSD is a real illness. People may get PTSD after living through a terrible and scary experience. It can be treated with medicine and therapy. You can get PTSD after you have been:

* Raped or sexually abused
* Hit or harmed by someone in your family
* A victim of a violent crime
* In an airplane or car crash
* In a hurricane, tornado, or fire

When does Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome and how long does it last?
For most people, PTSD starts within about three months of the terrible event. For some people, signs of PTSD don’t show up until years later. PTSD can happen to anyone at any age. Even children can have it. Some people get better within six months, while others may have the illness for much longer.

Am I the only one with this illness?
No. You are not alone. In any year, 5.2 million Americans have PTSD.

What can I do to help myself?
Talk to your doctor about the terrible event and your feelings. Tell your doctor if you have scary memories, depression, trouble sleeping, or anger. Tell your doctor if these problems keep you from doing everyday things and living your life. You may want to show your doctor this booklet. It can help you explain how you feel. Ask your doctor for a checkup to make sure you don’t have some other illness.

Whatever the source of the problem, some people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections during the day. They may also experience other sleep problems, feel detached or numb, or be easily startled. They may lose interest in things they used to enjoy and have trouble feeling affectionate. They may feel irritable, more aggressive than before, or even violent. Things that remind them of the trauma may be very distressing, which could lead them to avoid certain places or situations that bring back those memories. Anniversaries of the traumatic event are often very difficult.

PTSD affects about 5.2 million adult Americans. Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. It can occur at any age, including childhood, and there is some evidence that susceptibility to PTSD may run in families. The disorder is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or one or more other anxiety disorders. In severe cases, the person may have trouble working or socializing. In general, the symptoms seem to be worse if the event that triggered them was deliberately initiated by a person—such as a rape or kidnapping.

Ordinary events can serve as reminders of the trauma and trigger flashbacks or intrusive images. A person having a flashback, which can come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic event is happening all over again. Not every traumatized person gets full-blown PTSD, or experiences PTSD at all. PTSD is diagnosed only if the symptoms last more than a month. In those who do develop PTSD, symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the trauma, and the course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, others have symptoms that last much longer. In some cases, the condition may be chronic. Occasionally, the illness doesn’t show up until years after the traumatic event.

People with PTSD can be helped by medications and carefully targeted psychotherapy.

For more information on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, an anxiety disorder, see Appendix VIII.