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What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD is a real illness. People may get PTSD after living through a disturbing or frightening experience. It can be treated with medicine and therapy.

• 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
• In a war,
• In an event where you thought you might be killed, or
• After you have seen any of these events.

If you have PTSD, you often have nightmares or scary thoughts about the experience you went through. You try to stay away from anything that reminds you of your experience.

You may feel angry and unable to trust or care about other people. You may always be on the lookout for danger. You can feel very upset when something happens suddenly or without warning.

When does PTSD start and how long does it last?

For most people, PTSD starts within about three months of the 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 person 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 the experience that upset you.
  Tell you doctor if you have scary memories, if you feel sad, if you have trouble sleeping, or if you are angry all the time. 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 explain how you feel. Ask your doctor for a checkup to make sure you don't have some other illness.
• Ask your doctor if he or she has helped people with PTSD.
  Special training helps doctors treat people with PTSD. If your doctor doesn't have special training, ask for the name of a doctor or counselor who does.
• Get more information. Call 1-866-615-6464 to have free information mailed to you.

You can feel better.

What can a doctor or counselor do to help me?

• Doctor may give you medicine to help you feel less afraid and tense. It may take a few weeks for the medicine to work.
• Talking to a specially trained doctor or counselors helps many people with PTSD. This is called "therapy." Therapy can help you work through your terrible experience.

To read more from the National Institute for Mental Health, please click here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-a-real-illness/1-what-is-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd.shtml