Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Exposure to a traumatic event can result in PSTD. Traumatic events can include natural disasters, car accident, witnessing a murder or death, sexual or physical assault, and military related events. When the symptoms of PSTD interfere with daily life, the disorder may be diagnosed.

Symptoms:

• Re-experiencing the even through thoughts and dreams.
• Avoidance of activities that the person associates with the trauma.
• Loss of interest or detachment from present life.
• Hypersensitivity including sleeplessness, irritability, overactive startle response.

PSTD affects people of any age. Symptoms generally occurs within three months of the event, although there are cases where it occurs after six months. Also, it may occur years after the event if there is a trigger like an anniversary.

Articles

• Hurricane Katrina: Coping When Leaders Fail by Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach
• Refugee v. Evacuee: Hurricane Disaster Languaging Matters by Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach