Guide To The Major Types Of Anxiety Disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that occurs after an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Some of the most common symptoms are serious anxiety, uncontrolled thoughts surrounding the event, nightmares, and flashbacks. The majority of individuals who experience trauma have some difficulty with coping. However, in post-traumatic stress disorder patients, the symptoms tend to get worse over the following months and years. Treatment helps improve overall functioning and reduce symptoms. For some individuals, symptoms start in the month that follows the initial event. Others don't experience symptoms until years after the event happened. The symptoms lead to problems with social functioning and work, and they may also make it difficult to practice basic self-care and chores. Researchers have grouped symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder into four categories: negative changes in mood or thoughts, changes in emotional or physical reactions, avoidance, and intrusive memories.