Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury.

People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they experience episodes of depersonalisation and derealisation when they feel detached or estranged from themselves, reality or other people. 

People with PTSD are usually overly alert and manifest strong negative reactions to loud noise or an accidental touch.

They also tend to avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event.

People with PTSD have been usually directly exposed to trauma. However, the exposure can be also indirect. For example, PTSD can occur in an individual learning about the violent death of a close family member or friend. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to horrible details of trauma.