What is post-traumatic stress?

We commonly think of veterans who suffer from PTSD because of their experience in war, but post-traumatic stress extends well beyond the battlefield to persons who experience trauma in everyday life. Post (after) trauma stress occurs after a traumatic event has occurred. In this case, a traumatic event is defined as being exposed to an actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence.

This event might be directly experienced or as a bystander. Someone may also experience the event through secondary trauma--that is, learning about it through someone who experienced the event.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized by several key symptoms:

• reliving the event through flashbacks or nightmares

• avoiding things that remind you of what happened. This could be situations, people, or events. E.g. you avoid driving because of a bad car accident.

• having more negative thoughts. Maybe you feel guilt and shame, or cannot have caring thoughts about those you love

• feeling on edge or "keyed up"--called 'hyperarousal,' means that you're on the lookout for danger