Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Symptoms of PTSD will generally begin within three months of the event, but in some cases a delayed onset may occur even a year or more later. Since everybody responds differently, the severity and duration of the illness may vary.

There are three main types of symptoms:

1. Re-experiencing the traumatic event (e.g., flashbacks, intrusive upsetting memories, of the event, nightmares, intense physical reactions, and intense distress when reminded of the trauma)
2. Avoiding reminders of the trauma (e.g., avoiding activities, places, and thoughts that remind you of the trauma, inability to remember important aspects for the trauma, loss of interest in activities, detached feeling towards others, and a sense of limited future)
3. Increased anxiety and emotional arousal (e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep, irritability, outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, feeling jumpy or easily startled)

Symptoms of PTSD in Children and Adolescents-presents differently

• Fear of being separated from a parent
• Losing previously-acquired skills (such as toilet training)
• Sleep problems and nightmares without recognizable content
• Somber, compulsive play in which themes or aspects of the trauma are repeated
• New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the trauma (such as a fear of monsters)
• Acting out the trauma through play, stories, or drawings
• Aches and pains with no apparent cause
• Irritability and aggression