Post-traumatic+Stress+Disorder



Is PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) a chemical imbalance?

Events that can bring on post-traumatic stress disorder:
 * war
 * torture
 * rape
 * child sexual or physical assault
 * physical assault
 * being kidnapped
 * terrorism
 * a natural disaster (e.g. a bushfire, flood or cyclone)
 * a major car accident
 * being diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness e.g. cancer
 * finding the body of someone who has committed suicide or been murdered

“I was raped when I was 25 years old. For a long time, I spoke about the rape as though it was something that happened to someone else. I was very aware that it had happened to me, but there was just no feeling.” “Then I started having flashbacks. They kind of came over me like a splash of water. I would be terrified. Suddenly I was reliving the rape. Every instant was startling. I wasn’t aware of anything around me, I was in a bubble, just kind of floating. And it was scary. Having a flashback can wring you out.” “The rape happened the week before Thanksgiving, and I can’t believe the anxiety and fear I feel every year around the anniversary date. It’s as though I’ve seen a werewolf. I can’t relax, can’t sleep, don’t want to be with anyone. I wonder whether I’ll ever be free of this terrible problem.” Taken from "NIMH · Anxiety Disorders · Post" 2008. WebTrends Inc. 27 Feb 2008 