What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) is severe anxiety disorder that may develop as a
result of exposure to a terribly frightening, life-threatening,
or otherwise highly unsafe experience (i.e. trauma). This event
may involve the threat of death to oneself or someone else. It
could be a sexual or physical assault, unexpected death of a
loved one, an accident, war or a natural disaster. Post-
traumatic stress disorder is a lasting consequence of such
stressful ordeals. Many people who have experienced such
traumatic events will have reactions that include anger, shock,
fear, guilt, and nervousness. These reactions are common and
dissipate over time. However, for someone suffering from PTSD,
these feelings increase and often become so strong that they
prevent the person from living a normal life. Who Gets Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder? Everyone handles traumatic events
differently - just as each person handles fears, threats and
stresses in a unique way. That means that