Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is an anxiety disorder that some individuals develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Others may develop the disorder after a person close to them experiences danger, is seriously injured, or dies suddenly.
Some people experience symptoms right after the event or trauma, but for others, symptoms may not appear or become a problem until much later.
Symptoms may include: repeatedly thinking about the trauma, nightmares or flashbacks; being constantly on guard, feeling anxious, feeling irritable or easily angered, an inability to concentrate, avoiding people or places that you associate with the trauma, loss of interest, keeping to yourself; panic attacks, physical symptoms, difficulty functioning in your daily life, abuse of alcohol or drugs, relationship problems, depression.
The effects of this condition can make day-to-day functioning difficult. Sometimes the symptoms are so bad, they interfere with an individual’s ability to work, in which case, they might be eligible for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income.
