Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition affecting people who have suffered severe emotional trauma as a result of an experience such as combat, crime, or natural disaster, and causing sleep disturbances, flashbacks, anxiety, tiredness, and depression. (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861737700/post-traumatic _stress_disorder.html)
Only a qualified health care professional can diagnose one with PTSD. However, below are the symptoms used to make that determination. If you have one or more of the first five symptoms, three or more of the next seven, and two or more of the final five, please consult your doctor.
1) Painful images, memories, or thoughts of the event.
2) Distressing dreams of the event.
3) Feeling event is recurring, or that you are reliving it.
4) Being upset by something that reminded you of the event.
5) Being physically upset by reminders of the event (including sweating, trembling, racing heart, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea).
6) Avoiding any thoughts or feelings about the event.
7) Avoiding doing things or going into situations that remind you of the event.
8) Inability to recall important parts of the event.
9) Difficulty enjoying things.
10) Feeling distant or cut off from other people.
11) Inability to have sad or loving feelings.
12) Difficulty imagining having a long life span and fulfilling your goals.
13) Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
14) Irritability or outbursts of anger.
15) Difficulty concentrating.
16) Feeling on edge, being easily distracted, or needing to stay on guard.
17) Being jumpy or easily startled.
Only a qualified health care professional can diagnose one with PTSD. However, below are the symptoms used to make that determination. If you have one or more of the first five symptoms, three or more of the next seven, and two or more of the final five, please consult your doctor.
1) Painful images, memories, or thoughts of the event.
2) Distressing dreams of the event.
3) Feeling event is recurring, or that you are reliving it.
4) Being upset by something that reminded you of the event.
5) Being physically upset by reminders of the event (including sweating, trembling, racing heart, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea).
6) Avoiding any thoughts or feelings about the event.
7) Avoiding doing things or going into situations that remind you of the event.
8) Inability to recall important parts of the event.
9) Difficulty enjoying things.
10) Feeling distant or cut off from other people.
11) Inability to have sad or loving feelings.
12) Difficulty imagining having a long life span and fulfilling your goals.
13) Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
14) Irritability or outbursts of anger.
15) Difficulty concentrating.
16) Feeling on edge, being easily distracted, or needing to stay on guard.
17) Being jumpy or easily startled.