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What is the full form of PTSD

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PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a mental condition that develops in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic or terrifying event such as:

• Natural Disasters
• Car or plane crash
• Terrorist attack
• Sudden death of a loved one
• Kidnapping
• Sexual assault

The treatment of PTSD involves medications and psychotherapy (talk therapy) or both. The diagnosis of PTSD is confirmed after a person continuously experiences symptoms for at least one month after the traumatic event. The key symptoms that indicate this disorder can be divided into four categories:

1) Re-experiencing the traumatic event:

• Flashbacks and nightmare of the event
• Upsetting memories of the event
• Getting upset when reminded of the trauma
• Intense physical responses to reminders of the event like rapid breathing, nausea, sweating

2) Avoidance and numbing:

• Avoiding activities, places and people that remind the trauma
• Losing interest in work, or other general activities
• Feeling detached from family, friends and being emotionally numb

3) Hyperarousal:

• Difficult sleeping
• Easily get irritated and angered
• Hypervigilance ( continuously on “red alert”)
• Feeling anxious and get easily upset
• Difficulty remembering things
• Depression and hopelessness

4) Negative thought and mood changes:

• Loss of interest in recreational activities
• Distorted feelings of guilt, blame etc
• Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
• Feeling alone or alienated