DISORDER Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of anxiety that develops after a very distressing, frightening, or stressful event, such as a natural disaster, serious accident, assault, or military combat.
Symptoms may occur soon after the event or not for months, or, rarely, years later. They may include involuntary thoughts or flashbacks of the event, nightmares, insomnia, and panic attacks, with symptoms such as trembling, sweating, breathlessness, palpitations, and lightheadedness.
There may also be avoidance of reminders of the event and refusal to talk about it, irritability, and emotional numbness. PTSD may also lead to problems such as depression or alcohol or drug abuse.
In some cases, PTSD clears up without treatment. If it lasts for more than about a month, psychotherapy, antidepressants, or both may be recommended.