Post traumatic stress disorder

I've been surfing the net, reading up more about PTSD. I've been interested in PTSD for several years now, ever since it appears that it applies to me.

This is what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it. See www.mayoclinic.com.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder typically begin within three months of a traumatic event. In a small number of cases, though, PTSD symptoms may not occur until years after the event.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are commonly grouped into three types: intrusive memories, avoidance and numbing, and increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyperarousal).

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:

• Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time
• Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event

Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing may include:

• Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
• Feeling emotionally numb
• Avoiding activities you once enjoyed
• Hopelessness about the future
• Memory problems
• Trouble concentrating
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships

Symptoms of anxiety and increased emotional arousal may include:

• Irritability or anger
• Overwhelming guilt or shame
• Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
• Trouble sleeping
• Being easily startled or frightened
• Hearing or seeing things that aren't there

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can come and go. You may have more post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms during times of higher stress or when you experience reminders of what you went through. You may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences, for instance. Or you may see a report on the news about a rape, and feel again the horror and fear of your own assault.

Diagnosis

To be diagnosed with PTSD, you must meet criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association. This manual is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions.

Criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder to be diagnosed include:

• You experienced or witnessed an event that involved death or serious injury, or the threat of death or serious injury
• Your response to the event involved intense fear, horror or a sense of helplessness
• You relive experiences of the event, such as having distressing images and memories, upsetting dreams, flashbacks, or even physical reactions
• You try to avoid situations or things that remind you of the traumatic event or feel a sense of emotional numbness
• You feel as if you're constantly on guard or alert for signs of danger, which may make you have trouble sleeping or concentrating
• Your symptoms last longer than one month
• The symptoms cause significant distress in your life or interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks