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York University (Canada) & Edinburgh University (UK)
Anxiety Disorders
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
People who are survivors of a traumatic event may suffer psychological stress and feel unable to regain control over their lives. Traumatic events include: physical and sexual violence, torture, kidnapping, road traffic accident, terminal illness, accidents, emotional, sexual, physical abuse, neglect, natural disasters, terrorist attacks and war.
In order to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) people have to experience the following symptoms for more than a month.
- Reliving the traumatic event through thoughts and/or intrusive images
- Sleep disturbances and Nightmares
- Numbness
- Experiencing anxiety and fear, especially when exposed to events or situations reminiscent of the trauma.
- Being on edge, being easily startled or becoming overly alert.
- Feeling depressed, irritable and sad
- Lack of energy.
- Difficulty in remembering aspects of the trauma.
- Feeling unable to concentrate and to focus on work or daily activities.
- Having difficulties in making decisions and in problem solving
- Feeling emotionally "numb," and detached from others
- Struggling to plan the future
- Tearfulness, desperation and hopelessness.
- Feeling extremely protective of, or fearful for, the safety of loved ones.
- Avoiding activities, places, conversation and/or people that remind them of the trauma.