This content has been updated from previous article on May 5, 2020.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that affects approximately 3.5% of adults in the United States. Though commonly linked to combat veterans, this disorder can affect anyone who has survived or witnessed a traumatic event. These could range from surviving natural disasters, violent acts such as domestic violence, sexual assault or rape, accidents, sudden loss of loved one, childhood trauma, etc.
In general, PTSD causes people to have intense thoughts and feelings related to a traumatic event long after the event ends. These thoughts and feelings can manifest as many different symptoms, which vary from person to person. Though each person with PTSD is unique, there is one common thread that unites all cases: the disorder severely impacts daily life.
PTSD can have a profound impact on daily life, influencing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The effects of PTSD can manifest in various ways, making even the simplest tasks challenging for those affected. Many relive or re-experience the traumatic event itself via flashbacks/nightmares, some develop emotional numbness and avoidance to the people, places, or situations that remind the individual of the traumatic event, and others experience negative thoughts and mood with abundance of guilt and blame related to the traumatic event.
Even for people living with the condition, it can be difficult to see the many ways in which PTSD changes daily life. However, identifying these effects can be the first step toward repairing the damage and healing.