Most types of stress in our life are fleeting or mere annoyances. However, after experiencing an intensely stressful trauma, such as witnessing a murder, fighting in a war, surviving a serious accident, or enduring sexual abuse, there is a risk that a person could have an equally intense reaction.
Posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) was once called "shell-shock" because it was mostly associated with soldiers who had been at war. Now it is used to apply to someone who goes through any severe trauma and develops certain symptoms and complications. Symptoms and complications include introversion,
flashbacks of the trauma, nightmares, insomnia, and extreme irritability.
Those who experience PTSD may require cognitive-behavioral therapy and treatment with medications. This disorder is quite rare - not everyone who experiences trauma develops this condition. But if you or someone you know have experienced a severe trauma, learn more about the signs of PTSD.