Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances. An individual may experience this as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening and may affect mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being.

Examples of events that can cause include natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorist acts, war/combat, rape/sexual assault, historical trauma, intimate partner violence and bullying,

Many PTSD sufferers require medical treatment to overcome their psychological distress, which can be severe and impairing.

Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response. These symptoms last for more than a month after the event.

It is important to remember that not everyone who suffers trauma goes on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and not everyone with PTSD needs psychological treatment. For some people, symptoms of PTSD gradually disappear over time or get better. Others improve with the help of their support network (family or friends). However, many PTSD sufferers require medical treatment to overcome their psychological distress, which can be severe and impairing. Treatment usually involves a combination of special types of Psychotherapy and Medication Management.