Home Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) can occur in anyone who has experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event. These events include military combat, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, accidents, muggings, assaults and rapes. Because rapes and childhood sexual molestation happen to females more often, women are more likely than men to develop PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

Re-experiencing-:

• Intrusive memories of the trauma
• Recurrent nightmares
• Flashbacks of the trauma
• Psychological distress or physical reactivity to cues that symbolize or resemble the trauma

Avoidance and numbing:

• Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with the trauma
• Efforts to avoid activities, places or people associated with the trauma
• Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma
• Diminished interest or participation in significant activities
• Detachment or estrangement from others
• Restricted range of emotions
• Foreshortened sense of the future

Increased arousal:

• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sense of being on guard
• Exaggerated startle response

People with PTSD frequently are more likely to develop depression, substance abuse, and other physical and mental ailments. Risk factors that may contribute to PTSD include a family history of anxiety, childhood abuse, or prior trauma.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing these symptoms you should consider scheduling a psychiatric evaluation through Dr. Westerback’s office by calling (805) 497-1618.