Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event that is extremely stressful, frightening, or life-threatening. Such events include physical or sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, warfare, or other threats to a person's safety or well-being
. People with PTSD often relive the traumatic event through flashbacks or nightmares and may experience severe distress, feelings of isolation, irritability, guilt, difficulty sleeping, and trouble concentrating. These symptoms persist for more than a month and significantly interfere with daily functioning
. PTSD can affect anyone regardless of age, ethnicity, or culture, and while many people experience trauma, not everyone develops PTSD. The disorder may also coexist with other conditions like depression or substance use disorders
. Treatment options include psychotherapy (such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and medications like antidepressants. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve outcomes, even if PTSD develops long after the trauma
. In summary, PTSD is a psychiatric disorder caused by exposure to traumatic events, characterized by lasting distressing symptoms that disrupt a person's life
