| According to the National Institute of Mental Health, | | | | common problem when student and workplace |
| (NIMH), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the 5 | | | | shootings occur. |
| recognized types of mental illness commonly known | | | | Stress disorder of the posttraumatic type can be |
| as anxiety disorders. While these five major | | | | characterized as an emotional rollercoaster that never |
| categories are significant, the complexity of mental | | | | ends. The fear and "shell shock" feeling of just going |
| disorders demand for segmentation into even more | | | | through a significant life threatening event can be |
| conditions. | | | | devastating. |
| The post-traumatic stress syndrome, or PTSD is | | | | Many PTSD disorder sufferers will regain their |
| commonly associated with veterans returning from a | | | | emotional equilibrium given enough time. Many find that |
| war zone. Further study however, has suggested that | | | | cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling can help |
| this disorder isn't limited to war zone veterans that can | | | | speed the process along. In some of the more |
| be identified and people who have had a significant | | | | extreme in serious cases medications have been used |
| negative event touch their lives. Understand that the | | | | effectively. |
| complexity of this illness isn't limited to simply mood | | | | One difficulty in living with post traumatic stress |
| swings but is embedded in general feeling caused by | | | | disorder symptoms is that seemingly on associated |
| an event. | | | | things are events can act as a trigger to cause panic |
| That event would naturally be very disturbing, unsettling | | | | and worry. A good example of this is after someone |
| or emotional scarring. These types of events may | | | | has broken into your home, every noise can become |
| include:a. A physically dangerous situation such as a | | | | a trigger to relive the event. Imagine a situation where |
| fire or automobile accident.b. A physical assault, rape, | | | | a creaking door brings a flood of thoughts about an |
| mugging, threats on your life etc.c. Personal property | | | | intruder in your home back into your memory. |
| assault. Theft, break in of your home, etc.d. A family | | | | Although far from being just a condition identified with |
| member, relative or close friend may have been | | | | returning war veterans, post traumatic stress has |
| involved in any of the above | | | | become a significant issue in our modern day world. |
| What's interesting is that a person who may be | | | | With the all too frequent mindless shootings in |
| suffering with post traumatic stress disorder isn't | | | | previously safe places like high schools and the |
| necessarily the person who was directly hurt by the | | | | workplace it's no wonder that post traumatic stress is |
| event. Throughout the US, many people who didn't lose | | | | a growing problem in our society. If you or a loved one |
| family in the World Trade Center on September 11 or | | | | is suffering from this stress disorder, get professional |
| even lives in New York City were dramatically and | | | | psychological help as soon as possible. |
| emotionally affected by the disaster. This is also a | | | | |