Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can be triggered by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. PTSD is a medical diagnosis that applies when someone has difficulty coping with the aftereffects of trauma to the point where it disrupts their lives months or even years after the trauma occurred. Symptoms often include reliving the event in your mind, as well as feeling emotionally numb, difficulty sleeping, and feelings of isolation. The symptoms can arise soon after the event occurs, or they may not appear until months or years later.

Examples of traumatic experiences that may cause PTSD include witnessing or experiencing physical or emotional abuse, being a victim of violent crime, going to war, or the death of a loved one.

PTSD affects people of all ages including an estimated five million American adults each year. An estimated 7 percent to 8 percent of the population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. There are effective treatments for PTSD but it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.