Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that develops in a person who reacts to a traumatic event with a very strong stress reaction. Generally it involves the individual directly experiencing the event, like an earthquake, rape, combat experience or assault. Witnessing any type of personal or environmental disaster, or being in a life-threatening situation can lead to PTSD. In most cases this is because of the intense feelings of fear, horror or helplessness that tend to occur in these situations.
Scientific and clinical interest has peaked in the last 20 years, as it is no longer thought to be a problem for veterans alone. PTSD is now seen as a major public health problem for not only war veterans, but survivors of other catastrophic events (i.e. Hurricane Katrina, Columbine and 9-11). PTSD has also been diagnosed to the victims of assault, rape, child abuse and other traumatic events. People of any age, gender or social standing can develop PTSD. According to the National Center for PTSD, a world leader in research and education focusing on PTSD and other traumatic stress disorders, PTSD affects more than ten million American children or adults at some point in their lives.
The development of post traumatic stress disorder follows an interesting timeline, in that each discovery made requires the loss of thousands. What one also may find to be of particular interest, is the lack of initiative to produce effective treatment. This lack of treatment capability becomes even more intriguing when one considers that the population ultimately suffering from this disorder is this nations pride and joy. They come first in funding, secondary schooling and employment; but they are not privy to treatment when they don’t measure up to ...