Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that may develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event(s), such as an unexpected death, sexual violence, domestic violence, child abuse, a life-threatening injury, event (car accident, fire, natural disaster), illness, or medical procedure.. It can disrupt the daily activities and affect the overall well-being for someone experiencing this disorder. Women are twice as likely to develop PTSD compared to men, and adult women account for more than half of the overall PTSD population in the United States. Additionally, Black individuals have a higher risk of developing PTSD following exposure to trauma compared to white individuals.
Long thought to be a condition connected to military trauma, the majority of patients with PTSD (more than 80%) are members of the civilian population, according to 2018 population estimates. People with PTSD often cite childhood physical abuse, sexual violence, and physical assault as the causes of their PTSD. Many patients do not seek care, as they may not connect their previous trauma exposure to their symptoms, however, there is help available. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’ve experienced trauma and think you may have any of the below symptoms:
o Reliving the trauma through intrusive painful memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about the event(s)
o Avoiding reminders of the event(s) like people, places, or situations associated with the trauma
o Having more negative thoughts and feelings of fear, anger, guilt, shame, and negative thinking about yourself or others
o Feeling on edge such as being easily startled, always alert and on the lookout for danger, irritable, or having difficulty sleeping and concentrating
Davis L L, et al. (2022). The economic burden of posttraumatic stress disorder in the United State from a societal perspective. J Clin Psychiatry, 83(3):21m14116.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (2019)
American Psychological Association (2023)
J Urban Health (2008): Experiences of Traumatic Events and Associations with PTSD and Depression Development in Urban Health Care-seeking Women | 
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