Effects of Traumatic Experiences // National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Effects of Traumatic Experiences // National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: "Effects of Traumatic Experiences

by Eve B. Carlson, Ph.D. and Josef Ruzek, Ph.D.

When people find themselves suddenly in danger, sometimes they are overcome with feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror. These events are called traumatic experiences. Some common traumatic experiences include being physically attacked, being in a serious accident, being in combat, being sexually assaulted, and being in a fire or a disaster like a hurricane or a tornado. After traumatic experiences, people may have problems that they didn't have before the event. If these problems are severe and the survivor does not get help for them, they can begin to cause problems in the survivor's family. This fact sheet explains how traumas can affect those who experience them. This fact sheet also describes family members' reactions to the traumatic event and to the trauma survivor's symptoms and behaviors. Finally, suggestions are made about what a survivor and his or her family can do to get help for PTSD."

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posted by Robert Heard at 10:41 AM