PTSD – Barnett Levin

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

A wide range of experiences or events can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Being the victim or witness of a crime
Accidents, chronic pain or serious illness
Natural disasters such hurricanes or earthquakes
Sudden loss and unwanted separations (death of a loved one, a hostile divorce, etc.)
Combat experience or terrorist events
Plus many other tragic and traumatic events

Some of the symptoms that can develop following a trauma include:

Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event, flashbacks or nightmares
Intense physical or emotional reactions to reminders of the event
Avoidance of activities, places, thoughts, or feelings associated with the trauma
Loss of interest in activities and life in general
Feeling detached and emotionally uninvolved from others
Pessimism or despair
Sleep disorders
Anger and Irritability
Problems concentrating or attending

These symptoms are a normal reaction to trauma. The hallmark of PTSD is that these symptoms do not diminish over time.

In many cases, the problems have been going on for a while. If nothing changes, then nothing changes. I can help you develop a plan of action that will change the situation.