POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

in the DSM-IV-TR, a disorder which stems whenever someone sruvives, endures, or witnesses an occurence wherein they believe that there is a risk to life or physical integrity and safety and experiences of fear, horror, or helplessness. The indicators are marked by (i) re-experiencing the traumatic event in painful flashbacks, recollections, or repetative dreams or nightmares- (ii) reduced responsiveness, with no interest in important activities and with emotions of detachment and distance from other people- and (iii) continual physiological excitation, leading to such indicators as embellished startle reaction, disrupted sleep, trouble concentrating or remembering, survivor's guilt, and avoidance of activities which pull the disturbing occurence into one's mind.