PTSD is a common illness that has been affecting people for several decades.
It is estimated that 7% of the American population will experience some form of
post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD became a well-known illness in the late
1960’s and early 1970’s. During this period, PTSD mainly affected soldiers
returning from war. These individuals observed ungodly events that no human
should ever witness. They were surrounded by combat shooting, killings, dead corpses,
and so forth. Understandably, these images are powerful enough to haunt them
for the rest of their lives.
Who Develops Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Those who are unfamiliar with PTSD assume that this condition only affect
war victims. Although a large percentage of sufferers have served in combat,
millions of those who develop PTSD are not in military service. Post-traumatic
stress disorder affects men and women. Women who have been raped, taken as a
hostage, robbed, and so forth are more prone to PTSD. Similarly, men who have
been raped, abused, or neglected as a child may also experience some degree of
PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder also affects individual who have lived
through a natural disaster. Natural disasters include hurricanes, earthquakes,
tsunamis, and so forth. Thousands, perhaps millions of people die during
natural disasters. The simultaneous, sudden loss of several family members,
property, and livelihood are too much for many to handle. Although PTSD may
affect anyone, certain factors increase a person’s odds of developing the
disorder. These include: