While most anxiety disorders seem to have no apparent cause,
post-traumatic stress disorder stems from a very real, very frightening event in
a person’s life. It arises after someone suffers or witnesses a
traumatic event such as rape, kidnapping, abuse, accident or disaster. It may
also develop in people close to someone who has experienced a traumatic
event. The disorder can cause irritability, aggression and violence.
Or, sufferers may feel numb and detached from the world around them, and
may be unable to feel affection or establish and maintain close
relationships with other people. Nightmares and other sleep problems are
common, and people with PTSD often startle easily. Sufferers also have
flashbacks, in which they relive the trauma even years after the event.
Flashbacks can occur when the person is awake or asleep, and can be brought
on by even seemingly unrelated situations. When a flashback occurs, the
person may believe they’re actually experiencing the event all over
again. They may see, smell or hear things associated with the trauma,
and may begin to lose touch with reality.
What Treatments are Available
All of the anxiety disorders can be treated, either with medication or
with psychotherapy, also called talk therapy. The type of therapy used
will depend on what the patient and doctor feel most comfortable with,
and with the type of disorder involved.
Medications
Several types of medications are used to treat anxiety disorder, and
are classified according to two broad categories: antidepressants and
anti-anxiety medications.