Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is a type of anxiety
disorder that develops in response to traumatic incidents (e.g.
violence or car accidents). While most people would normally
recover a few weeks after a traumatic situation, people with PTSD
experience distress that persists long after the traumatic event
has passed. This distress affects important aspects of their day to
day life. Symptoms of PTSD include vivid and intrusive memories or
'flashbacks' of the event, avoiding people or situations that are
associated with the event (e.g. if the PTSD was caused by a car
accident, they may avoid driving or being in a car), or just being
generally jumpy and on edge. Early treatment of the disorder is
preferable as PTSD can be harder to treat as time goes by.