Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

developed after having experienced or witnessed traumatic events (terrorist attacks, muggings, violent assaults, rape, traffic accident, admission to the ICU, etc.) that occurs with the appearance of symptoms that seriously alter the daily life of the patient. It is natural to feel fear before a traumatic situation or after it. This fear causes many changes in the body in fractions of a second aimed at responding to the danger in question in order to avoid it in the future. This “fight or flight” response is a typical reaction that serves to protect the person from any danger. Almost everyone will have a series of reactions associated with this response after a traumatic experience. Although most people recover on their own from the natural stress of a traumatic exposure, 3.5% of the general population and up to 25-32% of exposed groups (soldiers, police, emergency health workers…) are unable to control the stress response and end up developing PTSD, where their lives are severely conditioned. In some cases, PTSD symptoms can start later. They can also come and go over time.