Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event. A traumatic event is a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. (National Center for PTSD)
The fight or flight response is what we know happens when one is afraid. Your body is releasing adrenaline, raising you heart rate and releasing glucose to muscles allowing you to respond quickly. Once you are out of the fearful situation you release a hormone known as cortical allowing your body to calm down. In a sever trauma you may not release enough cortical so your body stays under a great deal of stress. Then the victim may produce a high level of catecholamine which is a stimulating hormone. When reminded of the trauma this hormone kicks in. (Mason JW, Giller EL, Kosten TR)
One out of ten Americans involved in a sever trauma event causes a cascade of psychological