Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder characterised by failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.

PTSD statistics indicate that the disorder is more common than many people estimate:
70 percent of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime
20 percent of people who experience a traumatic event will develop PTSD
About 8 million people have PTSD in a given year
1 in 13 people will develop PTSD at some point in their life
In Nigeria, more than 1.5 million cases of PTSD is recorded yearly.

There are different events that can lead to PTSD it includes:
serious accidents, physical or sexual assault, abuse, including childhood or domestic abuse, exposure to traumatic events at work, including remote exposure, serious health problems, such as being admitted to intensive care, childbirth experiences, such as losing a baby
war and conflict, torture etc

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often have significant effects on the victim's day to day activity. Some symptoms manifest during the first days or weeks of the trauma while some take month or years to occur.
The specific symptoms of PTSD can vary widely between individuals, but generally fall into the categories described below;
Re-experiencing I.e flashbacks, nightmares etc
Avoidance and emotional numbing
Heperarousal e.g anxious

Unfortunately it might be impossible to prevent acute trauma so better therapies should be provided for those who suffer trauma so that longstanding PTSD will develop in fewer of these individuals.

When you have PTSD, it might feel like you'll never get your life back. But it can be treated. Short- and long-term psychotherapy and medications can work very well. Often, the two kinds of treatment are more effective together.