PTSD is a condition that develops after someone has experienced a life-threatening situation, such as combat. In PTSD, the event must have involved actual or threatened death or a serious injury and caused an emotional reaction involving intense fear, hopelessness, or horror. People with PTSD have three kinds of experiences for weeks or months after the event is over and the individual is in a safe environment.

Re-experience the event over and over again

• You can't put it out of your mind no matter how hard you try
• You have repeated nightmares about the event
• You have vivid memories, almost like it was happening all over again
• You have a strong reaction when you encounter reminders, such as a car backfiring.

• You work hard at putting it out of your mind
• You feel numb and detached so you don’t have to feel anything
• You avoid people or places that remind you of the event

• You may startle easily
• You may be irritable or angry all the time for for no apparent reason
• You are always looking around, hyper-vigilant of your surroundings

People who have PTSD have experiences from all three of these categories that stay with them most of the time and interfere with their ability to live their life or do their job. If you still are not sure if this is a problem for you, you can take a quick self-assessment through the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program at www.militarymentalhealth.org.

Most Service members do not develop PTSD. It also is important to remember that you can experience some PTSD symptoms without having a diagnosis of PTSD. PTSD cases often resolve on their own in the first 3 months, but even without the full diagnosis, if you have symptoms, you can benefit from counseling or therapy.

The good news: PTSD is treatable. You do not need to suffer from the symptoms of PTSD alone. Therapy is proven to be very effective in reducing and even eliminating the symptoms. Medication can also help. Early treatment leads to the best outcomes. So, if you think you or someone in your family may have PTSD, please seek treatment right away.