Post traumatic stress disorder is often referred to by its initials PTSD. In military circles, it is also known as battle fatigue or shell shock. This condition usually affects the mental health of people who have undergone or perhaps witnessed a traumatic, terrifying, or horrific event at some time in their life. It is very common in military personnel and war veterans.
Different individuals react in different ways and may exhibit a wide array of symptoms. Some people experience flash backs where they relive the entire experience or portions of it repeatedly. The recurrence of the nightmarish events seems to be terrifyingly real with each episode or flashback. The symptoms and severity of the attacks can vary according to the different individual’s circumstances.
It can last for just a few seconds, a few minutes, or even for days at a time. Factors such as the length of period they were exposed to the trauma and the length of time before diagnosis and treatment can all affect how disruptive the illness is. The symptoms can manifest themselves quickly within the space of three months or they may take years to manifest themselves.
Living with PTSD is neither simple nor easy. There are no guarantees as to what the reaction of someone with this condition can or will be if affected by a trigger or a situation. They can react violently and unpredictably to hearing or seeing things that are not real. The increased anxiety it can trigger makes it very difficult to carry on any semblance of a normal life.
Individuals with this condition can experience difficulty concentrating on normal, everyday, simple tasks. Suffering from this condition can make it increasingly difficult to work in any normal working environment. It is not unusual that individuals with PSTD lose their jobs either by quitting, abandoning it, or being terminated very frequently. They find it very difficult to maintain a normal standard of living due to their inability to remain employed.
It then becomes very easy to fall into a desperate situation. The situation is very often made worse because those who suffer from this disorder also find it difficult to get close to people or to maintain healthy relationships. The result is usually alienation from loved ones and family either self imposed or caused by the family's frustration and inability to deal with the symptoms of the condition. Financial support, stability, and independence are the key to success and living a normal life.
If you have PTSD or know someone who does, you should not delay in making a claim or in encouraging them to do so. In order to submit a claim there has to be a medical diagnosis of the condition and information or proof from medical personnel. For example, your doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist can establish cause and effect in the relationship between your symptoms and the event or circumstances in question.
If you visit Hilary Meredith Solicitors they will be happy to assist you in filing your claim.
Cheri Davis writes for http://www.hmsolicitors.co.uk/