Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or that you have no control over what is happening.
Experiencing a traumatic event is not rare. About 60% of men and 50% of women experience this type of event in their lives. Women are more likely to experience sexual assault and child sexual abuse. Men are more likely to experience accidents, physical assault, combat, or disaster or to witness death or injury.
But going through a traumatic event doesn't mean you'll get PTSD. About 8% of men and 20% of women develop PTSD after a traumatic event.
Here are some facts:
In the United States, about 8% of the population will have PTSD symptoms at some point in their lives.
About 5.2 million adults have PTSD during a given year. This is only a small portion of those who have experienced a traumatic event.
Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. About 10% of women develop PTSD compared with 5% of men
Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD for all types of traumatic events, except sexual assault or abuse. When these traumas occur, men are just as likely as women to get PTSD
Who is most likely to develop PTSD?
Most people who experience a traumatic event will not develop PTSD. However, you are more likely to develop PTSD if you:
Were directly exposed to the traumatic event as a victim or a witness
Were seriously injured during the event
Went through a trauma that was long lasting or very severe
Believed that you were in danger
Believed that a family member was in danger
Had a severe reaction during the event, such as crying, shaking, vomitin
