A trauma can be anything that has happened to you that has caused you alot of distress, but can have lasting effect on you. For some people it can seem like they relive the event over and over again like its been relived everyday.

Traumatic events that can cause PTSD include:

• War or extreme violence
• Losing someone close to you in disturbing circumstances.
• Military combat
• Natural disasters
• Seeing people hurt or killed
• A serious accident eg: Car or plane crashes
• Sudden death of a loved one
• Rape or sexual assaulted
• Kidnapping
• Assaulted
• Domestic violence, physical, emotional abuse 
• Bullying
• Traumatic childbirth, either mother or partner witnessing a traumatic birth
• Miscarriage, still birth cot death
• Poisoning  toxicity
• Physical confrontation 
• Terrorist attacks
• Living in fear
• Illness
• Complications from surgery
• Getting physically hurt or feeling pain
• Dealing with extra stress at the same time, such as bereavement or loss
• Suicide of a family or friends
• Experiencing repeated trauma
• You work in a high risk occupation, such as police, firefighter, paramedic, nurse, doctor or military
• Your a refugee or asylum seeker
• Have suffered childhood abuse

PTSD symptoms include:

Symptoms may be seen shortly after the event or may emerge some time later.
Not everyone who goes through a traumatic event will experience PTSD.

Other difficulties

Many people with PTSD also have a number of other difficulties such as self-harming or destructive behaviour 

Hyperarousal (feeling 'on edge')

Someone with PTSD may be very anxious and find it difficult to relax. They may be constantly aware of threats and easily startled. This state of mind is known as hyperarousal.

Hyperarousal often leads to:

• Irritability
• Impulsiveness
• Angry outbursts
• Sleeping problems (insomnia)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Constant feeling of being in danger

Triggers

Triggers can happen at any time by any of the following that reminds you of the traumatic even as though it was happening again.

• See
• Hear
• Taste
• Smell
• Touch

How common is PTSD?

PTSD affects around 1 in 3 people after a traumatic event. PTSD can occur at any age, including childhood.