Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Although PTSD is categorized as an anxiety disorder, it is one of the disorders that is directly related to trauma. One of the qualifying events is witnessing something that seems horrific and life threatening to the individual. This allows for some variance, as what might seem horrific to one person might not to another. This relies on the individual's interpretation of the event. Other symptoms of PTSD include the following:

• Response to traumatic event includes fear and hopelessness
  
• Hypervigilance or easily startled
  
• Nightmares
  
• Flashbacks
  
• Dissociation
  
• Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
  
• Difficulty sleeping
  
• Trouble concentrating
  
• Feelings of detachment from other people
  
• Restricted range of affect
  
• Intrusive thoughts
  
• Inability to remember specific details of the trauma

PTSD may develop directly after someone witnesses a traumatic event, or may develop several years afterwards. PTSD is often reported among survivors of abuse, rape, witnesses to violence, and among veterans. People who experience PTSD also have higher rates of major depressive disorder, substance use disorders, and other anxiety disorders

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Disorders, like PTSD, often result after having experiencing a trauma. Unlike PTSD, however, everyone experiences normal levels of dissociation. Examples of this are daydreaming, and driving on autopilot. This is something we all do, but not to a level where it reaches a mental health disorder and impinges with daily life. Other examples of dissociation include feeling detached from one's body, feeling like one's body is not real, and having blackouts in which one does things but does not remember. Dissociative Disorders occur in a range. The most severe is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

Dissociative Amnesia is characterized by being unable to remember personal information, usually associated with a traumatic event. This usually represents with an individual missing time, and spaces in one's personal experiences. In addition, this cannot be explained by usual instances of forgetfulness. There has been an increase in the last several years of those diagnosed with Dissociative Amnesia. Those diagnosed with this disorder can fall into any age group.

Dissociative Fugue is characterized by unexpected trips away from an individual's home or normal daily routine. Also, there is memory loss present about an individual's past, and puzzlement about one's own identity. Furthermore, the symptoms of Dissociative Fugue impair one's daily life a great deal. During this state, people can be gone short periods of time, such as days, to weeks or months. Again, this disorder occurs more often in individuals with a history of trauma. Unlike Dissociative Identity Disorder, there is no splintering into different personalities.

Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by a splintering of the personality into more than one personality state. Each personality can be viewed as separate from the whole, with a complete history and background. There is a wide range of how many personalities may form. In addition, there is memory loss and gaps in time. Those diagnosed with this disorder often report an extensive history of physical or sexual abuse. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, along with self-mutilation and depressive disorders, often co-occur with this disorder. DID occurs more often in females, and has been diagnosed more in the last few years.