Diminished interest or participation in activities.Exaggerated or persistent negative beliefs about one’s self other people, or the world around them.The inability to remember or recall important pieces of The traumatic event or events (generally, this is due to dissociative amnesia).Avoidance of external reminders such as people, places, things, conversations, topics, activities, circumstances, or scenarios that bring about distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings associated with the traumatic event or about the traumatic event (or making an effort to avoid these things).Making an effort to avoid distressing thoughts, memories, feelings, or sensations associated with the traumatic event.Notable psychological reactions to external or internal cues that symbolize, re-create, or resemble the traumatic event or aspects of it.Prolonged or intense emotional or psychological distress when there is exposure to external or internal cues or symbolism resembling the traumatic event or aspects of it.Recurring distressing dreams related to the traumatic event (a child might experience nightmares without context).In severe cases, someone might disassociate and lose awareness of their actual current surroundings (again, in children, a re-creation of events may occur during playtime)
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD impacts roughly 3.5% of adults aged 18 or older in the United States.