Posttraumatic stress disorder (
PTSD) is a
mental illness that can develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as
sexual assault,
warfare,
traffic collisions,
terrorism or other threats on a person's life. Symptoms include disturbing recurring flashbacks, avoidance or numbing of memories of the event, and
hyperarousal, continue for more than a month after the occurrence of a traumatic event.