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Identifying Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can occur when an individual has experienced a terrifying ordeal or event such as military combat, a natural disaster, terrorist incident, serious accident, or a violent personal assault.
People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks. Some individuals may detach to avoid reminders of the traumatic event, and end up feeling disconnected or estranged from family and friends. Individuals experiencing PTSD can experience:
| • | difficulty sleeping | • | feeling tense or on guard at all times |
| • | trouble concentrating | • | Restlessness or irritability |
| • | irritability |
Symptoms can be severe and last long enough to significantly impair an individual's daily life. PTSD is complicated by the fact that it frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, alcohol or drug abuse, or any number of other mental health problems. PTSD is also associated with low functioning in social or family groups, including job instability, and marital or parenting issues. More
Frequently Asked Questions About PTSD
Continually updated to provide quick answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Professional Help
There are many pathways to seeking help and learning about treatment for PTSD. Take the first important step to seeking help, and learn about breaking down barriers to treatment. Find a TRICARE provider, counselor or therapist, and more.
TRICARE Behavioral Health Benefits
The U.S. Department of Defense military health care system offers TRICARE Prime, Extra and Standard benefits to active duty service members, families and retirees. TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based health plan for Guard and Reserve service members and families.
Treatment for PTSD
Review the recommended treatment options and download an excellent discussion guide with questions to ask a health care provider. Locate providers, therapists and counselors, as well Veterans' services here.
Self-Help Resources
Find a variety of tools; including fact sheets, videos, books and web sites to help support service members, families and friends in understanding PTSD and how to get help.