Post traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. The type of events that can cause PTSD include:

• Being held against your will
• Military combat
• Natural disasters, such as severe floods or earthquakes
• Accidents
• Terrorist attacks
• Violent personal assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery
• Witnessing violent deaths

PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event or it can occur weeks, months, or years later.

PTSD can develop in any situation where a person feels extreme fear, horror or helplessness. 

Getting support

We provide talking therapies to help people with PTSD in our primary care and wellbeing services:

• Brighton and Hove - Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service
• East Sussex - Health in Mind
• West Sussex - Time to Talk

For more information about how we can help and support you, read A Guide for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD

Support for young people

Looking for information about PTSD and trauma in young people? We have lots of resources for children and young people.