The World Health Organization defines PTSD in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as follows:
“Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop following exposure to an extremely threatening or horrific event or series of events. It is characterised by all of the following:
1) re-experiencing the traumatic event or events in the present in the form of vivid intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares. Re-experiencing may occur via one or multiple sensory modalities and is typically accompanied by strong or overwhelming emotions, particularly fear or horror, and strong physical sensations;
2) avoidance of thoughts and memories of the event or events, or avoidance of activities, situations, or people reminiscent of the event(s); and
3) persistent perceptions of heightened current threat, for example as indicated by hypervigilance or an enhanced startle reaction to stimuli such as unexpected noises.
The symptoms persist for at least several weeks and cause significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.”
Simply put:
You experienced a traumatic event or series of events that were extremely threatening or horrific
AND you re-experience those events in the present through realistic but persistent and unwanted memories, flashbacks or nightmares. These re-experiences can be through any of your senses. Maybe you replay the event visually, or remember every sound or feeling. This re-experiencing brings up strong emotions, especially fear and horror, and they physically affect you.
PLUS you avoid being thinking about the event or events, avoid being reminded of the events by avoiding activities, situations or people that remind you.
AND you are constantly on the look out for threats, making you hypervigilant or really jumpy.
AND these symptoms last for at least several weeks
PLUS they cause trouble in your day-to-day life, such as in your personal life, with family, with friends your school or your work
Then you might have PTSD.
This article will be updated with further sources and research soon
