Post-traumatic stress is a disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and can be successfully treated.

Post traumatic stress disorder can occur as a result of many different kinds of upsetting and horrifying events such as war, a serious accident, childhood abuse, violent attacks, being imprisoned or held captive, torture, or rape. The disorder can be caused by something experienced directly by the individual, or due to something that was witnessed but that did not happen to them, including a murder, a bombing, torture or violence, or a plane crash or car accident. It is a very common condition among law enforcement officials as well as war veterans due to the destruction, harm, death, and other upsetting events they must witness.

Though this is a terrible condition, the one positive thing is that it is very treatable and it can be overcome. For many people struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, it can be intrusive in all parts of their lives, from reliving memories during the daytime to dreams and nightmares during sleep. This can cause trouble sleeping, lead to sensations of being withdrawn from reality, and can cause the person to become jumpy and easily startled. They may lose interest in the things that used to bring them joy, and they become aggressive while being irritable and possibly even violent.

The worst struggle for people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder is reliving their memories in their various forms. Often people, places, and circumstances are avoided because they can bring memories closer to the front of the mind and this becomes a difficult and painful experience to undergo. It is easier to simply avoid them.

About six percent of the American population suffers from a form of post traumatic stress disorder. Among them, both children and adults are affected, though it is more common for women to experience it than men.

Treating post traumatic stress disorder begins with recognizing that this condition is present. From there, working with a doctor and mental health professional, a combination of mental therapies and anti-anxiety medications, both prescription and non-prescription such as Zanaprin, as well as sleep aids can be very useful for helping to recover, deal with the memories, and come to terms with what has happened so that the pain can be released.

Zoloft is the brand name of the drug Sertraline HCl, shown here, that is used for the treatment of depression, stress and anxiety.

The FDA has approved the use of Zoloft for both short-term and long-term use and has received this approval for more uses than any other brand of its nature. This being said, everybody is unique and will have their own reaction to Zoloft’s effects. It is a drug that takes time to fully enter the system and have an impact on the stress levels in the body. You will not see overnight results – that is not what the medication was designed to provide. Instead, you will need a few weeks to begin to see the more long-term impact that it can establish.

Though relief will come soon, it is not going to happen within the first twenty four hours. While some people feel the first improvements in their symptoms after the first week or two, others require up to eight weeks to start to see any improvement at all. From that point on, though, you will start to see how your symptoms are more controlled and have less of an impact on your life. Your doctor will likely start you on a lower dose so that you can see how you react with the drug. Then, if necessary, the dose will be adjusted to properly suit your needs.

It is also during that time that you will discover whether or not you will experience some of the side effects that may occur with the use of Zoloft. These can include insomnia, sleepiness, diarrhea, dry mouth, nausea, and sexual side effects. You may have none of these side effects, or you may have several, but you won’t necessarily have all of them. Keep in mind that with time, the side effects of Zoloft do typically decrease. Unlike some other SSRIs, Zoloft has not been shown to contribute to weight gain in any studies.

Zoloft is designed to help you deal with depression and anxiety conditions of many kinds, but it will not change the way you think or the person you are.

Zoloft is one of the most prescribed medications for the treatment of depression, stress disorders and anxiety disorders.

In 2007, Zoloft was prescribed more than any other antidepressant available on the American market, with 29,652,000 prescriptions having been written and filled. Though the actual effect of this form of antidepressant is considered to be comparable to that of the older tricyclic form of antidepressants, these are often a first choice simply because their side effects are different and less dramatic. In fact, some studies are starting to show that drugs of Zoloft’s nature are actually more effective for some kinds of depression than fluoxetine (commonly known as Prozac). Furthermore, it is known to be exceptionally effective in treating anxiety and panic disorders. That being said, cognitive behavioral therapy is still considered to be a superior treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder than Zoloft – but Zoloft in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy is much better than either one on their own.

Actual social phobia (the extreme version of social anxiety disorder) and post-traumatic disorders can see improvements through the use of Zoloft, but only modestly. Other therapies are recommended in conjunction with the drug. Zoloft has also been known to help ease the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) when using sub-therapeutic doses or simply using it intermittently as needed for treatment.

Though a very effective drug, Zoloft does not come without the risk of side effects – some of which are quite common. These side effects are universal throughout the SSRI class of drugs. They include diarrhea, nausea, insomnia, sleepiness, and sexual side effects. Some people also report dry mouth. That being said, unlike many other SSRIs, Zoloft has not been shown to lead to weight gain and any cognition impacts it has are deemed to be mild. As with other forms of antidepressant, in some specific types of cases, there is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts with Zoloft – however, statistics relating to this topic are currently subject to controversy.

Chronic or generalized anxiety disorder are somewhat similar in that they can be overwhelming and are usually dealt with on a daily basis. This disorder can severely limit life and can interfere with work and relationships. A person with chronic anxiety is anxious about just about anything and everything. They are prone to excessive worry about things that are real problems, but the severity is greatly exaggerated in their mind. They may also worry about things that are not really problems – but they seem very real to the person with this condition.

Social anxiety disorder is a bit different, but the body can react in the same way. Those with this condition have anxiety in relation to relating to others in social and work environments. In some cases, the social anxiety is so bad that the person with the condition becomes agoraphobic and will not leave the house. They fear that people are judging and making fun of them no matter where they go or what they are doing or that they are going to do something to make a fool of themselves. These thoughts are greatly exaggerated, but they can lead to panic and fear. Most choose to avoid people rather than deal with the symptoms that occur when they go out in public.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder you may associate with veterans who have returned from war, but it is also something that anyone who has gone through a traumatic event can develop. This happens when someone has gone through a severe physical or emotional trauma like a car accident, death of a child, or anything else that causes a person to develop severe anxiety. Those with this condition often have anxiety in relation to the event, and any small trigger that reminds them of what happened. This can be severely debilitating.

Panic disorder can stand alone but may also be a part of any of the conditions listed above. This disorder often leads to a person being prone to panic attacks when confronted with certain situations that cause anxiety. They may have these in public on occasion, and the fear of doing that again can lead to even more attacks. Though panic attacks are generally non-harmful, the physical sensations can lead a person to believe they are having a heart attack or other serious medical problem. The symptoms of a panic attack are scary. A person may believe they can not breathe, they can shake uncontrollably, and they feel sheer terror. They may also have numbness in the extremities, feel hot or cold, and have chest pain.