To understand what PTSD is all about, we would have to dig into the scientific definition. According to DSM-5, PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that may occur among individuals have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, or a series of unfortunate events. An individual may perceive this event as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening which further affects their mental, physical, emotional, social and/or spiritual well-being. Some of the traumatic experiences include any form of abuse, war/combat and natural disasters.

Generally, people with PTSD have an intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to the experience. They tend to relieve that moment again and again, through flashbacks and nightmares. And if this isn’t emotionally exhausting enough, they also go through feelings of sadness, fear or anger. This also takes a toll on them socially, by making them feel detached and/or estranged from other people. They may also avoid people or situations remind them of the traumatic event or may even be sensitive to loud noises or accidental touches.

Interestingly, PTSD has been known by several different names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the World War I years, and “combat fatigue” after World War II. But a myth that is super important to break is that PTSD does not only occur in combat veterans. It can occur in anyone, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity or culture, and more importantly at any age.

In India, as per the National Mental Health Survey (last conducted in 2015-2016) by NIMHANS reports about a prevalence of 0.2% of PTSD in the population. This amount (although much remains under-reported and is bound to have increased by 2026) shows notably less prevalence than global averages.

PTSD has been known to affect approximately 3.5 percent of people in the US. The prevalent of PTSD among adolescents aged 13-18 is 8%. It has also been noted that women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD.