A number of factors can increase the chance that someone will have PTSD, many of which are not under that person's control. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time. If it's been longer than a few months and you're still having symptoms, you may have PTSD.
But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.
