Definition:
Post-traumatic stress refers to a common psychological reaction to exposure or confrontation with highly traumatic stressful events. The experience of the trauma is rated highly traumatic by the individual experiencing it, and must include a perceived threat to physical integrity, serious physical injury, or death.
This is not a trigger for pre-existing psychological issues, but instead an unexpected reaction to the trauma. Symptoms of PTSD include hyper-vigilance, increase in startle response, sleep problems, flashbacks, feeling numb or detached, difficulty with affection, avoidance of reminders of traumatic event, and depression.
Often BPD is linked to traumatic events in childhood. These events can result in trauma reactions that negatively impact functioning.
