Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)^[a] is a mental and behavioral disorder^[7] that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats on a person's life.^[1][8] Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in the way a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response.^[1][3] These symptoms last for more than a month after the event.^[1] Young children are less likely to show distress but instead may express their memories through play.^[1] A person with PTSD is at a higher risk of suicide and intentional self-harm.^[2][9]

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cPTSD - chronic post traumatic stress condition (created by trauma over an extended period of time, such as childhood abuse)

PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder (may occur after one or more traumatic events)

OSI - Operational Stress Injury (a term coined by the Canadian military for PTSD-type conditions in military personnel)

Flag designed by Dash.

I created this with the teal from the PTSD ribbon, and featured fireweed, a lovely, resilient flower that grows in the aftermath of forest fires. It is intended to represent folks with cPTSD (chronic post-traumatic stress disorder) as well as acute PTSD (that caused by a single traumatic incident).