Based in Kentfield, CA, Stephen Raffle, MD, has spent more than 50 years as a clinical psychiatrist, forensic psychiatrist, and neuropsychiatrist managing his own private outpatient practice. He has performed numerous independent medical examinations and provided expert witness testimony over the course of his career. At his private Kentfield, CA, practice, Stephen Raffle, MD, regularly works in areas of emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is a health condition caused by witnessing or experiencing a highly traumatic event. An individual with PTSD may experience flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. In some cases, a similar event or certain physical location may trigger PTSD symptoms, but an individual’s fight-or-flight response may also be triggered by seemingly nothing at all.
Many symptoms of PTSD are linked directly to the triggering event, such as flashbacks and nightmares. Other symptoms are more generalized, ranging from reclusive behavior to emotional conditions comparable to those seen in clinical depression. PTSD can also negatively impact a person’s memory and ability to maintain relationships with family and friends.
These symptoms represent only a small portion of the experiences and feelings a person may encounter when dealing with PTSD. If a person is still feeling the effects of a traumatic event more than one month later, they should seek out support from a health services provider.
