Get enough rest, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and take time to relax. Try to reduce or avoid caffeine and nicotine, which can worsen anxiety. Using alcohol or drugs to numb your feelings isn't healthy, but it can be a tempting way to cope. Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder can ease symptoms by helping you deal with the trauma you've experienced.
A doctor or therapist will encourage you to remember and process the emotions you felt during the original event to reduce the power that memory has on your life. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is best known as the condition that affects people who have served in the military and who are therefore more likely to have witnessed a disturbing event on the battlefield. This section includes information about reactions to stress, ways you can cope with it, and tools to help you manage stress.
