PTSD is best described as.

• A. A severe anxiety disorder that develops after experiencing or witnessing extremely stressful events.
• B. A temporary mood swing.
• C. A normal reaction to stress.
• D. A sleep disorder.

Answer: (A)

PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that arises after exposure to extreme trauma. It isn’t just a fleeting reaction; the diagnosis requires symptoms that persist for more than a month and cause ongoing distress or impairment in daily functioning. People with PTSD can relive the event through intrusive memories or nightmares, avoid reminders of the trauma, develop negative thoughts or emotional numbness, and show increased arousal or vigilance. While sleep problems can occur, they are part of a broader pattern of trauma-related symptoms rather than the defining feature. The other descriptions fit transient or unrelated patterns—a temporary mood swing resolves quickly, a normal reaction to stress is short-lived, and a sleep disorder centers on sleep problems as the primary issue—so they don’t capture the full, lasting impact of PTSD.