Traumatic events affect individuals in different ways.  Trauma can consist of single, acute events or events that are sustained or chronic over time.  While some stress is normal intense, sustained or frequent stress can lead to overactivation of our body's stress systems.  Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, are commonly experienced shortly after a traumatic event but may not appear until months or years later.  Symptoms can include re-living the traumatic event, avoiding things that remind the individual of the event, feeling more numb or decreased joy and restlessness or feeling constantly alert or on edge.  PTSD is not a sign of weakness and can happen to anyone.  Children may experience symptoms of PTSD and their symptoms may present differently than adults. There are effective treatment strategies for PTSD that allow individuals to move forward with their lives.