Many of us will experience some kind of trauma during our lifetime. Sometimes, we escape with no long-term effects. But for millions of people, those experiences linger, causing symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and negative thoughts that interfere with everyday life. Joelle Rabow Maletis details the science behind post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. [TED-Ed Animation by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat]

Joelle Rabow Maletis: The psychology of post-traumatic stress disorder

The psychology of post-traumatic stress disorder

Trauma's lingering shadows can manifest as PTSD, transforming one's psyche with flashbacks and nightmares, yet it's treatable.

Understanding PTSD: Not a personal failing, but a treatable malfunction of biological mechanisms designed for crisis response.

PTSD triggers can transform mundane sensations into overwhelming experiences, mirroring the intensity of the original trauma.