You may think Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is something soldiers get when they're sent to battle. Well... you're right. But PTSD affects more people than just soldiers, and there are many more events than just war that can cause this disorder to develop.

In fact, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder can cultivate in the survivor or witness of just about any life-threatening event, from a traumatic car accident to a school shooting to rape. Even the sudden death of a loved one can bring about PTSD.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder has three major components:

1. Spontaneous recollection of the traumatic event, usually through flashbacks or nightmares. Often described as "re-living" the event, these recollections can intrude on everyday activities, interfering with--you guessed it--job performance and/or relationships.
2. An overall emotional numbness. People with PTSD also avoid people, places or things that serve as reminders of the traumatic incident. Just imagine never being able to ride a rollercoaster because you got stuck on one that malfunctioned.
3. A variety of symptoms including sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and feeling easily irritated or angered. (And yeah, these two components also interfere with the activities of day-to-day life.)

• Women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD.
• 7.7 million Americans age 18 and over suffer from PTSD.
• 67% of people exposed to mass violence (like a hold-up or violent riot) develop PTSD.
• People who live through, say, an earthquake or other natural disasters are less likely to develop PTSD than people who experience other types of trauma.
• People who've experienced previous traumatic events are more likely to develop PTSD.