Mental health difficulties can be caused for a number of reasons, including body chemistry, family experiences and substance abuse.

But in some cases, witnessing or being part of an horrific ordeal can cause an individual to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affecting their ability to lead their life.

The disorder may not be an instant reaction to experiencing a traumatic event, sometimes it can take months or even years to emerge.

Everyday people are involved in or witness events such as road accidents, muggings and sexual or physical assaults which cause them deep emotional injury that can seriously hamper and interfere with their lives.

After being faced with a traumatic experience, an individual may simply feel emotionally numb but after a while they are likely to develop emotional and physical reactions and changes in behaviour.

Reactions include vivid flashbacks, nightmares, intense distress, repressing memories, feeling detached and lacking in concentration.
These responses are quite normal and many people find that the symptoms will disappear in due course but if they last longer than a month, or if they are extreme, PTSD may be diagnosed.

There is no exact way to treat an individual with post-traumatic stress disorder, but many survivors of a traumatic event have said they found practical advice, information and support with day-to-day tasks most useful to begin with.

The best way of people coming to terms with the experience is to express their feelings and talk to others about it or sharing their experience with others who have been through something similar.

Individuals with the disorder will proceed at their own pace but those who bottle up stress responses for months or years could end up turning to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to block out painful memories.

Treatments available for those suffering from PTSD long-term include behavioural therapy, cognitive therapy and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing.

Individuals who feel they may be suffering from PTSD are encouraged to drop into one of Central Notts MIND's activity centres in Mansfield, Sutton or Kirkby.

•Anybody interested in becoming a Central Notts MIND volunteer or trustee or who would like to organise a charity event or make a donation to Central Notts MIND should contact Girish Ravat on Mansfield 658044.