My Best Friend Died by Suicide.

I Wish I Had Seen the Warning Signs

Daniel Magruder

Trauma is one of the most important and common risk factors for mental and physical illness.
Prolonged or excessive stress exposure raises the risk of a wide range of mental and physical
symptoms, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because of the complex
pathophysiology and co-existence with other mental disorders, the diagnosis may be difficult. The
primary cause of PTSD development is stressor exposure, which, in combination with peritraumatic
conditions, affects disease progression and severity. Furthermore, many factors are thought to
influence the response to the stressor, reshaping the disease's natural history and course. With
enough knowledge of the disease, preventive and interventional methods can be implemented to
improve the quality of life of patients. the patients, as well as to reduce the disease's medical and
economic burden. This literature review highlights recent research on traumatic stress, with a focus
on stress causes or triggers, factors that influence stress response, disease burden, and the
application of the social-ecological public health model of disease prevention. Furthermore, it
discusses therapeutic aspects, ethnic differences in traumatic stress, and future prospects, including
potential biomarkers.