posttraumatic stress syndrome

post·trau·mat·ic stress syn·drome

a disorder appearing after a physically or psychologically traumatic event outside the range of usual human experience, (for example, a serious threat to one's life or seeing a loved one killed), characterized by symptoms of reexperiencing the event (that is, flashbacks), numbing of responsiveness to the environment, exaggerated startle response, guilt feelings, impairment of memory, and difficulties in concentration and sleep.