Factors that may influence the onset of post-traumatic stress include: personality traits, lack of support from the environment, pre- and post-trauma situations.

Post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth can result from:

• the death of the child;
• a very difficult, prolonged and painful birth;
• lack of support from relatives.

The incidence is approximately 1.5%- 5.6%.

Symptoms of postpartum stress are:

• nightmare dreams about childbirth;
• hearing the baby cry;
• unpleasantness at the sight of mothers with their babies;
• a state of mental numbness;
• inability to recall the birth;
• avoidance of conversations related to the birth;
• difficulty falling asleep;
• irritability;
• attention deficit disorder, etc.

To be considered post-traumatic stress disorder, symptoms must last for a minimum of one month. In order to prevent the onset of PTSD, debriefing is used - a type of intervention to de-stress the emotions, which should be carried out within 72 hours of the traumatic event. If the patient does not receive help, a long treatment of several months through pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy remains.

photo: pantherstock

Breast cancer - approximately 12,000 new cases are reported each year in Poland.
Women's reactions to cancer:

1. Phase of denial and isolation - shock, the diagnosis is unreal to the woman.
2. Anger and isolation phase - belief in the diagnosis, anger, anger.
3. Negotiation phase - attempts to bargain with fate for an extension of life.
4. Depression phase - sadness, preparing to leave.
5. Acceptance phase - a state of calm and tranquillity, acceptance of death.

Women with breast cancer fear the application of therapy as well as changes in their sexual life. They are afraid of losing their femininity. The Buddenberg study, which examined anxiety in patients before and after surgery, revealed that women stopped confiding in their partners over time, sexually and emotionally began to withdraw from them.