Terrible things happen sometimes. Unfortunately, the traumas in our past don't always stay in the past. Traumatic experiences can cause anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks that can last for months or years. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition that is difficult for any person to deal with. But PTSD can be treated, lessening the symptoms associated with this frightening disorder. The lives of millions of kids are affected by mental illness. And yet it's all too common for