What condition is a student likely suffering from if they experience nightmares and difficulty sleeping after losing possessions in a storm?

A student who experiences nightmares and difficulty sleeping following the loss of possessions in a storm is likely dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition often emerges after an individual has faced a traumatic event, which can include natural disasters. In this case, the storm represents a significant stressor that may lead to intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and distressing dreams, commonly known as nightmares.

PTSD is characterized by symptoms such as re-experiencing the trauma, avoiding reminders of the event, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and heightened arousal responses, such as difficulty sleeping. The specific combination of nightmares and sleep difficulties directly links to the traumatic nature of the event, distinguishing it from other disorders.

Generalized anxiety disorder primarily involves chronic, excessive worry across various areas of life and does not typically present with re-experiencing trauma. Major depressive disorder includes symptoms such as persistent sadness and loss of interest but does not specifically connect to trauma-related nightmares. Adjustment disorder entails symptoms that arise in response to a stressor but usually does not manifest the same way as PTSD, focusing more on reactive symptoms without the hallmark features of trauma re-experiencing present in PTSD.