PTSD In Veterans

Perhaps attesting to the enhanced understanding of PTSD and alarm at the troubling suicide rates of veterans, the media seems to be raising the public’s attention about the condition, for example, through the use of documentaries. In 2005, during the second push of the Iraqi and Afghanistan war PBS FRONTLINE released a documentary entitled, “The Soldier’s Heart,” This documentary gives an overview of the history of PTSD, but focuses specifically on the psychological toll of the Iraq war. It illuminates the fact that despite advances in our understanding of PTSD, there continues to be a stigma against psychological problems in the

PTSD has had a major impact on veterans and their families who have fought in war. Studies show that over the past 13 years, about 500,000 US soldiers have been diagnosed with the disorder (Thomas). This does not only cause problems for the veteran with PTSD, but the families are affected in many ways also. This disorder has done as much as destroyed relationships and families.

The study of psychology refers to collective trauma as the effect experienced by many people in the aftermath of a tragedy or event. The pain of collective traumatic disorders is common among soldiers who experienced military combat, but has the potential to affect an entire community. Although, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can alter relationships with the family and the community, future generations will not have to endure combat directly to experience collective trauma. Many Veterans suffering from PTSD might shy away from others due to stigmas associated with the diagnosis. Some might have difficulty concentrating, or have guilty feelings, cannot find work, feel helpless, fearful, or have a loss of interest in usual activities. All

In war or peace, the military is a hazardous profession, and extensive service means more risk of serious injury (Morin, 2011). One out of every ten veterans alive today was seriously injured at some point while serving in the military, and three-quarters of those injuries occurred in combat (Morin, 2011). For many of these wounded veterans, according to Pew Research Center, the physical and emotional consequences of their wounds have endured long after they left the military (Morin, 2011). Almost all veterans are proud of their service, in spite of serious injuries (Morin, 2011).

Battling war is something a Veteran knows all too well, but battling the demons in their mind after the war is something that they have to learn how to cope with. One of the most mentioned issues that Veterans face today is a disorder called combat post-traumatic stress disorder. Combat PTSD can easily be defined as a disorder that affects the mental state of the armed forces service member that has been through a difficult or shocking experience during their time served in the military. Experiencing war is not something that everyone can relate to, but it is something that can affect a

“People who are suffering from PTSD may have been through or witnessed terrifying or gruesome situations” (Should I talk to my Doctor About PTSD?).” Reaction to the extremes of combat causes physical changes in the brain” (Dr. John Fortunato). Being held as “Hostages, including combat veterans who are in a sense hostages to the war, experience shame, guilt, and helplessness” (Carolyn Simpson Consequences of PTSD for the self). “Combat soldiers face death every moment of their tour of duty. They may become dehumanized by all of the killing. The adrenaline rush a soldier experiences during war is hard to turn off, even when he safely returns home” (Carolyn Simpson Wars and Captivity). It would be unimaginable for many to possibly have killed another human being one day and then return to civilian life the next. How could anyone be expected to be completely normal again? Soldiers sometimes face terrorist incidents that would cause great fear, possibly resulting in

Some veterans experienced feelings of depression and distrust, and that the war impacted them negatively. PTSD is a severe emotional disorder that an individual can get after a traumatic life event they experienced, and for the veterans it was the Vietnam War. War includes witnessing terrible violence, the feeling of guilt of having to kill people and seeing your friends injured or dead, and the mixed emotions in the battlefield. In 1988, the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study reported that 481,000 men and 716 women currently suffer from some degree of PTSD as a result of their experience in war, and overall 40% of Vietnam veterans have suffered from PTSD at some time of their life. In addition, it has been estimated that 900,000 Vietnam spouses and partners, and approximately 1,098,000 children are affected by their respective partner's and father's combat-related PTSD. These statistics showed that the Vietnam War extremely affected the veterans', and not in a good way. PTSD could have been very common among the veterans', because of the traumatic experiences they went through in the war. The war was not to be treated like a game. The war was a reality for the soldiers, and they could have constantly had the feeling of "I am going to die any minute now". Another issue that they developed was domestic violence. About one-third of six hundred men were reported of physically violating their partners. Their violent behaviour towards their partner/family could have also linked to PTSD. Veterans who were reported to perform domestic violence were treated with therapy to help them reduce their threatening behaviour. They either had group therapy with their family, or individual therapy. Not only was PTSD terrible for the veterans', but it was also bad for their children. Due to their children being raised in a home with their father having PTSD, the disorder could have

According to the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, in their report “The Influence of Depressive Symptoms on Suicidal Ideation Among U.S. Vietnam Era and Afghanistan/Iraq Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,” “Veterans with PTSD are more likely to have social, occupational, and functional difficulties, including social isolation, frequent interpersonal altercations, and suicidal ideation” (Pukay-Martin 578). In other words, veterans may lose interest in things they once enjoyed, they may become very isolated and irritable, jittery, fearful, and have frequent nightmares that may prevent them from sleeping properly, all of which are elements of a dissatisfying lifestyle (“PTSD”). These serious hindrances to the potential of a healthy lifestyle can have even worse consequences, as they may have a devastating impact on family life. Finley maintains that “families of veterans with PTSD were hard hit with divorce, substance abuse, and violence[...where veterans and spouses had] lower relationship satisfaction[...and] many older veterans with PTSD had gone through three or four marriages over the course of their lives” (Finley). One can only imagine the pain and suffering that a normal individual would feel from the effects of divorce, let alone going through divorce several times. Veterans,

Many veterans are unable to leave behind the trauma of Vietnam and psychologically return home. They struggle with a variety of extremely severe problems that neither they nor their families, friends, or communities knew how to understand

Give them meaning” (Cleland).Once they get home , close to no one understands them. Their doctors, friends, and even family members can’t help them, so they end up getting alienated by the people they love most. Until we understand how to help the returning veterans, nothing will ever get better for them. Topic: war stays with veterans, and it always manages to find to mess with them

According to (Fischner, et al., 2016), military beliefs of self-reliance, stoicism, and manliness were reasons why veterans did not seek treatment. With the above-mentioned beliefs, the military norms played a role that prevented a least one individual from this study to seek mental health treatment. The gentlemen, who came from an infantry background, stated that mental health was a taboo subject and that seeking treatment was a sign of failure. Another veteran stated that he was embarrassed to seek mental health treatment and this veteran was afraid others would find that he was indeed seeking mental health treatment but if privacy was promised and maintained he was fine with seeking treatment (Fischner, et al., 2016). This is an indication that providers need to ensure that veterans understand HIPPA and confidentiality laws when they do seek treatment so that these fears are eased. Another belief that this study identified showed is that military beliefs emphasized the need to not show any weakness and to facilitate independence (Fischner, et al., 2016). According to (McCaslin, Leach, Herbst, & Armstrong, 2013), military beliefs have origins in service, respect, honor, and order as well as comradeship amongst military members. The loss of a veteran’s social network in a combination of having to locate housing, healthcare, and source of income can cause an insurmountable hardship for the returning veteran (McCaslin, Leach, Herbst, & Armstrong,

This is very difficult for people to get jobs and have a social life. PTSD can make somebody hard to be with. Living with someone who is easily startled, has nightmares, and often avoids social situations can take a toll on the most resilient family. Research shows that Vietnam Veterans have more marital problems and family violence. Their children have more behavior problems than do those of Veterans without PTSD. Veterans with the most severe symptoms had families with the worst communication. This is because people who have PTSD have a hard time feeling emotions or expressing them. They may feel detached from others. This can cause problems in personal relationships with the spouse. The numbing and avoidance that occurs with PTSD is linked

The social issues surrounding mental health; the causes; and the treatments of disorders; have always intrigued me, especially regarding our veteran service members. Being a veteran myself, I identify with the struggles and hardships that our veterans face every day. Our servicemen and women are exposed to a variety of traumas (e.g. combat, family separation, and being in a constant state of arousal) that contribute to mental illness. However, not all servicemen and women suffer from mental illness. Therefore, I am interested in identifying why these men and women who share similar exposures of combat related traumas, do not suffer from or show signs of any mental illness. Additionally,

“I literally couldn’t condone any of the things I had to participate in to save my own life”, said John Fischer, a Vietnam Veteran, in an interview for Nancy Sherman’s book The Untold War. Guilt isn’t even a word strong enough to communicate how a War Veteran feels, let alone a War Veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a problem today in the U.S. and is seen in all sorts of individuals but most commonly Veterans. Having seen what no human being should see, Veterans aren’t welcomed back home with enough support or being treated for mental illnesses. If average citizens were informed on some background and information, they would see that War Veterans with PTSD are a danger to themselves and affect the communities in which they live.

War is a life altering experience; not only for the soldiers who served, but for their families as well. Family members want to help their struggling loved one, but fail because they do not know what the war is like. They do not understand what it is like to watch a friend or family member die get shot and killed. These events are traumatizing. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a result of these events.