FIGHTING THE WAR BROUGHT HOME: DEALING WITH PTSD

On June 27, 2024, an annual day of awareness recognizes millions of Americans suffering from a serious psychiatric condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD Awareness Day was established in 2010 in tribute to one of our service members, SSgt Joe Biel of the North Dakota National Guard, who died by suicide after suffering from PTSD following two tours in Iraq. June 27 was Biel’s birthday.

Tragically, Biel was not alone in his suffering. More common in servicemembers than in civilians, PTSD affects at least seven out of every 100 Veterans at some point in their lives. Studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) show that Veterans who deploy are three times more likely to develop the disorder. According to the VA, factors in a combat situation that may contribute to mental health problems include military occupation, war-related politics, war location, enemy combatants, death of a fellow service member, and sexual trauma.

WHAT IS PTSD?

Before the medical community formally recognized PTSD, it was known by many other names. The term shell shock was coined in 1915 to describe the psychological trauma suffered by soldiers in World War I, and combat or battle fatigue replaced the term during World War II. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) added PTSD to the third edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) nosologic classification scheme, describing it as a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

PTSD, often referred to as an “unseen wound” of war, can cause Veterans to experience intense distressing thoughts and feelings that can last long after a traumatic event has taken place. Sufferers may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; feel sadness, fear, or anger; and feel detached or estranged from reality and other people. People with PTSD tend to experience strong negative reactions to ordinary occurrences, such as a car backfiring or an accidental touch. Sufferers of the condition often relive the traumatic event as though it were happening again.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Although PTSD symptoms can vary, they are generally grouped into four types by the APA: intrusive memories, avoidance, alterations in cognition and mood, and changes in arousal and reactivity. Symptoms can manifest as flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts, and physical reactions to reminders of the event.

Intrusion: People with PTSD can experience recurrent, unwanted memories of traumatic events in the form of flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares, often reliving an event again and again. In addition to thoughts and memories, images, sounds, smells, and feelings can also severely impose the thoughts of a person with PTSD, trapping them in distressing memories and keeping them from being present in the moment.

Avoidance: People with PTSD tend to avoid thoughts, people, places, activities, objects, conversations, and situations that may trigger disturbing memories of a traumatic event. For example, a combat Veteran may stop watching the news to avoid stories about war or current military events; however, using avoidance to cope with trauma can make it harder to move on from it and worsen PTSD symptoms.

Cognition and Mood: Experiencing a traumatic event can significantly distort the way Veterans view themselves and the world around them. Thinking about the event can bring about overwhelming feelings of blame, fear, anger, guilt, shame, and a host of other negative emotions. Those suffering from the condition often experience memory problems, including an inability to remember the traumatic event itself. In addition, people with PTSD may find it difficult to maintain close relationships with friends and family, enjoy activities that once interested them, and experience positive emotions. Many sufferers describe themselves as feeling hopeless about the future and emotionally numb.

Arousal and Reactivity: People with PTSD can find it difficult to control their physical and emotional reactions. Sufferers of the condition may find themselves easily startled or frightened; engaged in self-destructive behaviors, such as alcohol and drug abuse; unable to concentrate; and irritable and prone to angry outbursts. People with PTSD may also experience trouble sleeping and find themselves feeling watchful and on guard for signs of danger.

GETTING HELP

If you or someone you know has been experiencing any or all these symptoms, know that you are not alone, and help is available. The VA offers screening services and a variety of programs and treatment options for processing and making sense of your trauma. The following evidence-based therapies, which are often available at local VA medical centers, are among the most effective treatments for PTSD:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) helps Veterans identify how traumatic experiences affect their thinking and how to develop healthier beliefs about themselves and the world.
• Prolonged Exposure (PE) helps Veterans gradually confront traumatic memories, feelings, and situations.
• Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) helps couples understand the effects of PTSD on relationships and improve interpersonal communication.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) involves calling the trauma to mind while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (such as a finger waving side to side, a light, or a tone).

Remember, there is no need to suffer in silence”seeking help can greatly improve your worldview and quality of life. To overcome your PTSD, reach out to the resources listed on this page today.

If you or someone you know has been experiencing any or all these symptoms, know that you are not alone, and help is available.

RESOURCES

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

VA Mental Health Services” https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ptsd/index.asp
VA Veterans Crisis Line” 1-800-273-8255, Press 1
VA Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling)” https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/
AARP: https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/home-and-family/voices/veterans/2022/01/1261402-aarp-vmf-dole-mental-health-booklet-2022012749.pdf
Home Base Veteran and Family Care: https://homebase.org/programs/national-programs/
Military OneSource: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/millife-guides/ptsd-traumatic-brain-injury/
PTSD Foundation of America: https://ptsdusa.org/
Team Never Quit: https://teamneverquit.com/
UCLA Health’s Operation Mend: https://www.uclahealth.org/locations/operation-mend
USA Cares: https://usacares.org/
Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/mental-wellness