Soldiers deal with many challenges during deployment, but the battle often does not end once they return home. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects 1 in 5 of those who deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. Battlefield injuries, close proximity to explosions, witnessing death, and the constant fear of being attacked, coupled with the adjusting to being back home, places soldiers in precarious positions.
Exactly what is PTSD War, and what are the symptoms associated with it?
At one time, PTSD was viewed as temporary battle fatigue requiring rest, or even as malingering, and soldiers were told to “get over it.” Now we know that PTSD War is a very real albeit invisible injury resulting from trauma that does not heal on its own. Trauma occurs when an individual experiences, is confronted by, or witnesses a situation that involves death or the possibility of dying, or of being seriously injured, which would include a perceived real threat of injury. Some examples are combat, friendly fire, being fired upon, being wounded, captured, driving a road with an IED threat, flying in a helicopter through a hot zone, or seeing another soldier injured or killed. PTSD also often results from handling corpses, or seeing those we consider vulnerable or needing protection, such as children, women, and the elderly, who had been killed, tortured or otherwise seriously wounded.
PTSD War Symptoms
Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, nightmares, responding with fear or increased anxiety to memories or triggers, such as sudden loud noises, dissociation, persistent negative emotions, such as guilt or fear that cannot be shaken off, irritability, short tempers, abusiveness, restlessness, hyper-vigilance, difficulty concentrating, feeling alienated from others, significant loss of interest in previously-enjoyed activities, difficulty recalling details from the traumatic event, avoidance and difficulty making or maintaining relationships. It is common for the onset of symptoms to be delayed and to be chronic.
A soldier who has other stressors, such as going through a divorce or worrying about things going on at home, is at a higher risk for developing PTSD. The mind can handle only so much stress. Those who handle stress well and have a generally positive outlook on life are at a decreased risk.
It is common for soldiers struggling with PTSD War to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs, or to simply deny the existence of any problem because to do otherwise would compromise their toughness. Not so. Soldiers sacrifice way too much for their country, and they owe it to themselves, and those close to them, to confront the illness and get a handle on it.
Other posts you may enjoy:
- Recognizing And Treating PTSD In Soldiers
- The Army Zero Tolerance Drug Policy
- How to Talk to Your Kids About Joining the Military
If you suspect that you have PTSD, or you have been diagnosed with PTSD, how do you deal with it?
Below is a list of key suggestions and resources based on research and real soldier experiences.
- Do not avoid seeking help because you are afraid it will hurt your military career or because “real men don’t have issues like this.” The military now recognizes the seriousness of PTSD and offers a number of resources for help. Counseling, therapy and even medication is effective.
- According to the Veterans Administration, 18 soldiers commit suicide every day. It is important for soldiers, their families and close friends to know the warning signs, and to seek help immediately.
- Talk to a pastor, the VA, Tricare, your healthcare provider or Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 for a referral to counseling services in your community. Find a fellow soldier, a friend, your spouse, or your pet—just talk!
- It’s often preferable to talk to someone who has “been there, done that,” and soldiers are now reaching out to help soldiers. Organizations such Military With PTSD, started by military spouse Shawn J. Gorley, provides peer-to-peer support, including coping strategies, as well as suicide crisis support for veterans, spouses, families, and caretakers.
- Learn your triggers and note how you respond. This information is important to planning a course of action for successful treatment.
- If you or a loved one is deploying or returning from deployment soon, talk about PTSD and be prepared for the possibilities.
- Service dogs have proven to be effective interventions for soldiers with PTSD. More information can be found at Paws for Wounded Soldiers.
Final Thoughts
Most soldiers experience some stress when returning home from deployment; this is not automatically considered PTSD. For many, these symptoms subside after a few weeks; however, those that don’t need to be addressed. Don’t wait until it is too late.
The toll of PTSD on our soldiers has increased since Operation Enduring Freedom began. If you have stories or information to add, please share them in the comments section.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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PTSD is such a sad and horrible condition that many Veterans have these days. It truly saddens my heart, because it affects the individual greatly and hinders his or her ability to function throughout the day. However, I do think that a lot of drug companies are cashing in on this and pushing medications way too hard on Soldiers, rather than suggesting alternative, healthier ways around the condition.
But if I were exposed to the terrible scenes of war and how our world goes about resolving issues (by killing, threatening and hurting others) I too would have PTSD.
I do think that overcoming PTSD has a lot to do with your mental attitude. If you have a strong mental attitude going into war and knowing that there may be some bad things going on around you, then you may not be as affected later on. However, if you have a weak mental attitude, and think this is all cake then you will not be prepared – and these things could scare you and leave images in your head for forever.
Some soldiers deal with war fine. Others don’t. The key is to get help if you need it.
I completely agree with your first point that a soldier should ask for help without fear that it will somehow hurt their career, but in reality I think that fear is real and appropriate. I guess most of us think of PTSD as something that only happens after the fact, after battle, but perhaps that’s a short-sighted way of looking at it. I’m interested to hear what your experience is, with soldiers suffering PTSD while still in combat. What sort of a pattern, if any, is seen in soldiers who do multiple tours in combat zones. Do they suffer between deployments?
Many Soldiers experience PTSD while away and when they get home. I think it’s much more common when they get home, because things really “slow” down. Combat is fact paced, lots of stress, and physically and emotionally demanding. While you are in combat, you don’t have too much time to think and worry. You do your job and survive. But when you get home, things are much slower and reality sets in. That’s when you need to realize there is a problem and get help if you need it.
September 8, 2013 marks the first day of National Suicide Prevention Week. If you suspect there is even a small chance the emotions you are experiencing may be PTSD, talk to someone about it. Don\’t walk away and let it tackle you from behind. Suicide offers no chance to heal, help for PTSD does.
Good point, Amy. I know there are lots of veterans and soldiers who are hurting right now. Those soldiers should seek out help. Don’t be embarrassed about it either. Many soldiers experience PTSD. It’s how you deal with it that matters most.
The Army has come a long, long way in its attitudes toward PTSD. Commonly known in World War I and World War II as “shell shock,” it was indeed seen by many commanders as malingering or cowardice–recall the two incidents at field hospitals in Italy with George Patton and traumatized soldiers. The condition gained a lot of notoriety–if not a lot of understanding–after the Vietnam War, but I think few people realize just how widespread PTSD was during World War II. By 1943 commanders recognized that front-line combat units became virtually combat-ineffective after a maximum of 90 days on the front line because of stress and psychological trauma.
War can do some crazy things to the mind. Sometimes the worst injuries are the ones you can’t see.