Living with Military PTSD

For many veterans, returning home from service means coping with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Smith, 2018). Readjusting back to civilian life can be difficult; it may take time to be comfortable again. A veteran may feel on edge, disconnected, or panicked, or like they can explode at any moment. Military PTSD is common among those who served in combat zones. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder that a veteran will live with for the rest of their life, but it can be managed through proper treatment and not lead to serious complications.

Each of the symptoms of PTSD can look different in every veteran, but ultimately, it has the same diagnosis. Research shows that about 11-20% of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars experience PTSD.

Causes of PTSD in Veterans

The causes of post-traumatic stress disorder, sometimes known as 'shell shock' or 'combat stress,' occur after you experience severe trauma or a life-threatening event (Smith, 2018). After this presence, your brain tells your nervous system that you are essentially stuck. There are two ways an individual's body can react: being mobilized or immobilized. Mobilization or your body's nervous system will under flight or fight response when it comes to endangering itself or being rendered superfluous in a fight situation. You experience the rush of your adrenaline, bounce your heart up faster, and tighten your muscles, making them ten, increasing strength. After the passage of adrenaline, the process of the calming-down phase starts. Immobilization occurs when you've experienced too much stress in a situation (Smith, 2018). Your body is unable to return to its normal state, and your body tells your mind that you are unable to move on from this traumatic event.

Symptoms of Military PTSD

Symptoms can develop in the hours or days following a traumatic event; sometimes, symptoms don't surface for months or even years after you return from deployment (Smith, 2018). There are four main symptom clusters that you can look out for: (1) recurrent, intrusive reminders of the traumatic event, (2) extreme avoidance of things that remind you of the traumatic event, (3) negative changes in your thoughts and mood, (4) being on guard all the time, jumpy, and emotionally reactive (Smith, 2018).

Military PTSD Examples and Manifestations

When a veteran is having recurrent reminders of the traumatic event, this can be nightmares and flashbacks like the event is happening again (Smith, 2018). Oftentimes, when veterans experience this, it happens as a panic attack, cold sweats, and heart beating fast. This causes the individual to not sleep thoroughly throughout the night or will not fall back asleep. This could lead to drowsiness during the day and be in a bad mood. The second symptom is extreme avoidance; this can include people, places, thoughts, or situations that the veteran associates with bad memories of when they were active (Smith, 2018). This can be seen in individuals as they pull away from their friends or family and do not want to hang out with them. When friends ask them to hang out, they will pull away and act like they have lost interest in their daily activities. They will stop doing the hobbies that they once enjoyed and stay at home in the comfort of their own safe space. The third symptom is negative changes in the individual's thoughts and mood (Smith, 2018). Veterans with PTSD often have feelings of guilt after witnessing or being involved in a traumatic event, such as watching a fellow military friend being blown up or witnessing someone getting murdered. Feeling this type of guilt is normal, along with feelings of shame and fear. Feelings of shame are due to them thinking they have been through a war and should be proud of it, but now they are showing these emotions that are not normal to that individual. These feelings give the veteran a diminished ability to be able to feel positive emotions, not being able to feel happy again or go back to the person they were before. The last symptoms are being on guard all the time, feeling jumpy, and being emotionally reactive (Smith, 2018). This symptom is presented as the veteran feeling irritable and angry, always in a bad mood, and will snap at anyone. A bad mood can lead to reckless behavior, such as drinking and driving. Drinking and driving are a dangerous mixture for someone who is suffering from PTSD; they can feel the emotions more and can have trouble concentrating and trouble falling asleep.

Diagnosis of PTSD

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), when suffering from a trauma or a stressor-related disorder, the individual has to present with these symptoms for a month or more (APA, 2013). The symptoms can show up right after the traumatic event up to three months after the event. In other situations, perhaps even years later, the traumatic event occurs when a veteran sees someone or finds himself in a situation that sends him back to a moment of combat, and panic overtakes them. In fact, where post-traumatic stress disorder is concerned, the major component of the disorder is fear-oriented.

Resources for Veterans with PTSD

When seeking help for PTSD, veterans have several resources available to them. The VA has places where veterans can go for PTSD help at their medical centers and clinics close to where veterans live. They offer different types of therapy that have been shown to work for PTSD in veterans. Some of these therapies include CPT and PE therapy, which help veterans process their traumatic memories. Many veterans who go through these programs see their military PTSD symptoms get better, though it takes time and effort. Veterans with PTSD can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 when they need someone to talk to. This hotline is open all day and night for veterans who are struggling. Many vets also find help by joining support groups. These groups let them talk with other military members who have gone through similar things. Organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project help veterans find these groups where they can share their PTSD experiences and not feel alone. Talking with other veterans who understand military PTSD examples firsthand can make a big difference in their recovery.

Conclusion

Veterans dealing with PTSD face many challenges every day. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment helps them manage their symptoms and not let PTSD take over their life. Getting help from doctors, taking medication if needed, talking with other veterans, and having support from family all work together to help the veteran heal. Veterans tend to think that by seeking help, they are somehow demonstrating weakness, whereas it is the other way around; they are showing strength. Many people are learning that military PTSD is true, and researchers are trying to find better ways to treat it. A veteran can enhance the healing experience of himself/herself by treating his/her vocation with respect and honor while at the same time confronting the very painful consequences of that vocation.

References

1. Smith, M. (2018, September). PTSD in Military Veterans. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/ptsd-in-military-veterans.htm
2. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington, VA: Author.

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