By Tim Kilbride
“Suffering a brain or psychological injury has nothing to do with how good of a Soldier or Marine they are, has nothing to do with how strong they are.” — Dr. Maria Mouratidis, neuropsychologist, National Naval Medical Center
A lot has been said about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the past few years, and more needs to be said because it’s estimated that between 6% – 20% of veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom suffer from PTSD. Over five million adults in the United States have PTSD in a given year. If you feel symptoms, you’re not alone, and you don’t need to be alone trying to work through them.
- Here are some figures about PTSD in the military and across America.
The Department of Defense has recognized that PTSD is going to be an ongoing problem for the force, and we are working hard to tear down the stigmas around psychological injuries and to educate everyone with a stake about the causes, effects, symptoms and treatments. The sooner a servicemember recognizes the signs and gets treatment, the more valuable he or she is to the mission. This mantra has been repeated in the Pentagon over and over, and now we say it again in hopes that it’s heard in the FOBs, camps, installations and communities where it needs to be absorbed — the military needs you healthy and capable! So do your families, friends and employers.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs has a good primer on PTSD and answers to some frequently asked questions about it.
- For a more comprehensive collection of references, see the PTSD Information Center maintained by the VA.
- The National Center for PTSD also maintains an online, searchable database of PTSD literature.
Servicemembers rely on personal strength, intensive training, and loyal support networks to overcome adversity. A servicemember who is injured physically can look inside himself or herself and find the strength to recover. But, for a servicemember who is wounded emotionally or psychologically, that personal strength can seem to have vanished, leaving feelings of doubt, inadequacy, depression, anxiety, anger and unsettledness. The effects of PTSD are especially damaging because they cut away at the mental strength a servicemember would normally rely on to recover, and they do so in such a way that the individual may not even know what’s wrong. That’s why peers are so important; they have the context to know when something isn’t right, and they have a duty to help. Families, leaders, friends and employers all have a role to play, too, and need to know what PTSD looks like and why it happens.
“It’s time we made everyone in uniform aware that the act of reaching out for help is, in fact, one of the most courageous acts and one of the first big steps to reclaiming your career, your life and your future.” — Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
About PTSD
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. During this type of event, you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening. Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening event can develop PTSD, and these events can include a lot more than just military combat. After the event, you may feel scared, confused, angry or helpless. If these feelings don’t go away or they get worse, you may have PTSD. These symptoms may disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities.
PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not happen until months or years later. They can also come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than 4 weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you probably have PTSD.
There are four types of symptoms:
- Reliving the event that caused the trauma
- Avoidance of situations that remind you of the event
- Numbness and inability to express feelings
- Feeling keyed up, irritable or easily startled
People with PTSD may also have other problems, including:
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Feelings of hopelessness, shame or despair
- Employment problems
- Relationship problems, including divorce and violence
- Physical symptoms
For anyone thinking they might have PTSD, the following two websites offer self-assessments. They’re no substitute for talking to a health professional but offer a jumping-off point for thinking about PTSD, understanding the problem, and looking at treatments.
- AfterDeployment.org – A completely anonymous and interactive site maintained by the Defense Centers for Excellence that deals with all sorts of post-deployment issues, not just PTSD. Users can take self-assessments, view video testimonials, run through simulations, explore methods of self-treatment, and get referrals for follow-up professional treatment.
- The Mental Health Self-Assessment Program – DoD Health Affairs maintains this anonymous series of self-assessment screenings – available in English and Spanish. The screening will not provide a diagnosis, but it will tell you whether or not you have symptoms that are consistent with a condition or concern that would benefit from further evaluation or treatment. It will also give you guidance as to where you might seek assistance.
Many people who develop PTSD recover at some point. But about 1 out of 3 people with PTSD may continue to have some symptoms. Even then, treatment can help you cope and carry on with fulfilling relationships, work and activities.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a description of how a professional PTSD assessment is carried out.
- VA also offers a description of how treatment works, involving both the patient and family, to overcome or teach you to cope with PTSD.
If you suspect you need help, know someone who does, or have questions about PTSD, there are many resources available.
- The Defense Centers of Excellence Outreach Center is staffed 24/7 with health consultants and nurses. Call in your questions to the Outreach Center at 866-966-1020 toll-free or send an e-mail to resources@dcoeoutreach.org. They stress, “You’ll never find answers if you don’t ask questions. Remember, seeking support is an act of courage and strength. You are not alone.”
- Military OneSource also offers 24/7 support for any health issue. Call 1-800-342-9647 with questions, and assistants will direct you to the appropriate service provider.
“People basically say, ‘Suck it up and get on with the job,’ … without realizing that people who have PTSD have suffered a wound, just like they’ve been shot, and need to be treated.” — Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
For more DoD coverage of PTSD, see the “Healing the Invisible Wounds of War” feature on DefenseLink.mil.
Recent Comments