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Reflections on ptsd
Veterans post traumatic stress syndrome and mental illness
Veterans post traumatic stress syndrome and mental illness
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Over the past fifteen years Americas finest warriors have been sent all over the world battling the war on terror. According to the President, the wars and battles are now over. Due to the Presidents lack of combat experience, he fails to realise that the battles still continue. These battles are not in Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other country, the battles are in the minds of those combat Veterans. These Veterans are and will continue to relive those battles in their minds for the rest of their lives. This battle is the battle for inner peace, sanity, and a good night’s sleep. Doctors have related this disorder to a release of a chemical cocktail in the brain and have coined this battle PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). If PTSD is related to a release of chemical cocktail in the brain, then pre-war vulnerabilities, combat, , and post-war re-experiences are triggers that release that cocktail and cause Veterans to get PTSD. PTSD has been around for thousands of years. One of earliest examples of PTSD was in Egyptian …show more content…
times. Alexander the Great was said to have PTSD from his many years of hand to hand combat. He was said to have changes in personality, killing his men for no reason, drinking constantly, and he was suspicious of everyone. Even Shakespeare wrote about PTSD in Hennery the IV. Now days, PTSD is sadly a common thing among returning Veterans. Over the years, PTSD has been known by many names. Shell Shock, Combat Exhaustion, and Stress Response Syndrome are just to name a few. Perhaps the most accurate name that PTSD has been called is Estar Roto or "to be broken. According to Friedman it was not until “1980” that it was officially named PTSD by “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” (2016). In finding the cause for PTSD, one must first know how the “DSM test works. Currently the APA is utilizing DSM version 5. DSM 5 takes the Veterans symptoms analyses them and comes to a collusion of whether or not PTSD is present. Brewin states that “PTSD has 20 separate symptoms organized into four symptom clusters and other anxiety disorders, have from two to eight symptoms and no clusters” (2014) through the DSM 5 test. Basically, PTSD is associated and compared with multiple diseases so it is hard to pin point PTSD symptoms. Thus, Psychiatrist like Brewin are pushing for other criteria that possibly cause PTSD to be introduced into the next DSM. Causes such as pre-war vulnerabilities. As stated above, pre- war vulnerabilities are yet to be part of the testing for PTSD, however they play a key role in the possible cause. According to Bruce Dohrenwend and colleagues at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health “Pre-war vulnerability is just as important as combat-related trauma in predicting whether veterans’ symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be long-lasting” (2013). Pre-war vulnerabilities not be what everyone thinks. Sure, child abuse and sexual assault are in the mix, however there are other vulnerabilities that could play a factor in the cause of PTSD. Temperament or genetics could play a factor in the development of PTSD. First let’s take a look at the obvious, child abuse and sexual assault. There has yet to be a study on Veterans who developed PTSD as a child due to abuse or sexual assault. So, the data below encompasses the entire United States. The National Comorbidity Survey Replication- “Adolescent Supplement is a nationally representative sample of over 10,000 adolescents aged 13-18. Results indicate that 5% of adolescents have met criteria for PTSD in their lifetime. Prevalence is higher for girls than boys (8.0% vs. 2.3%) and increase with age. Current rates (in the past month) are 3.9% overall. There are no definitive studies on prevalence rates of PTSD in younger children in the general population.”(2016). So, for every 10,000 children 500 have developed a form of PTSD. According to ChildState.gov there are 25 million children the age of 12-17 in the United States as of 2016.(2016) If 5% of 25 million (1.25 million) children suffered from PTSD due to child abuse then surly some of those children have or will join the military, thus having a greater chance of relapsing or developing PTSD in the military. The second pre- war vulnerability that could play a factor in Veterans getting PTSD is temperament or ones genetic makeup. There have been few studies done on temperament and its role in causing or not causing PTSD. There was one study done by on this subject. American Psychological Association suggest that “Certain temperament traits, such as neuroticism and compulsiveness, have been found to increase vulnerability to the development of PTSD” (2013). American Psychological Association conducted a study on Journalists and found that “Journalists who develop severe PTSD differ in terms of their perceptions of the trauma, temperament profiles and sense of coherence, which impacts on their way of coping with the traumatic situations they face daily.” This study suggest that every human copes with trauma a different way due to their genetic makeup. Hence, the reason why some Veterans get PTSD from hiking and some don’t get it at all even after several combat tours. Another factor with genetics is empathy or the lack there of. Gallese defines empathy as “a vicarious experience of others’ emotions” (2003). In laymen terms empathy is how much emotion one feels towards another’s joy or sorrow. If a Veteran has high empathy would this not have a factor in getting PTSD after a traumatic event? After all, the higher empathy is the more one feels for something. On the flip side, if a Veteran had low empathy prior to a traumatic even, they would be less likely to get PTSD. After some research, there have been no test done on Veterans empathy pre-war vs post combat. Any of these pre-war conditions could release a chemical cocktail in the brain to cause PTSD. The second condition that could release a chemical cocktail in the brain to cause PTSD is the one most studied by Phycologist. It is the most studied due to combat being the most obvious and logical cause of PTSD. According to the VA, Combat is the number one cause of PTSD among Veterans •According to VA, approximately 20 % of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, up to 10 % of Gulf War veterans, and up to 30 % of Vietnam War veterans have some variant of PTSD. (2016) Sexual Assault is the second most cause of PTSD among Veterans, specifically women Veterans. The VA estimates that 71% of female Veterans develop PTSD due to sexual assault (2016). PTSD due to combat must be broken down into a few categories if doctors are to fully understand it. The first category is the POG (People other than Grunts) or non-combat jobs category. This category is comprised of all the support personnel that typically are not involved in direct combat. Techniquley yes, these Veterans do deploy to a “combat” zone, but the reality is that “combat” is rarely seen. These Veterans are usually posted on a large camp with relatively good security with minimal threats. These Veterans are less likely to get PTSD from combat, however PTSD is still reported with these Veterans due to stress, sexual assaults, being away from family’s, or any other reason except combat. The second category is actual “combat” Veterans. These GRUNTS “Ground Ready Units” are comprised of all the combat jobs and are involved in direct combat. The GRUNTS are usually posted or fighting on the FEBA (Forward Edge of the Battle Area). Conditions are typically very harsh in this area. Veterans go through sleep deprivation, food deprivation, water shortages, firefights on a daily basis, constant fatigue, seeing buddies die, and killing the enemy on a daily basis any one of which by its self, let alone all together could cause the brain to release a chemical cocktail and cause PTSD. The VA states the “Soldiers and Marines who had more combat stressors had more mental health problems”(2015). These health problems typical does not arise until arriving home or Post War. Post War experience is the finial ingredient in causing the brain to release a chemical cocktail and cause PTSD among Veterans. Post war experiences is when visions, thoughts, and emotion come flooding back to the Veteran well after being home. One of the most prominent post war experiences of PTSD is the Re-experiencing the traumatic event. One of these experiences is vivid nightmares. Everybody has had nightmares, but Veterans with PTSD have very vivid ones. So vivid that everything from the smell to the sounds seems real. These nightmares happen during the day as well. Ehlers &Michael suggest that “re-experiencing symptoms are due to the way trauma memories are encoded, organised in memory and retrieved” (p.1). Which brings us to our next major symptom of PTSD, avoiding the reminders of the trauma. Another post war experiences is that Veterans who have PTSD will tend to avoid people, places, and things that remind them of the trauma that they went through.
These things trigger memories on the brain that bring back all the emotion and devastation of that time. This can be emotional or behavioural avoidance. According to PTSD.VA.GOV “Emotional avoidance is when a person avoids thoughts or feelings about a traumatic event.” (2015). A lot of Veterans refuse to talk about their experiences with people who were not involved in the event. PTSD.VA.GOV also state that behavioural avoidance is “Avoiding reminders of a trauma” (2015). Behavioural avoidance can be anything in a person’s daily life. Crowds, news, people and places could be avoided by a Veteran with PTSD. Veterans tend to have emotional or behavioural avoidance because it causes them to have “flashbacks” of the trauma which in turn, brings on increased anxiety and emotional
arousal. The finial post war experiences is increased anxiety and emotional arousal. According to ADAA “hypervigilance and exaggerated startle response persistent fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame,” (2016) are examples of increased anxiety. Combat Veterans with PTSD are constantly “looking for work” or on the lookout for potential threats. This constant state of alert drains the body and mind and at times will cause the body and brain to shut down. According to ADAA “irritable or aggressive behaviour, reckless or self-destructive behaviour, problems with concentration diminished interest or participation in significant activities, feelings of detachment or estrangement from others, and persistent inability to experience positive emotions” (2016) are examples of emotional arousal. Emotional arousal is possibly the biggest threat form PTDS due to many Veterans contemplating, attempting, or committing suicide. According to the VA Health Care “out of the 41,475 suicides in the United States in 2014, 18% (7,403) were identified as Veterans of U.S. military service.” (2016). This is a staggering number and is increasing each year that PTDS is not treated. In conclusion, the study of PTSD IN Veterans is severely lacking in its data to find a true cause. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) must revaluate its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in order to come up with a more accurate test for diagnosing and pre diagnosing PTSD. Almost all the data collected on PTSD has been post-war. In order to truly understand if chemicals in the brain are creating a cocktail that is causing PTSD, the AMA must study pre-war vulnerability’s, combat, and post-war experiences. Until the data from all three is though as one, chemicals in the brain creating a cocktail that is causing PTSD will not be proven as fact.
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition, similar to an anxiety disorder, that is triggered by trauma and other extremely stressful circumstances. Throughout the book, Junger talks about PTSD in a wide range:from PTSD rates in natural disaster victims to PTSD rates in veterans. The latter is explained on a deeper perspective. While Junger gave many examples of why PTSD rates in America were so high, the most captivating was:
A Vietnam War veteran experienced many gruesome and horrifying events during their time of serving the army. Seeing such horrifying things affected their mental and emotional thinking “PTSD is defined as a re-experience of a traumatic event, for example, flashbacks. Anything can trigger a flashback a click, a movement, anything associated with the past event” (Cruz). Seeing such horrifying things affected their mental and emotional thinking. A soldier was told to forget what they saw and basically move on from it, but it only made it worse. Having everything “bottled up” makes it even harder to treat PTSD. U.S. soldiers had to live with the disorder on their own without any help. “The veterans experience combat related nightmares, anxiety, anger, depression, alcohol and/or drug dependency, all are symptoms of PTSD” (Begg). The symptoms occurred over long periods of time when that person has been in certain situations that he or she was not ready to be in. Some of these situations including the Vietnam veterans not feeling like their unit was together or united. “Soldiers were sent into replace other soldiers, which caused the other members of the group to make fun or haze them. The unit never developed as much loyalty to each other as they should have” (Paulson and Krippner). “Many of...
They use medication and alcohol for sleeping because they obsess that enemies are coming, they need more consciousness to fight back.
Men zoom by on a sled. Cheerful music plays in the background, and a voice chimes, “You want fast action?” A man floats along on water skis. “Outdoors action?” the voice calls. A man climbs up a tall, dangerous mountain. “Real man-sized action?” the voice proclaims. “Well, here’s action that tops them all, in the combat branches of today’s Army,” the voice finishes (Quitney). It was not uncommon to see the Army or military glamorized in Vietnam recruitment commercials, much like the one described previously. Despite the decorated ideals of the military life and duties, the Vietnam War would prove to be far from idealistic for U.S. soldiers. Many of the soldiers who were drafted into the war did not have a choice in the matter and did not want to go. During training camp, the privates were often mistreated and suffered physical and mental punishments. American soldiers committed war crimes repeatedly without any second thought. Because of the brutality that occurred during the Vietnam War, many soldiers suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which frequently led to suicide and depression. The goal was to win the war, but those who were forced to kill without conscience cannot close their mind to the anguish they placed upon themselves and so many people.
Tragic events occur not only in the United States, but also all over the world. From these tragic events communities, families, and the government decide to place memorials for people that were lost and as a thank you for people protecting the citizens of the country. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Wall, in Washington D.C. is one of these cases. However, what exactly was the purpose of this memorial? The purpose of putting up the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was not only to thank the veterans for their bravery, but to remind future generations about happened during the Vietnam War. Also, the memorial is important to help people and the veterans to accept the fact that the war actually
Examples of PTSD can be found as early as in ancient Greek and Roman history, for example the Greek historian Herodotus mentions “an Athenian warrior who went permanently blind when the soldier standing next to him was killed, although the blinded soldier was wounded in no part of his body” when he wrote about the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. He “also writes of the Spartan commander Leonidas, who, at the battle of Thermopylae Pass in 480 B.C., dismissed his men from joining the combat because he clearly recognized they were psychologically spent from previous battles.-They had no heart for ...
Imagine living in despair after coming back home, dismayed from a war that got no appreciation. Robert Kroger once said in his quote, “The brave men and women, who serve their country and as a result, live constantly with the war inside them, exist in a world of chaos. But the turmoil they experience isn’t who they are, the PTSD invades their minds and bodies.” Eleven percent of Vietnam Veterans still suffer with symptoms of the terrifying disorder of PTSD (Handwerk). Vietnam Veterans struggle with the physiological effects of PTSD after war, which leads to despair and many deaths.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after a traumatic event (Riley). A more in depth definition of the disorder is given by Doctor’s Nancy Piotrowski and Lillian Range, “A maladaptive condition resulting from exposure to events beyond the realm of normal human experience and characterized by persistent difficulties involving emotional numbing, intense fear, helplessness, horror, re-experiencing of trauma, avoidance, and arousal.” People who suffer from this disease have been a part of or seen an upsetting event that haunts them after the event, and sometimes the rest of their lives. There are nicknames for this disorder such as “shell shock”, “combat neurosis”, and “battle fatigue” (Piotrowski and Range). “Battle fatigue” and “combat neurosis” refer to soldiers who have been overseas and seen disturbing scenes that cause them anxiety they will continue to have when they remember their time spent in war. It is common for a lot of soldiers to be diagnosed with PTSD when returning from battle. Throughout the history of wars American soldiers have been involved in, each war had a different nickname for what is now PTSD (Pitman et al. 769). At first, PTSD was recognized and diagnosed as a personality disorder until after the Vietnam Veterans brought more attention to the disorder, and in 1980 it became a recognized anxiety disorder (Piotrowski and Range). There is not one lone cause of PTSD, and symptoms can vary from hallucinations to detachment of friends and family, making a diagnosis more difficult than normal. To treat and in hopes to prevent those who have this disorder, the doctor may suggest different types of therapy and also prescribe medication to help subside the sympt...
PTSD is defined as mental health disorder triggered by a terrifying event (Mayoclinic). This ordeal could be the result of some sort of physical harm or threat to the individual, family members, friends or even strangers. (NIMH) While PTSD is typically associated with someone who has served in the military, it can affect more than just that genre of individuals. It could affect rape victims, victims in a terrorist or natural disaster incident, nurses, doctors, and police and fire personnel and bystanders. PTSD can manifest itself in many forms. The primary signs and symptoms of PTSD include but are not limited to re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, bad dreams, frightening thoughts), avoidance of places, situations, or events that may cause those memories to resurface, and hyperarousal symptoms (easily startled, feeling tense or on edge) (NIMH). Other symptoms may include not having positive or loving feelings toward other people, staying away from relationships, may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them, may think the world is completely dangerous, and no one can be trusted.
After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, horrific images of the towers collapsing, survivors fleeing, and the rescue and recovery efforts inundated television viewers. In the weeks following the attacks, numerous news accounts reported increasing general anxiety among Americans, with many individuals reporting sleep difficulties and trouble concentrating. Additionally, much attention focused on the effects on those who directly witnessed and/or were injured the attacks, and whether they would suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD (4). I will give a brief overview of the definition of PTSD, the neurobiology behind it, and what environmental factors may put certain people at heightened risk for developing the disorder.
The United States has thousands of veterans and many of them suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The care for veterans must be improved. Veteran care needs to be improved because they are not getting the proper care that they need, not receiving credit for their service, and they were willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom, yet people will not pay the price of time to help them.
With people who are suffering from PTSD their brain is still in overdrive long after the trauma has happened. They may experience things like flashbacks, nightmares, hallucinations, panic attacks, and deep depression. They tend to avoid things that remind them of their trauma and are constantly on high alert waiting for the next possible traumatic event to take place; in events such...
The second category symptom for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the avoidance symptoms. This is where the person who has experienced the trauma stays away from places that may trigger his or her memory to the event that caused the trauma. The person also may seem emotionless. He or she may not want to experience that feeling again so he or she become emotionally numb to everything going on around them. The person may also feel a great amount of guilt, depression or worry. He or she may also lose interest in activities that he or she found to be fun before the traumatic event. He or she may have trouble remembering the event. Things that remind he or she of the event may cause avoidance symptoms. This can cause he or she to can change his or her everyday routine to avoid something that triggers rememberance of the event.
Our soldiers not only risked life and limb for our country while serving in the Vietnam War, but they continue to suffer immensely. Americans as well as Vietnamese troops and civilians suffered great losses when it comes to casualties. Witnessing first-hand the pain and death of strangers and allies, isn’t something one is likely to forget. Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been one of the many repercussions of witnessing these gruesome events (Mental Health America). Veterans, their families, and the government have come together in combat in attempts to address the detrimental effects of PTSD.
... event and tend to be emotionally numb” (Anxiety Disorders). PTSD leads to flashbacks and behavioral changes to try to avoid anything that might remind the affected individual of the traumatic experience.