VETERANS CONTINUE TO FACE UNSEEN BATTLES WHEN SERVICE ENDS

Veterans continue to face unseen battles when service ends
By: Robert Foreman

As tensions between the United States and Iran remain high, we are all praying for the brave men and women in the military who may find themselves in harm’s way. However, we often forget about the issues that our military personnel face once the battles are done and they return home. I was reminded of this when I spoke with two veterans who were raising money to help their fellow veterans that were dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One of the veterans, who admitted to me that he suffered from PTSD, lifted his shirt and showed me where he had been wounded in Iraq. He also pointed to his shoulder where he had been shot by his former girlfriend after an argument.

Many veterans return home expecting to resume their normal lives, yet find that they run into numerous obstacles. Some may have a difficult time finding employment. Others may have to deal with the physical and emotional injuries that can lead to homelessness and suicide. Then there are those who find themselves having to battle their own government to receive the very benefits that they have earned. However, the most common issue that plagues veterans is PTSD. While anyone can develop PTSD, it is most common in people who find themselves in life or death situations, such as veterans, law enforcement and other first responders.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, a number of factors can increase the chances of someone developing PTSD. These factors, which are often not under a person’s control, can include having an intense or long-lasting traumatic event or being injured during that event. PTSD tends to be most common after specific types of trauma, such as combat or sexual assault. There are certain factors, such as age, gender and exposure to previous trauma that can determine whether an individual develops PTSD. Additionally, what a person experiences after the traumatic event, such as stress or lack of social support, will also play a role in whether they develop PTSD.

The symptoms of PTSD can be the avoidance of certain activities, emotions and places that remind someone of their traumatic experience. It can also involve the person reliving the trauma through flashbacks and nightmares. They may also find themselves having difficulty sleeping, experiencing mood swings, outbursts, self-destructive behavior and depression. Individuals may also isolate themselves from family and friends and be plagued by thoughts of suicide. So, if you have a friend or family member who has experienced a traumatic event, either in battle or in some other circumstance, it always good to keep an eye out for the aforementioned signs of PTSD.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that incidents of PTSD among veterans are influenced by the war they fought in. For example, about 15% of Vietnam veterans are currently diagnosed with PTSD and about 30% of Vietnam veterans have dealt with PTSD in their lifetimes. Whereas, about 20% of the veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year and 12% of Gulf War veterans are diagnosed. Another issue that can exacerbate PTSD among veterans is coming home to life or death jobs, such as law enforcement or firefighting. How one handles a situation on the battlefield differs from how a situation can be handled on the home front and that can lead to more stress for veterans in those two professions.

Our military personnel are flesh and blood human beings. They are our friends, family and neighbors and they deal with the same issues that we all deal with; paying rent, trying to find employment, raising families, etc. Yet, they also have to bring home the physical and mental scars of war that the rest of us do not have to contend with. So, while we celebrate the service of our veterans, we should never forget the unseen battles that many of them continue to face when they return home. For further information on PTSD go to: VA.gov | Veterans Affairs