JANUARY 24, 2024 – There has never been a time in the recent past when America’s military has never been on a combat mission. To the deployed soldiers, these combat situations expose them to traumatic experiences that often manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon leaving service or while still on active duty.
PTSD among veterans has always been a topic of discussion, especially in political circles. While politicians may have ulterior motives when discussing veteran matters, PTSD is a real problem. This guide looks into its prevalence among veterans and what can be done about it.
Understanding PTSD
PTSD is a mental illness that develops in persons who have had exposure to traumatic events, with active combat being at the top of the most traumatic events. However, PTSD is not limited to veterans. Anyone who has had exposure to a highly traumatic event such as a natural disaster, witness the horrific death of a loved one, or victim of violent abuse such as sexual assault can develop PTSD.
PTSD can be pretty debilitating to victims and manifests with symptoms such as relieving the traumatic events through nightmares and flashbacks, avoidance of anything and situations that remind the person of the event, negative thoughts that could include thoughts of self-harm, hyperarousal where the person is easily startled, irritable and aggressive.
How Common Is PTSD Among Veterans
Being in the military means a person is more exposed to traumatic events than civilians. However, the difference may not be as significant when you look at the average numbers. According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, 7 out of 100 veterans develop PTSD at some point in their lives compared to 6 out of 100 civilians.
Also, data from the department shows that female veterans have a higher chance of developing PTSD than their male counterparts, with 13 out of 100 female veterans developing symptoms of PTSD compared to 6 in every 100 males.
There is also a notable difference in PTSD prevalence based on the service era, with the most recent eras showing a higher prevalence for PTSD than past eras. For comparison, only 3 percent of WW2 and Korean War era veterans developed PTSD at some point in life compared to 29 percent during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom era.
Help For Veterans
Science has not been able to explain why traumatic effects will have different long-term effects on some people but not others. On the bright side, being home with PTSD means you survived the ordeal, and the focus should be on getting unstuck from the experience and living a meaningful post-military life.
But it may not happen overnight. Several things have been seen to help cope with PTSD in victims, including:
PTSD Treatment
There isn’t a definitive cure for PTSD; however, there are many treatment options that can help alleviate the symptoms. Finding effective therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder should be the first thing you want to think about when seeking treatment.
The most common approaches taken by professional therapists include cognitive behavioral therapy or counseling, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing that helps to “unstick” the nervous system, and medication, which helps reduce accompanying symptoms such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
Self-Help Tips
Lifestyle plays a critical role in alleviating PTSD symptoms. PTSD, being a mental condition, may have a victim inclined to stick to a specific lifestyle. As such, it is important to be intentional when making changes. For example, you may want to exercise, which helps burn off adrenaline and release endorphins, which helps improve mood. Connecting with people who care can also make a huge difference, and joining veteran support groups can be an excellent idea. Lastly, taking care of the body can be very helpful, and it starts with eating healthily, getting time to relax, meditating, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol.