Monday was National PTSD Awareness Day, wrapping up PTSD Awareness Month in June.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a mental illness where an individual fails to recover from a traumatic event. This can lead to a series of symptoms like nightmares, hallucinations, panic attacks, and even depression.
The VA estimates there are currently about 8 million people in the United States with PTSD, and most of these people are veterans. The VA also estimates there is a large percentage of those affected who are not getting the help they need.
PTSD has really been around since our lineage achieved self-awareness and was first mentioned in writings from ancient Greece over 2,500 years ago. It was observed that many veterans of the Civil War exhibited episodes of blind rage, and experienced suicidal tendencies to a much greater extent than the general population. World War I, arguably Western civilization’s first “modern” war, generated numerous cases of what was termed “shell shock” or “war neuroses”, and definitely carried the stigma of cowardice and mental weakness in society.
Even into World War II, there was the famous incident of General George Patton slapping a soldier, who had been diagnosed with “Combat Fatigue” in Sicily in 1943. PTSD was not even listed as a formal diagnosis until 1980, almost ten years after the end of the Vietnam War, which was the first conflict where this condition finally came to the forefront of society.
As with much in life, PTSD can be complicated. A veteran may be suffering from physical wounds at the same time or experiencing poor health from exposure to Agent Orange or other toxic exposure. Also, alcohol or drug addiction, or other addictive behaviors related to sexual and eating disorders, or “workaholism” can be the result of PTSD.
A retired VA psychologist, who asked not to be named for this story, said that, sometimes, treating the addiction has to become primary to treating PTSD.
“But often, both can be treated at the same time,” he said. “For those who are hesitant about seeking help, or their concerned family members, the VA is the best place to receive help, but though some veterans do not care to deal with the VA, any mental health professional can get you started with the critical first steps of getting evaluated and diagnosed. Even talking to a minister or priest, most of whom received some training in counseling, can help.”
For more information on PTSD and how to get treatment, see the VA PTSD website at https:// bit.ly/3xPAJyo.
More Benefits Coming for Toxic Exposure
There is pending legislation to expand the benefits for veterans exposed to radiation during the Cold War. That adds to the list of illnesses linked to the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and extending benefits to Vietnam War-era veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Guam. The bill has strong bipartisan support, so eventual passage looks positive.
