How Many Veterans Have Ptsd And What Can We Do About It
Ask how many veterans have PTSD and you may be shocked by the answer. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 11-20 out of every 100 veteransexperience post-traumatic stress disorder a number that is both overwhelming and, unfortunately, not always acknowledged to the degree that it should be.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event. Unable to cope with what has been experienced, the brain exists in a near-constant state of fight-or-flight, with intense physical and emotional reactions triggered by memories of the event that are spurned by high-anxiety situations.
For veterans returning from combat zones, the symptoms of PTSD often include nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and difficulties processing the emotions of the trauma. Other symptoms include difficulties sleeping and maintaining relationships, wild fluctuations in anger and aggression, and self-destructive behaviors.
So why do so many soldiers have PTSD? And why do some experience it but not others? Ina study published in Clinical Psychological Science, researchers determined that the stress of combat was a large contributor to veterans PTSD but usually not the only one. There is often an underlying, pre-combat psychiatric disorder, and the experience of directly doing harm to another is a common thread. An additional common factor was age, with younger soldiers being more likely to develop PTSD.
How To Help A Loved One With Ptsd
First, let them know that acknowledging they may have PTSD shows theyre strong, not weak.
- Let the veteran determine what they are comfortable talking about, and dont push.
- Be a good listener and dont say things like, I know how you felt, or, Thats just like when I, even if you also served in a combat zone. Everyones feelings are unique.
- Remind your loved one that they are not alone, and many others have personal stories they can share about their readjustment. Talking to other warriors can help them cope.
Combat Stress Or Ptsd
Combat stress is often confused with post-traumatic stress disorder, which can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like war, assault or disaster. While many of the symptoms are similar between the two conditions, they are different.
Combat stress usually happens for brief periods and is considered a natural reaction to the traumatic events that service members experience. Symptoms often disappear after a service member is home for a few months or even weeks.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, on the other hand, is more severe. It can often interfere with a persons daily responsibilities and demands a more aggressive treatment. PTSD usually requires sessions with a mental health professional and methods to process difficult emotions.
A person diagnosed with PTSD often experiences specific symptoms such as recurrent dreams or flashbacks following a traumatic event as part of the combat experience.
In summary, PTSD tends to be more severe and usually requires working with a mental health professional. Combat stress is a more common reaction to demanding and traumatic experiences. Service members can usually recover and resume their everyday lives by following some simple strategies and taking time to heal.
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The Ugly Connection Between Ptsd And Homelessness
When veterans are discharged from service, transitioning out of the military and back to civilian life takes a lot of adjustment from having to select a new career path, to acquiring health care benefits, to adjusting to the social norms of the civilian world. Unfortunately, many of our veterans do not receive support during this transition, which increases their risk for homelessness or housing instability.
What leads to veteran homelessness?
In April 2019, the U.S. had a homelessness population of over 630,000, with 67,000 being veterans of the armed forces. Studies shows that common causes for homelessness among U.S. veterans are:
- Disabilities physical injury or mental illness
- Substance abuse drug abuse or alcoholism
- Family breakdown
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
PTSD and homelessness
Among these causes, post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD may be the top reason for veteran homelessness. It is a disorder that affects almost eight adults for every 100 in the U.S. alone. Veterans with TBI have an increased risk of developing PTSD. Anger issues, substance abuse, and other life-controlling problems may result as veterans struggle to deal with the illness.
How can we help our warriors?
How Common Is Ptsd In Veterans
When you serve in the military, you may be exposed to different types of traumas than civilians. The war you served in may also affect your risk because of the types of trauma that were common. War zone deployment, training accidents and military sexual trauma may lead to PTSD. Learn how many Veterans have PTSD.
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When you are in the military, you may see combat. You may have been on missions that exposed you to horrible and life-threatening experiences. These types of events can lead to PTSD.
The number of Veterans with PTSD varies by service era:
- Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom : About 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans who served in OIF or OEF have PTSD in a given year.
- Gulf War : About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans have PTSD in a given year.
- Vietnam War: About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam Veterans were currently diagnosed with PTSD at the time of the most recent study in the late 1980s, the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study . It is estimated that about 30 out of every 100 of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.
Other factors in a combat situation can add more stress to an already stressful situation. This may contribute to PTSD and other mental health problems. These factors include what you do in the war, the politics around the war, where the war is fought, and the type of enemy you face.
Among Veterans who use VA health care, about:
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How Is Ptsd Diagnosed
PTSD is a trauma- and stress-related disorder with recurrent symptoms. It can have overlapping symptoms with other mental health disorders, especially other anxiety disorders. However, getting an accurate diagnosis is essential when it comes to getting the help you need. PTSD may have treatment approaches that are unique, so getting the right help for your needs is an important first step in getting effective treatment. Getting a diagnosis may start with a meeting with a doctor or therapist. When youre seeking a mental health diagnosis, its often good to also get physical examinations and lab tests.
There is no medical exam that can identify PTSD, but it may help rule out other potential causes or contributing factors. For instance, certain vitamin deficiencies can contribute to psychological symptoms. You will also go through a psychological assessment, and your doctor or therapist will likely consult the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to help make an accurate diagnosis. PTSD is an officially diagnosed disorder in the fifth edition of the DSM .
How Partners And Loved Ones React
The grave misfortune of the impact PTSD has on the survivor is twofold. Their actions affect their relationships, and their loved ones reactions to the behavior can come full circle to further hurt the person with PTSD.
The emotions that loved ones feel toward a PTSD survivor are complicated. They run the gamut from sympathy or pity to anger, fear, resentment, and annoyance. It is also not uncommon for a partner to develop an unhealthy empathy, assuming the same emotional reactions as the survivor.
None of these reactions works to help the PTSD sufferer in their healing. The relationships worsen.
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Worried About A Loved One With Ptsd
n many cases, it is not the veteran themselves who initially acknowledges the need for help, but their spouse, children, family members, or friends who become worried after recognizing the signs and symptoms of PTSD in their loved one.
PTSD may not only be disabling to the affected veteran, but also cause their relationships with everyone in their lives to suffer as well. For those searching for what to do when a loved one is a military veteran with PTSD, please know one important fact first:
Its okay that youre scared. Its perfectly understandable, normal, and acceptable to feel worried, frustrated, and angry when dealing with the effects of Military Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on a formerly happy home.
A returning servicemember with PTSD may become emotionally distant or irrationally angry, withdraw physically and/or emotionally from those they love, isolate themselves, or self-medicate through drug or alcohol use.
What You Need What You Need To Know
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has always been a potential result of time spent in military service. After World War I, many returning soldiers were called shellshocked, a polite term that largely covered the symptoms that today we would recognize as being PTSD.
Those filing a VA Disability claim for PTSD may be worried about how to prove a disorder that may feel difficult to provide concrete evidence of. Dont worry. When you work with a legal representative who has experience in VA claims for PTSD, you will be working with a partner who has been down this road before.
First, youll submit all the evidence you have when you initially file your claim, establishing service-connection right from the start. Report any CIB, Combat Action Ribbon, Purple Heart, or decoration for Valor , or for Vietnam veterans, use the information off your DD-214 to list your tours.
Youll be asked to describe the stressors that lead to your Military Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and its important to emphasize specifics. It may be difficult to think or speak about the traumatic event, but the more information you provide the VA from the outset, the more able they will be to come to an accurate conclusion as to your PTSDs service-connection.
Be sure to include any and all medical records that relate to the traumatic event, injuries sustained if any, or resulting PTSD.
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Ptsd’s Role In Other Conditions
In addition to the symptoms of PTSD, veterans are now coping with many of the conditions that can go hand in hand. Some of these include:
- PTSD and substance abuse: It’s thought that substance abuse occurs in roughly a third of men with PTSD. It could be that “self-medicating” may underlie some of this propensity to become addicted to alcohol or drugs.
- Connection between PTSD and pain: Whether related to injuries from the war or one of the painful conditions which arise with age, many Vietnam veterans face chronic pain, and this pain is tied closely with PTSD. The vicious cycle can continue further as the symptoms of PTSD such as muscle tension increase pain, which in turn aggravates the symptoms of PTSD and so on. Finally, PTSD can increase the risk of depression and substance disorders, which in turn, increases pain.
- PTSD and depression: PTSD and depression are closely related as well with nearly half of people with PTSD experiencing clinical depression at some point in time.
- PTSD and heart disease: As with pain, many Vietnam veterans have reached an age when heart disease is very common, and some studies point at PTSD as a risk factor for heart disease in itself. In addition, people with PTSD have an increased rate of diabetes, and diabetes, as we know, is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Why Many Veterans Dont Seek Help For Ptsd
Many veterans resist getting the help they need because they feel that being traumatized by an event makes them weak. However, PTSD affects all kinds of people, and there is no evidence that weakness plays a role. In fact, PTSD rates are higher among people who most would consider courageous including, military service members, police, firefighters, paramedics, and first responders. Many of the people in these positions are very good at what they do. PTSD is a risk of high-stress jobs and military roles, and researchers are looking into ways to safeguard against that risk.
Several variables go into the development of PTSD that may be out of your control. Researchers are still learning why people can experience the same traumatic event, and only one experiences PTSD while the other one doesnt. Some research suggests that genetics may play a significant role as a risk factor for PTSD. A large 2018 study found that genetics may account for between 5% and 20% of your risk factor for PTSD. That means having a parent or grandparent who has experienced PTSD may increase your risk for the disorder.
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Educate Others And Raise Awareness About Ptsd
A major roadblock to the treatment and rehabilitation of veterans with PTSD is a lack of understanding regarding the disorder itself. Families and friends of veterans can help their loved ones by educating them, clarifying what PTSD is and what the possible symptoms are.
PTSD does not only afflict veterans who have faced combat or military action during their time in service. It can be the result of any trauma experienced by the veteran, regardless of whether it had a violent component or not. Veterans may struggle with trauma incurred during their time in the military for several months or even years after theyve completed their service.
In some cases, people experience chronic trauma that continues or repeats for months or years at a time. The current PTSD diagnosis often does not fully capture the severe psychological harm that occurs with prolonged, repeated trauma, according to an article from the VAs National Center for PTSD. People who experience chronic trauma often report additional symptoms alongside formal PTSD symptoms, such as changes in their self-concept and the way they adapt to stressful events.
Recovering From Survivors Guilt
Healing doesnt mean that youll forget what happened or those who died. And it doesnt mean youll have no regrets. What it does mean is that youll view your role more realistically.
- Is the amount of responsibility youre assuming reasonable?
- Could you really have prevented or stopped what happened?
- Are you judging your decisions based on complete information about the event, or just your emotions?
- Did you do your best at the time, under challenging circumstances?
- Do you truly believe that if you had died, someone else would have survived?
Honestly assessing your responsibility and role can free you to move on and grieve your losses. Even if you continue to feel some guilt, instead of punishing yourself, you can redirect your energy into honoring those you lost and finding ways to keep their memory alive. For example, you could volunteer for a cause thats connected in some way to one of the friends you lost. The goal is to put your guilt to positive use and thus transform a tragedy, even in a small way, into something worthwhile.
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How Do Children Respond
A parents PTSD symptoms can be directly linked to their childs responses. Children can respond in certain ways:
- The over-identified childmight feel and behave just like their parent as a way of trying to connect with the parent. Such a child might show many of the same symptoms as the parent with PTSD.
- The rescuer childtakes on the adult role to fill in for the parent with PTSD. The child acts too grown-up for his or her age.
- The emotionally uninvolved childgets little emotional help. This results in problems at school, depression, anxiety , and relationship problems later in life.
Ptsd Not Due To Combat
Prevalence statistics suggest that PTSD stemming from combat exposure is quite common. However, people in the military may also be at risk of experiencing other types of traumatic events.
Women in the military may be at high risk of experiencing sexual trauma, often referred to as military sexual trauma . Statistics also suggest that many men experience sexual harassment.
Among veterans who use VA healthcare services, 23% reported experiencing a sexual assault while in the military. Around 55% of women and 38% of men reported experiencing sexual harassment while serving in the military.
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What Are The Signs Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
A wide variety of symptoms may be signs that you are experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder. The following are some of the most common symptoms of PTSD that you or those around you may have noticed:
- Feeling upset by things that remind you of what happened
- Having nightmares, vivid memories, or flashbacks of the event that make you feel like its happening all over again
- Feeling emotionally cut off from others
- Feeling numb or losing interest in things you used to care about
- Feeling constantly on guard
Understanding A Veteran With Ptsd
Servicemen and women oftentimes face unique challenges when leaving active duty and readjusting to civilian life.
As explained by U.S. Veterans Magazine, these challenges include
- discovering ways to re-establish their roles within the family,
- having to find and obtain a civilian job ,
- and adjusting to a life that involves making their own choices versus being told what to do, how to do it, and when.
However, sometimes soldiers also return home with challenges related to their mental wellbeing as a result of what theyve witnessed while on active duty. And one of the most common mental challenges is post-traumatic stress disorder .
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Ptsd Treatment For Veterans: Effective Approaches
Thankfully, there are several effective and evidence-based forms of mental health care designed to treat veterans experiencing PTSD. In fact, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been a driving force in the development and testing of many PTSD treatment modalities, and VA health care facilities offer a wide spectrum of mental health services. Veterans interested in their mental health treatment options should consult resources available on VA.gov, including pages compiled by the VAs National Center for PTSD.
Recent research suggests that psychotherapy is the most effective first-line approach to treating PTSD. Psychotropic medications may also be helpful, particularly when combined with talk therapy approaches. Additionally, some studies indicate that veterans with PTSD may benefit from coping methods that they can practice independently, without clinicians present.