PTSD A NIGHTMARE FOR OUR AMERICAN VETERANS

Post-traumatic Stress disorder, known as PTSD, is a mental health disorder that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event like combat, a natural disaster, or a sexual assault.

According to the National Center on PTSD, 12% to 15% of veterans a year, experience PTSD from the Gulf and Viet Nam wars.  From speaking to other veterans, these stats don’t list many veterans who do not seek help to address their PTSD. One of the reasons for not reporting it is personal embarrassment of having a mental problem.  Other reasons listed, are, a long waiting time to be considered for rendered benefits, the stigma of having a mental health problem, and finally, being looked at as weak.

A quote from one vet, “I was awarded a silver star for bravery, you’re not going to call me a coward if somebody like me has PTSD? Then anybody can have it.”

Also, even a high ranked Military General retired after admitting he had PTSD.

In my research for this article, I also found a colleague with PTSD.  He told me the military makes it difficult to get diagnosed for PTSD for two reasons. One is Combat related, which is when you are affected directly from combat; the other is assessing what the combat has done to soldiers from in-direct combat.  An example is experiencing a jeep blow up right before you. On occasions, the military personnel question the vet’s sincerity about PTSD, therefore, some don’t “waste their time” to report it.

The veteran nightmare and trauma experience are unwelcomed memories. The reality or experience of combat triggers or sets into motion PTSD. Any minor thing can set PTSD, like noises or war related events.

PTSD is a severe mental disorder, and it must be taken more seriously. If not addressed in a timely fashion, PTSD will tear away all emotional numbness if one doesn’t learn to unlock or control the combat experience.

If handled properly by the military, suicide would go down. About twenty-five veterans commit suicide every day, many are turned down for observation, or they face a bureaucratic wall to get the service and benefits they so rightly deserve.

It is a damn share how the United States of America treat its veterans, soldiers that went over sea to defend you and me. They come home and are treated like third-class citizens. They get a “thank you” with an empty salute. They are deprived of their deserving benefits. They paid their dues!

The veterans are left alone, alone to battle with the nightmare of living with a disorder they will struggle with the rest of their life. The country they went to defend, has divorced themselves from this problem. We need to do more. The suicide rate continue to grow. More to come.