How Many Veterans With Ptsd Seek Treatment

Ptsd Statistics By Trauma

PTSD is rooted in traumatic events. The following statistics illustrate the percentage of people who will likely develop PTSD after experiencing these traumatic events:

• Sexual assault: 49%
• Shoot and stabbing victims: 15.4%
• The unexpected death of a loved one: 14.3%
• Parents of children with life-threatening illnesses: 10.4%
• Witnesses of violence: 7.3%

Contact Cuddigan Law For Help With Your Ptsd Claim

The experienced legal team at Cuddigan Law recognizes and respects the sacrifices veterans have made to protect this country. If youre a veteran suffering from PTSD, we can help you obtain the disability benefits you need to care for yourself and your loved ones. Its possible that you qualify for financial assistance from the VA.

If you need help service-connecting your mental health condition and want to file for disability benefits, contact Cuddigan Law. Our attorneys have supported veterans for years, and well carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and youll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Risk Factors For Ptsd In Veterans

A number of factors have been shown to increase the risk of PTSD in the veteran population, including younger age at the time of the trauma, racial minority status, lower socioeconomic status, lower military rank, lower education, higher number of deployments, longer deployments, prior psychological problems, and lack of social support from family, friends, and community . PTSD is also strongly associated with generalized physical and cognitive health symptoms attributed to mild traumatic brain injury .

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I Have Ptsd How Can The Ptsd Coach Canada Application Helpme

If youve been diagnosed with PTSD, the tools in the PTSD Coach Canada Application mayhelp you manage your symptoms. However, it is not meant to be a replacement for professional care. If youare currently in treatment for PTSD, you should talk with your provider about using PTSD Coach Canada as part of yourwork together.

Remember: effective treatment for PTSD is available! You dont have to live with your symptoms forever.

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.

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Normally 7% To 35% Police Officers Suffer From Ptsd And Depression Police Ptsd Statistics Reveal

PTSD is usually associated with the military, but police officers suffer from it as well. According to a recent study, 47% of active-duty law enforcement officers screened positive for PTSD in times of crisis .

On top of that, police officers with 5-10 years of experience in the force showed higher risks of developing the symptoms of PTSD and depression, as opposed to police officers with less than 5 years and over 10 years of experience.

Sadly, most of them are reluctant to ask for professional help as the community may observe it as a sign of weakness.

Getting Help For Veterans And Their Families

Veterans may be tough, but there is nothing weak in asking for help. Mental health help for veterans is available, and so is help for their families. Types of treatment include professional psychotherapy and psychiatry and PTSD support groups, as well as support groups for other mental illnesses in veterans.

Veterans are encouraged tofind a nearby VA center with mental health services, though support is also available through private treatment facilities. The VA also offerssupport for families, including a caregiver support hotline and a coaching hotline for encouraging veterans to seek help .

If you or someone you love needs mental health support, help is always available. Reach out today to learn about the PTSD services available at Retreat Premier, or get in touch with your local VA center.

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Ptsd And Substance Abuse

PTSD and substance abuse often co-occur. One study estimates that46.4 percent of people with PTSD also meet the criteria for a substance use disorder. PTSD and alcohol use disorders may be even more closely related due to the legality of alcohol, which makes it more easily accessible than other substances. A study found that women with PTSD were2.48 times more likely to misuse alcohol, while men with PTSD were2.06 times more likely.

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Alterations In Cognition And Mood

Traumatic experiences can produce a complex mix of cognitive and emotional consequences. Veterans with PTSD can experience some or all of the following disruptions in their moods and thinking patterns, and these symptoms may combine to reinforce one another.

• Difficulty remembering certain details of the traumatic event
• Negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world more generally, such as Im a bad person,Im a weak person, or People cant be trusted
• Inaccurate, self-loathing, or self-blaming thoughts about the cause or nature of the traumatic event, such as I could have prevented this,I caused this,I should have been able to save him, or I should have died instead
• Feelings of guilt, shame, fear, or horror in connection with the negative thoughts and beliefs noted above
• Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
• An inability to experience positive emotions such as contentment or happiness, even when circumstances would seem to warrant them

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Service Members And Ptsd

When talking about veterans and substance abuse, we have to be careful not to make generalizations too sweeping. The lives of veterans are as varied as the walks of life that join the military, after all. At the same time, the number of veterans with PTSD compared to other members of society cant be ignored in the discussion of drug abuse.

The rate of PTSD among veterans varies by conflict but sits above 12% by most estimates.1

There are plenty of varying reasons connecting PTSD in veterans. But in short, the life one lives and the things one sees in the military can be quite traumatic and unfortunately, many dont seek help.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder first entered the public conversation as shell shock in WWI and combat fatigue after WWII.2

While it can affect anyone, it is so prevalent among those in the military as their work, by definition, often involves traumatic events. Many see close friends or innocent civilians perish or forced to go through extreme, perhaps painful, circumstances.

This is all putting aside the militarys long-standing history of the culture of sexual assault or harassment.3 These things can be as or more traumatic to those involved as any military operation.

Avoidance Of Reminders Of Traumatic Events

Because recalling traumatic events can be emotionally distressing, many individuals with PTSD avoid people, places, or things that might remind them of these experiences. Either intentionally or unconsciously, people with a diagnosis of PTSD typically steer clear of stressors that might trigger the painful thoughts and feelings associated with their trauma.

Among veterans with PTSD, this avoidance might involve resisting discussion of their military service or withdrawing from friendships with fellow service members. Post-deployment, veterans may rebuff questions from family members and loved ones about their combat experiences.

For many veterans with PTSD, seeking help may be extremely challenging, as doing so will likely involve direct discussion of their trauma. This barrier, coupled with our cultures general stigma regarding mental illness, causes far too many veterans to avoid the mental health care they need.

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How Addiction Affects Our Veterans Is Relevant To Everyone

Now your know a few more tips on how to make your relapse prevention plan. If you stick to your plan, you will stay strong and make it through the temptations.

Find your triggers and avoid them. Concentrate on your life and whats going on around you. Are you slowly climbing those steps towards a relapse?

Find people you can talk to during every stage of your struggle. Learn new skills on how to prevent relapse from your new life.

Contact us today to enquire about programs we have to offer you or those you care about. Asking for help is not a weakness its a cure.

What To Do If You Are A Veteran With Ptsd

If you are diagnosed with PTSD, you may be eligible to receive significant compensation from the VA. In order to qualify for disability benefits for PTSD, youll need to file a claim with the VA first. You can submit a VA disability claim by mail or drop one off at your regional VA office. Once you have submitted a claim, the VA will begin its decision-making process regarding whether they will give you benefits for your disability.

To qualify a Veteran for benefits, the VA has to rule that the Veterans disability is service-related. In many cases, mental health issues like PTSD are assessed inaccurately by the VA. Conditions like PTSD can be more challenging for the VA to assess and connect to military service. However, independent medical records, military service records, and testimonials from trusted friends and fellow soldiers can help make a case to the VA that your PTSD is linked directly to your military service.

Anyone filing a claim with the VA to receive disability benefits must take the VAs Compensation & Pension exam. The C& P exam involves a basic physical and psychological examination that can influence the VAs decision regarding your claim. In order to qualify you for disability benefits for PTSD, the VA will need to verify that there is a connection between your disability and your military service. The information gathered through the C& P exam helps the VA establish this connection.

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Defining And Redefining Ptsd

The VA defines PTSD as the development of characteristic and persistent symptoms along with difficulty functioning after exposure to a life-threatening experience or to an event that either involves a threat to life or serious injury. In addition to military combat, PTSD can result from the experience or witnessing of a terrorist attack, violent crime and abuse, natural disasters, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults.

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association revised the PTSD diagnostic criteria in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , moving PTSD from the class of anxiety disorders into a new class of trauma and stressor-related disorders. As such, all of the conditions included in this classification require exposure to a traumatic or stressful event as a diagnostic criterion. DSM-5 categorizes the symptoms that accompany PTSD into four clusters:

• Intrusionspontaneous memories of the traumatic event, recurrent dreams related to it, flashbacks, or other intense or prolonged psychological distress

• Avoidancedistressing memories, thoughts, feelings, or external reminders of the event

• Negative cognitions and moodmyriad feelings including a distorted sense of blame of self or others, persistent negative emotions , feelings of detachment or alienation, and constricted affect

• Arousalaggressive, reckless, or self-destructive behavior sleep disturbances hypervigilance or related problems.

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.

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Potential Causes Of Ptsd In The Military And When Symptoms May Lead To A Diagnosis

People in the military can develop PTSD from trauma that occurs in combat, such as witnessing other people be killed, as in Andersons case, or seeing dead bodies on the ground or receiving threats to their lives.

But PTSD may occur as a result of trauma not only during combat, but also during training or even in times of peace.

For instance, military sexual trauma, or trauma as a result of sexual assault or sexual harassment during peacetime, training, or war, can cause men and women to develop PTSD.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs national screening program, about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 100 men report that they have experienced sexual trauma in the military.

Indeed, post-traumatic stress can result after any event that is shocking, says Annette T. Hill, a licensed professional counselor at Warriors Heart, a treatment center for active military, veterans, and first responders in Bandera, Texas. Hills son suffered from PTSD and killed himself in 2009. A diagnosis of PTSD results when symptoms last for one month or more, she notes.

How Can I Help

Getting your loved one to seek treatment for PTSD and addiction is the ultimate goal. At a treatment center, they will be able to learn the necessary skills to heal from their trauma and addiction. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, recreational activities, and veteran support groups can be great resources for your loved one to find peace in recovery.

This is not a process that they take on alone. Even though they will be working a 12-step program and going through intense therapy in the treatment center, creating a support system in you is also essential to the process. You might even participate in family therapy as well as addiction education lessons to understand exactly how you can lend a helping hand to your loved one during and after treatment.

In the end, the most important thing that you can offer to your loved one who is struggling after returning home from service is your support. Having patience and compassion for the person who you care about lets them know that you are there to help them through whatever it is they are going through.

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Ptsd Treatment For Veterans: Whats Working Whats New And Whats Next

Miriam Reisman

More than a decade of war in the Middle East has pushed post-traumatic stress disorder to the forefront of public health concerns. The last several years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking help for PTSD, shining a spotlight on this debilitating condition and raising critical questions about appropriate treatment options and barriers to care.

While PTSD extends far beyond the militaryaffecting about eight million American adults in a given yearthe problem is especially acute among war veterans. Not only are recent veterans at higher risk of suffering from PTSD than those in the general population, they also face unique barriers to accessing adequate treatment. These include the requirement that they have either an honorable or general discharge to access Department of Veterans Affairs medical benefits, long waiting lists at VA medical centers, and the social stigma associated with mental illness within military communities., According to a study conducted by the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research, less than half of returning veterans needing mental health services receive any treatment at all, and of those receiving treatment for PTSD and major depression, less than one-third are receiving evidence-based care.

Ptsd Diagnosis And Assessment

Two main types of measures are used to help diagnose PTSD in veteran populations and assess its severity: structured interviews and self-report questionnaires. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 is considered the gold standard for PTSD assessment in both veterans and civilians. The detailed 30-item interview has proven useful across a wide variety of settings and takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes to administer.

The well-validated PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 is one of the most commonly used self-report measures of PTSD. Administration of the 20-item questionnaire is required by the VA for veterans being treated for PTSD as part of a national effort to establish PTSD outcome measures. The PCL-5 can be completed in five to seven minutes.

Another widely used self-report measure for veterans is the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD, a 35-item questionnaire in which respondents are asked to rate how they feel about each item using a five-point Likert scale .

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Common Symptoms Of Ptsd

PTSD is characterized by three main groups of problems. They can be classified under the headings of intrusive, avoidance and arousal symptoms.

Intrusive symptoms

Memories, images, smells, sounds, and feelings of the traumatic event can “intrude” into the lives of individuals with PTSD. Sufferers may remain so captured by the memory of past horror that they have difficulty paying attention to the present. People with PTSDreport frequent, distressing memories of the event that they wish they did not have. They may have nightmares of the event or other frightening themes. Movement, excessive sweating, and sometimes even acting out the dream while still asleep may accompany these nightmares. They sometimes feel as though the events were happening again this is referred to as “flashbacks” or “reliving” the event. They may become distressed, or experience physical signs such as sweating, increased heart rate, and muscle tension when things happen which remind them of the incident. Overall, these “intrusive” symptoms cause intense distress and can result in other emotions such as grief, guilt, fear or anger.

Intrusive symptoms of PTSD:

• Distressing memories or images of the incident
• Nightmares of the event or other frightening themes
• Flashbacks
• Becoming upset when reminded of the incident
• Physical symptoms, such as sweating, increased heart rate, or muscle tension when reminded of the event

Avoidance/numbing symptoms

PTSD avoidance/numbing symptoms:

Arousal symptoms