Veterans Face Challenges Like Ptsd And Anxiety Every Day
Life dedicates himself to teaching veterans about the benefits of CBD and other key cannabinoids. As a veteran with 8 years of active duty experience as a combat medic and 11 years of experience in the U.S. Army Reserve, as well as a person living with PTSD, Life has faced periods of overwhelming uncertainty in his life. Nowadays, Life does everything he can to promote wellness and help people learn how to heal with the help of nature. Life suggests anyone who thinks CBG and CBD could be beneficial should give it a try. If youre dealing with stress, try getting your mental state in order and look into the research. How much is your life worth? Its crucial to understand your value.
Four Important Things To Know About Combat Stress And Trauma Reactions To Combat And Operational Stress And Trauma May Include:
Exposure to combat and operational stress affects service members in many ways. While some of these effects can be positive, many service members experience lasting emotional scars. Being deeply impacted by what you did and what you saw is to be expected. For some, the psychological and emotional wounds run deep and make it hard to move on and function effectively in various roles .
Here are four important things to know:
Staying informed and learning ways to manage and cope with what you’re experiencing are key in the readjustment process. Some common reactions to combat and operation stress and trauma are listed below. Keep in mind that these post-traumatic reactions can present themselves at varying times and to varying degrees from individual to individual. If your reactions interfere with your life, do not improve, or worsen over time, please take the steps to get the help you need and deserve.
Reactions to combat and operational stress and trauma may include:
Helping A Veteran With Ptsd
When a loved one returns from military service with PTSD, it can take a heavy toll on your relationship and family life. You may have to take on a bigger share of household tasks, deal with the frustration of a loved one who wont open up, or even deal with anger or other disturbing behavior.
Dont take the symptoms of PTSD personally. If your loved one seems distant, irritable, angry, or closed off, remember that this may not have anything to do with you or your relationship.
Dont pressure your loved one into talking. Many veterans with PTSD find it difficult to talk about their experiences. Never try to force your loved one to open up but let them know that youre there if they want to talk. Its your understanding that provides comfort, not anything you say.
Be patient and understanding. Feeling better takes time so be patient with the pace of recovery. Offer support but dont try to direct your loved one.
Try to anticipate and prepare for PTSD triggers such as certain sounds, sights, or smells. If you are aware of what causes an upsetting reaction, youll be in a better position to help your loved one calm down.
Take care of yourself. Letting your loved ones PTSD dominate your life while ignoring your own needs is a surefire recipe for burnout. Make time for yourself and learn to manage stress. The more calm, relaxed, and focused you are, the better youll be able to help your loved one.
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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.
How Common Is Ptsd In Veterans
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.
Another cause of PTSD in the military can be military sexual trauma . This is any sexual harassment or sexual assault that occurs while you are in the military. MST can happen to both men and women and can occur during peacetime, training, or war.
Among Veterans who use VA health care, about:
Apps for self-help, education, and support after trauma.
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Ptsd In Combat Veterans
The existence of war-induced psychological trauma likely goes back as far as warfare itself, with one of its first mentions by the Greek historian Herodotus. In writing about the Battle of Marathon in 490 b.c., Herodotus described an Athenian warrior who went permanently blind when the soldier standing next to him was killed, although the blinded soldier himself had not been wounded. Such accounts of psychological symptoms following military trauma are featured in the literature of many early cultures, and it is theorized that ancient soldiers experienced the stresses of war in much the same way as their modern-day counterparts.
The symptoms and syndrome of PTSD became increasingly evident during the American Civil War . Often referred to as the countrys bloodiest conflict, the Civil War saw the first widespread use of rapid-fire rifles, telescopic sights, and other innovations in weaponry that greatly increased destructiveness in battle and left those who survived with a myriad of physical and psychological injuries.
How To Recognize Ptsd In Veterans
This article was co-authored by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wisconsin specializing in Addictions and Mental Health. She provides therapy to people who struggle with addictions, mental health, and trauma in community health settings and private practice. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011. This article has been viewed 1,955 times.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorderor PTSDis a mental health disorder that occurs when an individual has experienced traumatizing events in their lives. Since soldiers often experience traumatic events during their wartime service, many veterans return home with PTSD. The symptoms of the disorder often begin within a month or 2 of the initial traumatic event, but may sometimes take years to surface. If the symptoms of PTSD persist for longer than 3 months, it may be time for the veteran to seek professional help.XResearch source
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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
Active Duty And Veterans Help Resources
- The WWP Resource Center can assist you with information regarding WWP programs and services to meet your specific needs. Email the WWP Resource Center at or call 888.WWP.ALUM .
- Call the VA Health Benefits Service Center toll free at 1-877-222-VETS or explore My HealtheVet, which provides veterans help with VA health care information, services, and locations.
- Call the Vet Center’s national number at 1-800-905-4675 or visit online for more information or to find the location nearest you.
- Locate non-veteran specific metal health services online through the Mental Health Services Locator hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration .
- Take a look at Sidran. They offer a referral list of therapists, as well as a fact sheet on how to choose a therapist for PTSD.
If you are interested in learning more about WWP mental health services:
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Choosing The Right Product To Mitigate Ptsd Symptoms
Plant medicine brings about homeostasis and balance, but different products have different ingredients that lead to unique effects. For example, Hhemp.cos Focus CBD tincture helps me stay clear and concentrated thanks to ingredients that boost feelings of rejuvenation. Its amazing what the hemp plant can do my mind is clear and not cluttered anymore.
Veterans looking to enjoy the benefits of CBD can also use other variations to help. For those suffering from anxiety or other adverse symptoms brought about by PTSD, Calm CBD tincture could help to support feelings of calm during the stress of the day and Rest CBD tincture could help during the evening hours to unwind.
All in all, Life says its crucial to find that balance. Most of my activities are carried on my own shoulders, and I hold multiple important leadership roles which can create overwhelming feelings. To find equilibrium and rejuvenate, I love that I have something I can take that can help me to be healed without fear of addiction.
How To Recognize Ptsd In Your Spouse
This time of year we see lots of ads for red roses and romantic dinners. While those are certainly important components of romance, lasting love involves two people taking care of each other. In some marriages, that may include being alert for signs of PTSD in your spouse.
With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be hard to know when your partner is struggling. In our daily interactions as couples, we sometimes misunderstand each other, tensions arise and we fight. Then, we withdraw from each other. This is a normal interaction between spouses, right? Not always. Perhaps the tension you feel is because your partner is feeling the effects of PTSD.
It is not always easy to figure out if someone has PTSD, but there are some signs that can clue you in. In some cases it can be very obvious. For instance, if your service member returns from a deployment and is still having difficulty falling asleep, wakes up in a cold sweat and punches at an imaginary foe, months after he or she returns, PTSD may be the culprit.
In other cases, the signs might not be as obvious. Your partner could gradually withdraw from activities and people he otherwise enjoyed. You might notice him having nightmares and difficulty falling asleep. He might feel emotionally numb and could appear anxious, worried, angry or moody. When the symptoms are milder it can be difficult to tell the difference between everyday stress and PTSD.
Signs to Watch
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Alterations In Arousal And Reactivity Or Hyperarousal
- irritable or self-destructive behaviour
- or problems with sleep or concentration
Some symptoms of PTSD may not be viewed as problematic by veterans. Particularly:
- hypervigilance
- exaggerated startle response
- anger
These responses may have been adaptive in deployment circumstances. They may have even served a critical role in the veterans survival and it may be helpful to acknowledge this. It may be helpful to acknowledge this and highlight that they become problematic when they arise in:
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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Symptoms Of Ptsd In Veterans
While you can develop symptoms of PTSD in the hours or days following a traumatic event, sometimes symptoms dont surface for months or even years after you return from deployment. While PTSD develops differently in each veteran, there are four symptom clusters:
Suicide prevention in veterans with PTSD
Its common for veterans with PTSD to experience suicidal thoughts. Feeling suicidal is not a character defect, and it doesnt mean that you are crazy, weak, or flawed.
What Is The Veterans Trauma Court
According to the Colorado Judicial Branch, The Veterans Trauma Court is a state and grant-funded program that provides an alternative to incarceration for U.S. military veterans and active-duty military personnel with trauma spectrum disorders and/or substance abuse issues who have proven to be high risk and high need.
At VTC, military veterans that are charged with a crime are able to seek treatment for their mental illness or drug addiction problems instead of going to jail.
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Acknowledge Your Clients Moral Injury
Service members are called on not only to endure, but also to employ, violence in the name of war. Hughes said the issue of morality and moral injury comes up often in his sessions with veterans. He says that many of his clients seek him out specifically due to his specialization in pastoral counseling and presumed authority on morality.
Military service may require actions in direct opposition to a service members own moral values. We discussed the haunting images that may accompany veterans returning home from active duty. Many report being unable to reconcile their memories with their own humanity.
Clinicians need to be able to assist veterans with reconciling their traumatic experiences with their feelings and behaviors going forward. Moral injury is an important aspect of trauma. Effective treatment efforts will support clients as they recall experiences that were in direct conflict with their moral or core beliefs.
Ptsd In Emergency Responders After The Vegas Shooting
In recent years, an increasing number of first responders have experienced incidents of terrorism and mass violence. For example, in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, there were over 1,000 first responders from every Southern Nevada agency onsite and at surrounding trauma departments. Some first responders even attended the concert on their day off with friends and family. After the shooting, these individuals began triaging and saving lives immediately.
Desert Parkway started receiving dozens of inquiries from first responder partners throughout the Las Vegas Valley in the days and weeks following October 1st. This time period is when we realized the escalating mental health crisis that our community was facing and began focusing resources on supporting first responders. We developed a specialized PTSD rehab program, which resulted in our Hope for Heroes program. The program quickly expanded to include active duty members of the military, veterans, and members of military families.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we identified the need to expand the Hope for Heroes admissions criteria to include frontline healthcare workers who were experiencing crippling stress and anxiety. Hope for Heroes is the only PTSD rehab program in the Southern Nevada region that exclusively serves first responders. First responders work tirelessly and dedicate their lives to supporting our community, and the goal of our program is to provide a resource for those individuals.
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