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Introduction Imagine living in despair after coming back home, dismayed from a war that got no appreciation. Robert Kroger once said in his quote, “The brave men and women, who serve their country and as a result, live constantly with the war inside them, exist in a world of chaos. But the turmoil they experience isn’t who they are, the PTSD invades their minds and bodies.” Eleven percent of Vietnam Veterans still suffer with symptoms of the terrifying disorder of PTSD (Handwerk). Vietnam Veterans struggle with the physiological effects of PTSD after war, which leads to despair and many deaths. II. PTSD PTSD, also known as post traumatic stress disorder, is a disorder in which an individual fails to recoup after enduring or witnessing …show more content…
Nearly 60 to 80 percent of Vietnam combat vets seeking treatment for PTSD, abused the use of drugs and/or alcohol. The study also revealed that more than 90 percent of those individuals, were diagnosed with alcohol dependency. With a recent interview with a helicopter pilot, Keane began to explain his experiences in Vietnam. Veteran Keane says that with the loss of a fellow soldier, they would drown the loss by drinking to make it appear like they weren’t bothered by it. Keane says. “The more that vets are exposed to war and develop psychological problems from war, such as PTSD, the more likely they are to develop alcoholism” (Danitz). The ability to cope with the physiological effects of PTSD is reduced severely when alcohol is …show more content…
This was an inexpensive way to forget about the terror and traumatizing events going on. Soon after the news was brought back to the United States that the soldiers were consuming and abusing these drugs, the military suppressed the drugs. After the ban of the drugs, soldiers would then try to find another way to discard the stress and forget about what went on on battlefield for a little while. After the soldiers made their homecoming, many had problems adjusting without these drugs. This then put a damper on the stable lifestyle they once had, along with their relationships with others. With some struggling to adjust back to society back home, some continued to do drugs to cope with the pain. This led to many soldiers realizing they had symptoms of PTSD, as doing the drugs didn’t take away the frustration and agony from the war (Hochgesang). A high percentage of the veterans that had PTSD, were abusers of the drugs while in Vietnam and back
A Vietnam War veteran experienced many gruesome and horrifying events during their time of serving the army. Seeing such horrifying things affected their mental and emotional thinking “PTSD is defined as a re-experience of a traumatic event, for example, flashbacks. Anything can trigger a flashback a click, a movement, anything associated with the past event” (Cruz). Seeing such horrifying things affected their mental and emotional thinking. A soldier was told to forget what they saw and basically move on from it, but it only made it worse. Having everything “bottled up” makes it even harder to treat PTSD. U.S. soldiers had to live with the disorder on their own without any help. “The veterans experience combat related nightmares, anxiety, anger, depression, alcohol and/or drug dependency, all are symptoms of PTSD” (Begg). The symptoms occurred over long periods of time when that person has been in certain situations that he or she was not ready to be in. Some of these situations including the Vietnam veterans not feeling like their unit was together or united. “Soldiers were sent into replace other soldiers, which caused the other members of the group to make fun or haze them. The unit never developed as much loyalty to each other as they should have” (Paulson and Krippner). “Many of...
Men zoom by on a sled. Cheerful music plays in the background, and a voice chimes, “You want fast action?” A man floats along on water skis. “Outdoors action?” the voice calls. A man climbs up a tall, dangerous mountain. “Real man-sized action?” the voice proclaims. “Well, here’s action that tops them all, in the combat branches of today’s Army,” the voice finishes (Quitney). It was not uncommon to see the Army or military glamorized in Vietnam recruitment commercials, much like the one described previously. Despite the decorated ideals of the military life and duties, the Vietnam War would prove to be far from idealistic for U.S. soldiers. Many of the soldiers who were drafted into the war did not have a choice in the matter and did not want to go. During training camp, the privates were often mistreated and suffered physical and mental punishments. American soldiers committed war crimes repeatedly without any second thought. Because of the brutality that occurred during the Vietnam War, many soldiers suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which frequently led to suicide and depression. The goal was to win the war, but those who were forced to kill without conscience cannot close their mind to the anguish they placed upon themselves and so many people.
With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, symptoms and cases are preventable and able to be countered if addressed properly. If the potential PTSD victims take necessary action to recover from their experience early on, suffering can be aided the best. The Vietnam War, filled with the gruesome combat due to technological advancements, fighting that still resulted in northern Vietnam’s victory and leaving many soldiers with feeling that the war was pointless, and the amount of innocents killed in the process, a heavy impact was left upon the veterans; however, it was America’s generally hostile response to the Vietnam War and lack of sympathy that contributed the most to the high numbers of PTSD victims.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that develops after exposure to an event that is perceived to be life threatening or pose serious bodily injury to self or others (Sherin & Nemeroff, 2011). According
Bremner, J. "Chronic PTSD In Vietnam Combat Veterans: Course of Illness and Substance Abuse." ProQuest. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. .
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed or the person may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to loved ones or strangers.
PTSD is a debilitating mental illness that occurs when someone is exposed to a traumatic, dangerous, frightening, or a possibly life-threating occurrence. “It is an anxiety disorder that can interfere with your relationships, your work, and your social life.” (Muscari, pp. 3-7) Trauma affects everyone in different ways. Everyone feels wide ranges of emotions after going through or witnessing a traumatic event, fear, sadness and depression, it can cause changes in your everyday life as in your sleep and eating patterns. Some people experience reoccurring thoughts and nightmares about the event.
Over the past fifteen years Americas finest warriors have been sent all over the world battling the war on terror. According to the President, the wars and battles are now over. Due to the Presidents lack of combat experience, he fails to realise that the battles still continue. These battles are not in Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other country, the battles are in the minds of those combat Veterans. These Veterans are and will continue to relive those battles in their minds for the rest of their lives. This battle is the battle for inner peace, sanity, and a good night’s sleep. Doctors have related this disorder to a release of a chemical cocktail in the brain and have coined this battle PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). If PTSD is related to a release of chemical cocktail in the brain, then pre-war vulnerabilities, combat, , and post-war re-experiences are triggers that release that cocktail and cause Veterans to get PTSD.
Even though millions of individuals in the United States suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), this illness in veterans that served in Vietnam War, Iraq and Afghanistan does not receive a lot of recognition for their service and the traumatic event they experience. This is unfortunate when provided with the information researched that the effects of PTSD for veterans in Iraq and health issues are more than any other military population. Younger military population is viewed by many as ‘puzzling’ and they do not fit with the list of so called ‘minority groups’ (Savitsky et al., 2009). This article spoke about millions of veterans with PTSD following the 9/11, who is depressed and victims of traumatic events are not getting the help they really need. A process of prevention is to educate doctors, nurses, and other people in the medical profession and society in general that PTSD in veterans from Iraq and other war zones is able to be avoided. Another option of intervention or prevention is to get involved with some outpatient mental-health services. These services will help veterans and their families with strategies in teaching practical approaches to cope with PTSD. It will also contribute support on a national, state, and local level in a more consistent manner. This will help men, women, children, and veterans with PTSD, techniques in real-life situations (Savitsky et al., 2009).
Trauma is a powerful force on the human mind whether it is from a vehicle crash, discovering a cheating spouse, a terrible fire, a drive by shooting, or events experienced in a combat zone. At that moment when a traumatic experience occurs, a person is often changed forever. Dan is a person who was affected dramatically by trauma. He is an army veteran who served two tours in Iraq. During his second tour in Iraq, Dan and his fellow soldiers were traveling in a Humvee when it set off a roadside bomb. Several of Dan’s friends were killed or critically injured. Dan finished his last tour and returned to his home near Fort Hood Texas where he found himself feeling constantly on edge. He felt distant and detached from his wife, Heather. He was relieved to be home but had difficulty relating to day- to- day activities of those around him. Dan found himself lacking the sense of belonging and purpose he felt while he was on tour. He often saw the face of his dead friend when he closed his eyes and felt guilty for surviving his tours. He never let his guard down and felt anxious around groups of people. He began self medicating with marijuana and alcohol. Fights with his wife became more and more frequent (Beckner 16). Dan and thousands like him are victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, the term that is used to summarize all of the struggles that Dan is going through. Throughout the last ten years, Dan and over 200,000 other soldiers and marines have been afflicted with this life devastating disorder (Aikins par. 6). This is why is the United States government needs to do more about the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder epidemic in the military, because it has negative military effects negative social effects and negative healt...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological disorder where the person diagnosed with PTSD encounters various symptoms caused by a traumatic event such as combat exposure, sexual assault or a serious accident. A traumatic event caused by unpredictable, unforeseen circumstances can lead to an intense negative nature. PTSD is caused by a feeling of not being in control of a situation where you or someone else is in a life threatening situation that is out of their control. The reaction a person feels during something so traumatic eventually diminishes, but PTSD is a disorder that causes these emotions to reoccur on a constant basis lasting several months to several years.
Our soldiers not only risked life and limb for our country while serving in the Vietnam War, but they continue to suffer immensely. Americans as well as Vietnamese troops and civilians suffered great losses when it comes to casualties. Witnessing first-hand the pain and death of strangers and allies, isn’t something one is likely to forget. Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been one of the many repercussions of witnessing these gruesome events (Mental Health America). Veterans, their families, and the government have come together in combat in attempts to address the detrimental effects of PTSD.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an injury to combat that will likely be present in social work practice with military service members and veterans. The implications of PTSD and the stigma of mental health within the military is important for me to understand regardless of whether I chose to work with military members or not. According to Van der Kolk (1996), PTSD is the aftermath to experiencing an intensity-distressing event. Taking combat into consideration, PTSD and other mental health concerns are a common result to the exposure of combat. According to a 2008 Rand Corporation study, symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other re-adjustment stressors are common among nearly ¼ of military members (as cited in Reyes, 2011). According to Reyes (2011), combat exposure and PTSD cause the service member to struggle finding one’s “self” due to a disturbed identity structure, distorted belief system of self, interactions with family members, and perceptions of the world.
Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD affects people that are in the army and see their friend's dying or if their family member is in the army and dies and he gets flash backs of the war. And PTSD is a condition of persistent mental and emotional stress occurring as a result of injury or severe psychological shock and it typically involving in disturbance of sleep and constant vivid recall of the experience, with a dulled responses to others and to the outside world.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by an indirect or direct exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.