Personalization Project Military Pathway (2013) concluded “Military life, especially the stress of deployments or mobilizations, can present challenges to service members and their families that are both unique and difficult”. Hence, it is not surprising that soldiers returning from a stressful war environment often suffer from a psychological condition called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This paper provides a historical perspective of PTSD affecting soldiers, and how this illness has often been ignored. In addition, the this paper examines the cause and diagnosis of the illness, the changes of functional strengths and limitations, the overall effects this disease may have on soldiers and their families, with a conclusion of possible preventative measures and treatment options. All of these findings are backed by extensive research through media, web, and journal references. A Historical Perspective of Soldiers and PTSD The website My PTSD (2013) explores the history of PTSD experienced by soldiers. While this illness was not known until 1980 as PTSD, the symptoms of the disease can be traced back to warriors in the battlefield 1000BC. Prior of being called PTSD this disorder was identified with various names just within the last century. These names included: War Hysteria, Stress Response Syndrome, Vietnam Veterans Syndrome, DaCosta’s Syndrome, Shell Shock, War Neurosis, Combat Stress Reaction, Traumatic & Fright Neuroses, and many others. Much of the PTSD development was influenced by WWI and WWII veterans’ response to stress. The effects of the illness were identified by the fixation on traumatic events as well as functional limitations (My PTSD). While anybody experiencing a trauma can become a victim of PTSD,... ... middle of paper ... ...s Get the Help They Need. Retrieved from http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/149723/surviving_ptsd_helping_your_military The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (n.d.). What is PTSD? Retrieved from http://www.ptsd.ne.gov/what-is-ptsd.html Tworus, R., Szymanska, S., & Ilnicki, S. (2010). A Soldier Suffering from PTSD, Treated by Controlled Stress Exposition Using Virtual Reality and Behavioral Training. Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 13(1), 103-107. doi:10.1089/cyber.20 09.0329 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Retrieved from http://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=58 Zoroya, G. (2013). Troops still wary of admitting mental health problems. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/02/troops-suicides-mental-health- army-wars/2483135/
Examples of PTSD can be found as early as in ancient Greek and Roman history, for example the Greek historian Herodotus mentions “an Athenian warrior who went permanently blind when the soldier standing next to him was killed, although the blinded soldier was wounded in no part of his body” when he wrote about the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. He “also writes of the Spartan commander Leonidas, who, at the battle of Thermopylae Pass in 480 B.C., dismissed his men from joining the combat because he clearly recognized they were psychologically spent from previous battles.-They had no heart for ...
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.
Smith, T. C., Ryan, M. A., Wingard, D. L., Slymen, D. J., Sallis, J. F., & Kritz-Silverstein, D. (2008). New onset and persistent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder self reported after deployment and combat exposures: prospective population based US military cohort study. Bmj, 336(7640), 366-371.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder? Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a disorder that is characterized by the repeated experiencing or “reliving” of a traumatic event. With this disorder, the sufferer will also experience extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress. Recurrent nightmares, memories of the event, and vivid flashbacks are very likely too. (Wagman 915). PTSD wasn’t recognized as an illness until the 1980s, but it has been around as long as men have been killing one another (McGirk). Before PTSD was given its official name, many different names floated around within the whole entire world. In 1678, Swiss soldiers identified the disorder as nostalgia while German soldie...
PTSD has been around for thousands of years. One of earliest examples of PTSD was in Egyptian
Post-traumatic stress disorder is something that tons of people around the world struggle with daily. It is a disorder people battle from within that most people do not ever see or understand. It is referred to as the “invisible wound”. What is PTSD? What are the effects of PTSD? What are the treatment options for PTSD? The American Psychiatric Association first added PTSD to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980. Before it was recognized as PTSD, it was called many different names such as “battle fatigue”, “shell shock”, and “war neurosis”. Even though there are treatment options available, there is millions of dollars going
PTSD has been around for many years, and is not only related to war, but also referred to by different names, “Shell Shock” or “battle fatigue.” Over a course of many years there have been reports of soldiers fleeing the battle grounds or having emotional backgrounds before this psychological disorder was ever discovered. In the History of PTSD by Darlene Zagata, she explains about soldiers during the civil war were sent home during such emotional breakdowns without supervision and were dismissed as being cowards or having a lack of discipline. A large number of veterans were affected following the Vietnam War. PTSD was largely disregarded ...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined as a psychological response resulting from exposure to a traumatic event or extreme stressor where an individual has felt significant fear, hopelessness or horror. While a number of events can trigger PTSD, this practicum is focussed on PTSD within the military community, primarily resulting from combat exposure. The three distinct categories
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.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after a traumatic event (Riley). A more in depth definition of the disorder is given by Doctor’s Nancy Piotrowski and Lillian Range, “A maladaptive condition resulting from exposure to events beyond the realm of normal human experience and characterized by persistent difficulties involving emotional numbing, intense fear, helplessness, horror, re-experiencing of trauma, avoidance, and arousal.” People who suffer from this disease have been a part of or seen an upsetting event that haunts them after the event, and sometimes the rest of their lives. There are nicknames for this disorder such as “shell shock”, “combat neurosis”, and “battle fatigue” (Piotrowski and Range). “Battle fatigue” and “combat neurosis” refer to soldiers who have been overseas and seen disturbing scenes that cause them anxiety they will continue to have when they remember their time spent in war. It is common for a lot of soldiers to be diagnosed with PTSD when returning from battle. Throughout the history of wars American soldiers have been involved in, each war had a different nickname for what is now PTSD (Pitman et al. 769). At first, PTSD was recognized and diagnosed as a personality disorder until after the Vietnam Veterans brought more attention to the disorder, and in 1980 it became a recognized anxiety disorder (Piotrowski and Range). There is not one lone cause of PTSD, and symptoms can vary from hallucinations to detachment of friends and family, making a diagnosis more difficult than normal. To treat and in hopes to prevent those who have this disorder, the doctor may suggest different types of therapy and also prescribe medication to help subside the sympt...
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.
Being a soldier who is experiencing PTSD, it boggles the mind how they live their life as one.The feeling to be in prison from his or her own will to be a normal human being, veterans has troubles to overcome it. Enduring the stress, but by in their mind, it haunts them. PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is a condition that fails to recover from a traumatic experience. Fighting fatigue causes stress to the soldiers, and moreover, it infects the mind that they are murderers instead of serving the country. It leaves them with regret and anxiety, which follows them to the best option, suicide. PTSD soldiers believe it is best to repay for those who have killed during the war. Soldiers who return home are likely to do erratic behaviors which
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. (Nebraska) PTSD from combat-related symptoms varies in severity and can be very harmful to not only the individual but also the families. In the worst cases, individuals will be removed from the military and are advised to seek professional help if it is not already given to them. In the more mild cases of combat-related PTSD, individuals are authorized to stay in the military but must seek help and continue to speak to others frequently as well as possibly take
There are many different causes of PTSD such as sexual abuse, sudden death of a loved one, and war. Trauma affects people in different ways, some can develop it from watching a fellow soldier being killed, and some can develop it from losing their jobs or a divorce. Being diagnosed with PTSD is a difficult process because there are many other psychological disorders whose symptoms can overlap and are very similar. An important fact to remember is that PTSD doesn’t just affect the person suffering; it can also have secondhand effects on their spouses, children, parents, friends, co-workers, and other loved ones. Although there is no direct cure, there are many treatment and alternative treatment options to assist them in moving forward after a trauma.
Substance use among military personnel is considerably low in comparison to civilian rates of current use. Probable factors that contribute to such low numbers are due to a zero-tolerance policy and stigma present in the military culture. These factors result in difficulties in identifying and treating substance use problems as well as a lack of confidentiality that deters many who would seek treatment (NIDA, 2013). Though the number of reported incidents of military personnel are low for use of illicit drugs, more socially acceptable substances like alcohol, nicotine, and even prescription medications are more prevalent. The personal need for substance use can be brought on by both the rigid military conditioning as well as deployment to