Invisible Wounds: A Glimpse into PTSD

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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... ... middle of paper ... ...rained Dogs Help Them Deal With War” Cape Cod Times. Oct,5th,2013,pg1. 5 Oct.2013.Web,2013. Klien, Joe. “Can Service Save Us?” Time. July,1,2013.Global Issues In Context. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.Maguire,Siobhan. “How To Map The Brain To Reduce Stress." Sunday Times ,London, England, 13 Oct. 2013: 6. Global Issues In Context. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. Silver, Diane. "Many Veterans Struggle To Heal From Moral Injuries." Do Veterans Receive Adequate Health Care? Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Spiegel, David. "Suffering Differently." The New York Times Magazine 26 Aug. 2007: 10(L). Global Issues In Context. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. Tanielian,Terri. The Invisible Wounds Of War. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corperation, 23 Oct. 2013. Zoroya, Gregg, and Meghan Hoyer. "Mental Illness Holding Troops Back." USA Today 26 Sept. 2013: 01A. Science In Context. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

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