Introduction
PTSD is a common outcome for veterans and service members. It’s estimated that almost 7% of the U.S. population has PTSD, but veterans are three times more likely than civilians to develop it after serving in an armed conflict.
Often, people affected by PTSD are not getting the help they need.
PTSD can be a serious mental health condition and is under-reported, under-treated, and misunderstood. Often, people affected by PTSD are not getting the help they need.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that 11% of men and 30% of women who served in the military will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.[1] However, this number may actually be higher because many veterans do not seek treatment or report their symptoms due to stigma surrounding mental illness and fear that they will lose benefits or job opportunities if they seek treatment.[2]
While there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan, a number of effective treatments have been proven to be effective for people with PTSD.
While there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan, a number of effective treatments have been proven to be effective for people with PTSD. Medication is often used as an adjunct to therapy and can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches individuals how to change the way they think about their trauma through exposure exercises that bring up memories without being overwhelmed by them. Prolonged exposure therapy involves having a patient repeatedly recount his or her traumatic experience until it becomes less distressing over time; this type of psychotherapy has been shown to be helpful in reducing PTSD symptoms when combined with other forms of treatment like CBT or yoga/meditation classes at VA medical centers where veterans can participate voluntarily or receive referrals if they feel they need more help after completing voluntary participation programs offered by the VAMCs nationwide.”
Some illnesses can make it more difficult for someone to recover from PTSD, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses are common among veterans. They can make it more difficult for someone to recover from PTSD, especially if the illness causes high blood sugar or other problems that make it hard for the body to adjust after a traumatic event.
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is an emergency condition that requires immediate treatment in order to avoid life-threatening complications like seizures and coma. In addition to treating their diabetes with insulin injections or pills, people who have DKA need IV fluids administered through an IV line inserted into one of their veins so they don’t become dehydrated as they lose fluids through vomiting or diarrhea–both common symptoms during DKA episodes.*
- Heart Disease: A heart attack occurs when there’s not enough oxygen available for the heart muscle because blood flow has been blocked by clots forming inside arteries leading into your heart.* A stroke happens when cells in your brain die because there wasn’t enough oxygen getting there either due to blockages in blood vessels supplying oxygenated blood or because those vessels ruptured from pressure changes due to some kind of trauma such as being hit by shrapnel while serving overseas.*
Mental health treatment can help veterans recover from their PTSD and get on with their lives.
Mental health treatment can help veterans recover from their PTSD and get on with their lives.
While many veterans are reluctant to seek treatment for mental illness, there are good reasons why it’s so important for them to do so. When you consider that 1 in 5 veterans of the Iraq War has been diagnosed with PTSD, or that suicide rates among veterans who have served since 2001 are nearly double those of non-veterans aged 18-29 years old (and triple those of non-veterans aged 30-44 years old), it becomes clear that there is no shame in seeking professional help if you feel overwhelmed by symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The best way to honor our veterans is by supporting their mental health
The best way to honor our veterans is by supporting their mental health. The best way to support veterans is by getting them the help they need. And the best way to get veterans the help they need is to support their mental health.
I’m sure you’re wondering what this has to do with you or your organization, but it’s actually quite simple: If we want our military members and veterans who come home from war with PTSD symptoms–and many more who don’t even realize there are options for them–to be able to live productive lives outside of combat zones, then we must make sure that those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have access not only at home but also abroad when needed during deployment scenarios as well as afterward through disability benefits such as Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) or VA disability compensation payments
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to remember that PTSD is a very serious mental health condition that can affect veterans of all ages. The best way to honor our vets is by supporting their mental health, so that they can recover from their trauma and get on with their lives.
