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Veterans have finally come home after nine long, hard-fought years in Iraq. Celebrations of their return, tearful family reunions and parties in their honor have all come to a close, but now is the time they need us more than ever.
Post-traumatic stress disorder has already begun to set in on the veteran, allowing haunting memories and dreams to leave scars you may never see. It’s no secret that PTSD is a major issue surrounding veterans today. The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported treating more than 212,000 combat veterans for PTSD since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.
Though the number of Iraq-era veterans treated for PTSD is only a fraction of those from the Vietnam era, their experiences are different based on a number of factors, including a rise in the use of improvised explosive devices (IED).
Often, those with PTSD or brain injuries suffer silently. Veterans avoid counseling because they have difficulties in admitting a mental disorder. Troops who are taught to be fearless might feel that they are viewed as weak if they admit to any health problems, especially one so closely related to emotions. This stigma is one we, as a national community, can help them overcome.
Without proper treatment their relationships can deteriorate, educational opportunities get pushed aside and everyday life becomes a struggle. Drugs or alcohol are often used to fill the emptiness that a veteran suffering from PTSD may hold inside, which can lead to them losing their family, job and even their life.
It is our job as veterans, friends and family members to help combat this terrible affliction. I challenge you to learn as much as you can about PTSD, because knowing how PTSD affects people may help you understand what your friend or family member is going through. There are many programs out there to help veterans, so don’t let these resources go to waste.
Here are some ways you can help a veteran if you think they might suffer from PTSD:
31 Comments
Buddies, a reality brutal on itself, but that may valorize solidarity beetween veterans and people. Hi, buddies, we have a long war to combat, a war where you will have the sensation that no battle may be won. It is not true! You will win if you not arrend, if your skill and your resilience, also if prouved, is not abbandoned. HI buddies, be sure you are not alone as we will combat ever with you, also if not present fisically. You are on our hearts and our minds, places where no barrier and no distances exist. Stand to. Claudio Alpaca
I am a Vietnam Vet, served as a grunt. I know one thing for sure, denial does not work. If a Vet thinks he can ignore the affect of combat by denying it…the PTSD will eventually overcome the Vet. Please go to a local VA Vet Center or hospital and get help. Education of what PTSD is the first step…then get involved in a support group. Don’t end up being 63 years old and wonder what the hell happened.
I am a VietNam Vet, as an airdale stationed in FASU BienThuy. About five years after returning home I began to notice small things were not right within myself, like beginning jittery whenever I went to a fourth of July fireworks. After trying to pass this all off I had a bad flash back and went to the VA to find out what was going on. They pried and prodded to get me to remember specific events until I blew up. I started going to a private therapist who put me under hypnosis and later told me that he would not take me any farther under as there were issues that he did not know he knew how to handle. Going back to the VA they told me I was not “bad enough” to be rated. I haave not been back there since.
Have you received help yet? Do you go to a support group? My heart ached when I read your comment; you deserved so much better than that. I am so sorry. I am a former Army Wife of 20 years and suffer from PTSD from childhood trauma. It generally isn’t as severe as combat related PTSD and has different triggers, but the symptoms are more similar than people might think. I startle easily, can’t stand loud noises or surprises, and certain situations that would be normal to anyone else can set off a crying spell or a temper outburst. I belong to an excellent Support Group here on Facebook and there are military veterans who can advise you in getting help and pointing you in the right direction. It took a lot of courage to write your note.
It’s disappointing that you didn’t get more help, I am not a qualified person but my suggestion to you would be to read as much as you can about PTSD, my brother had it after he was in the South African bush war, so I have some experience with it. The more you know about PTSD, the more you will understand what you are going through. I wish you the best of luck. I have seen several movies about Viet Nam and I have the greatest respect for anyone who went through the chaos of that war. Kind regards Paula Marnitz ( paula.marnitz@yahoo.com)
Edward. If you can, go to the nearest military hospital and ask to speak to someone with the DAV. The disabled American Vets organization is the VA on Steroids. The VA has good counselors but are not that great an advocate. The DAV has seen it all and you will find really good support team there. Anyway, Google the DAV in your area and you might be pleasantly surprised. It took me 22 years to get a pension. 20 year old medic with the 101st in Central Highlands 1965-1967.
Thanks Pete i could not have said that any better….The D.A.V. really helped me not only to get rated but helped me go all the way to T&P….was in Chu lai 66/67 I Corps, 3rd Marine Div.
I just read your comments on not getting help and not rated. I cried and prayed for you.Who are they to say this to a war veterans. I am also a vietnam veteran, was with 1st mar div as a grunt. 30 years later, something was wrong within me, being sad, piss off all the time, depress, lonely, crying for no apparent reason, nightmares. I was lucky enough to be tested and went to Denver PTSD program and that time I applied for disability and it took them 2- 1/2 to rate me for total and pernement disability. what I did was I keep bugging them I mean day and night. what I am trying to say is keep bugging them and ask to be test again and again for PTSD. YOU EARNED IT BROTHER! God bless (keer.sandoval@ymail.com)
GREAT JOB FOR STICKING TO IT DEVIL DOG IT JUST TAKES PAIN AND TIME I KNOW YOUR PAIN AND YOUR HAPPINESS TO FINALLY GET THE HELP YOU NEEDED IT TOOK ME 13 YEARS OF TESTS NEEDLES SCANS BRAIN XRAYSBUT i HAD A OLD VET TELL ME TO KEEP HITTING AND IT WILL WORK GLAD IT WORKED FOR YOU SEMPER FI DEVIL DOG
Dear Edward,
I am also a Vietnam era veteran. I am 100% service-connected disabled veteran. When I first went to the VA for my problems they diagnosed me as schizophrenic and later as having PTSD also. I went to the Disabled American Vetereans and they helped me and fought for me to get my disability. You may want to try that. They are a great organization and will fight for you.
Brother Go back you owe it to your self and your family You need a physcho therpist to talk
to you have to bring all that bad up to get it out so you can deal with it and put it out of your mind I killed a lot of people as a sniper my folder is 2 inches thick and I was having dreams about it and would wake up laughing. My wife couldnt take me laughing like that so I ended up blown up there was a bounty on my head and they finally got to me. broke my rt leg in the knee joint my back in the thorsk dics 5-7 and my rt shoulder still sets of airport alarms I was 30 percent for 6 years then finally 70 percent then 100rcent due to ptsd it took 13 years im 100% VA AND 100%SSI SO iM DOING OK AND i GET PAID TO GO FROM MY HOME TO THE VA ONCE A WEEK pICK UP YPUR BALLS AND GO BACK BRO i SEE YOU WERE A po2 WERE YOU A SEAL WORK WITH YOU GUYS A FEW TIMES STAND BESIDE YOU ANYTIME AGAIN SGT PETERS
Less than one year ago I discovered that dirty little word called “Agent Orange”. I served in Nam in 1965. I need some help understanding several issues with the VA. If anyone can give me some answers it would be great……
1. After you are checked out for C & P, why are we “charged” for the cost of pills. Everyday I take 6 pills.
2. Each and every one of these pills are for a service connected condition.
3. Why does it take the VA over 9 months for a claim to be granted? All of us have our DD-214′s. It’s very very ez for the VA to check us out.
4. Its time for our govt. to stop throwing our veterans under the bus.
You wrote…..Its time for our govt. to stop throwing our veterans under the bus……Many Nam Vets are still getting D.A.V. ratings to this day for AO……P.T.S.D. among many other problems…..You have to fight them….your DD 214 dont say anything but who you are & where you were….close to 3 Million men passed through Nam and i myself suffer from AO, brain trauma & P.T.S.D. so if you dont fight you’ll never win…..AO was lied about for so long….one early report said they started to use it in 68…..i got misted in 67….they said NO WAY….now they admit the spraying started as early as 1962….hire a lawyer…you cant really sue the Gov. but that action will be noticed and you might be able to open or reopen a claim……Best wishes Bro’
I am a 100% service-connected permanently and totally disabled Vietnam era veteran from the Army. I was advised by a VA representative in 1977 (5 years after I got out of the Army) to go to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and give them my power of attorney to represent me before the VA. I did and about 8 or 9 months later I got my disability rating of 20%. A few years later I returned and the VA representative suggested I go to the DAV again and ask them to help me get an upgrade in my percentage of disability due to a condition that I have which had been rated at 0% in the VA’s aggregate or overall combined rating of my disabilities. (I have more than 1 thing that is service-connected.) I returned to the DAV and they the necesary steps and eventually I was upgraded to 100% service-connected disabled. The permanent and total disabled rating came after being rated at !00% for 10 consecutive years
I know this is somewhat long-winded but the bottom line is my suggestion that you got to the DAV for help. They’re a great organization and they will fight “tooth and nail” for us as veterans.
I BELIEVE THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE BEEN IN COMBAT TO HAVE INCURRED PTSD – I HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS THAT INCLUDED FIGHTING AND HAZING TO RACIAL SLURS @ THE HANDS OF MY SUPERIORS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECIEVE AN DIAGNOSIS DUE TO NON COMBAT STATUS.
Your correct to say one does not have to be in combat to suffer from P.T.S.D. BUT….We Namvets Suffer from War or Combat Stressers that only a war vet can understand, But as i see it if you served or are still serving that the V.A. should help you the best that they can and thanks for your input on this problem…….M.J.D.
HEY bRO NOT THE SAME WAR BUT THE SAME PAIN AND DIRT i WAS IN COMBAT BUT i HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS 100% AND NEVER LEFT THE US.WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT STRESSERS ,STORMS GUNSHOTS CARS BACKFIRINGYOUNG HOUDLEMS PICKING ON YOU TRYING TO GET YOU TO DO SOMETHING ive been out for 17 years but I was force recon I have replaced my punching bag every 2 years I still box and do all my excerizes Im 50 and still in shape I had a young marine call me out grabbed my arm I grabbed him by the throat with 1 hand chocked him to the floor his 3 friends didnt interfere when I let him go you could see all my finger prints on his throat I told him until he could do that go back to base. They left no more problems have to seea physhotherypist every week and a phychysist every 2 weeks Make them listen to you your there for help make them give it to you tell them what is reall6y bothering you Bro Make them help you or ask for a new phyctrist maybe you need a physo therypist to talk to mine helps Hope I helped Bro
That is very true. One does not have to have been in combat to have incurred PTSD.
PLease read the LAST entry above yours You can get it due to harassment and constant Blame Check it out John
Mr lewis I have good news for you. MY friend gunnery sgt robinson was a cook and was harassed constantly by the upper esslionof personnel. He was harassed everyday and blamed for anything wrong he retired and went for a long time wanting to kill him self he was a friend of mine and I took him up to VA Hosp and into the ER he broke down in ther and was taken straight to the mental health floor He went to see the Va physic personnel he was crying lke noone I ever saw he was given all kinds of tests and ended up 100% ptsd Hearing is coverer and glasses he gets all medications covered Go back and start in the Er and tell them your problem tell them that it makes you want to harm your self and others You will get you help he got 100% in 2 months PLease continue to fight fo what is yours. Sniper to go.
I’m a veteran but my 4.5yr exsposure to the combat areas (Iraq&Afghanistan) was as a civilian employee. Not from on active duty. We civilians also go through some adjustments as well. Love my fellow vets and active duty folks out there!
i am a gulf war vet, although i was given a non-deployable status due to a cs gas reaction in bootcamp.. i was medically discharged after serving 2 and a half years… i was diagnosed w ptsd and after years of trying to work the va said that i was 70% disabled and unemployable, until a few years ago when i was reduced to 50% because they said i am better… basically i got screwed…
May I suggest you read my reply to BBLockhart in the text above which was posted as johncates2003 and try the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). I hope it helps.
Bro when they said you were unemployable you can go you thess and get social security due to not being able to work then you send those papers to the va and you get 100 %B FROM THE VA DUE TO UNEMPLOYABLITY JUST KEEP
hAMMERING ON THEM SOONER OR LATER THEY GET TIRED OF SEEING YOUR NAME ON THER DESK and give it to you Semper fi Sniper to go
I too am a 63 y/o Viet Nam Vet who was a guinea pig for the VA ! It took the VA 40 years to say yes, the war messed me up completely for life!
the VA will be more concerned with denying claims to ” help boost the econ” by reducing claims to push vets into finding other employment…. the whole process is a joke and we are the ones being laughed at… i like pres. obama he has done a lot for this country. it is the system that has failed us. with long determination decisions, reductions and denials… i think for our services to our country our gov can and should do better by us… i think ssd should be included in a disability package for vets rated over 50 percent. vets are denied ssd because social security has different rules and regulations for their determintions… basically a pro athelete or movie star can get millions for “ENTERTAINING” but we get what for protecting… a education… well i learned that i and a lot of you, us have been screwed.. not because of our choices but due to the decisions of our government….
AS A VIETNAM VETERAIN IT VERY IMPORTANT FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GET THE HELP THEY NEED. PLEASE DO NOT TREAT THEM , YOU TREATED THE VIETNAM VETS.
Thanks so much for saying what needs to be said…
i thank those of you who left your comments and concerns.. i have the dav as power of attorney. i have been through the red tape and still come to the conclusion that we should and can receive better treatment. i applaud you for your dedication in getting the results or ratings you have fought for, but what happens when you are reduced because they say you are better. what happens when you lose the only source of income you have? yes there are organizations that can help you, i would like things to change to avoid these issues. the biggest concern i have is when i do go to the va hospital or outpatient clinic, why are the majority of physicians on staff civilian and not military or service – connected? ptsd is a different kind of stress, the level of stress we as military personnel go through and experience does not compare in no way to the stress of non military personnel. our stress is more on the basis of survival and defense rather than on job promotions and raises. our stress of having to re adjust to society’s standard of living and life, after being trained to protect and overcome is a challenge in itself. we are often looked down upon or considered failures by the society we have to become part of. the lack of discipline and structure, morals and values has made re adapting stressful in itself. i think that there should be more veteran liasons in the medical field. there shouldn’t be any hospital or doctors office we can’t go to.. this should be an option to us rather than an obligation. everyone can use a second opinion.
Iam allso a Vietnam vet. 1966-1967 I had prostate cancer in 6/9/2010 . Thats when i was operated on . At the time i was rated 100% total and permanently disabled . Then oct.2011 they rated me at 40% .Because i wear 2to3 paids 24-7 .and now have rectal spasm-ems that cause me to have accidents . I got permission letter to go to my own Dr. I had the operation at my hospital gave them the permission letter .The Phathology, Eurology and the hospital . Never got Pre.auth. or called to see if there was room at the va hospital . I had Anthem Blue Cross so they didn’t bother the VA . They only got Pre. auth. for out patient . I had a $5000.oo out of pocket bill . I was paying $ 200.00 a month . the VA will not pay all of them 6/9/2010 .Be cause they didnt follow directions on the permission letter or the out patient letter . I am still paying are they were going to turn it over to a collection agency . They kept telling me VA only pays for out patient .
i wish my claim would go through benn waiting 3 years since iraq and they keep deniening my tbi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wife left because of problems took kids threw me out told me to kill myself when i was there an when i came home ,,,, messed up i loved her ,,,,,, only thing she calls for is money and already is with someone else didnt even get divorce yet,,, i feel like a prisoner,,, i worked hard all my life and served my country and cant work now because of back knee bone disease lumber 5 , tbi ptsd, my life is ruined an my therapist at va tells me i imanged iraq an all my problems i am making up even though i have cat scans xrays ptsd program i call the whitehouse an begg for help but nothin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sincerly 19 kilo ang c c0 252 bac