Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among soldiers used to be called
“shell shocked” or combat fatigue. The usual onset is following a
traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD are flashbacks to the event,
irritability, nightmares and insomnia.
In its first study of returning troops who’d fought in Iraq in 2004,
the Army found that one in eight soldiers exhibited symptoms of PTSD.
Only half sought professional help with their problems, possibly due to
concerns about being stigmatized.
The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine,
involved 6,201 service members. Split into four different groups, they
were surveyed before serving in Iraq, six months after serving in
Afghanistan and eight and six months after serving in Iraq.
The servicemen were asked to fill out questionnaires concerning their
mental health and war experience. Sixteen to seventeen percent of those
who’d served in Iraq reported symptoms of major depression or anxiety.
Eleven percent of those serving in Afghanistan reported similar
symptoms. The researchers concluded that the Iranian troops exhibited a
greater degree of PTSD because those servicemen saw more combat
activity.
The number of servicemen suffering from PTSD following the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars is much greater than those who served in the Persian
Gulf War. The researchers concluded that the Persian Gulf War’s shorter
duration (only 42 days) and lack of urban warfare greatly cut down the
amount of PTSD among combatants.
While post traumatic stress has been around as long as there have been
wars, it was the Vietnam War that brought the problem to the forefront.
The battle in Vietnam was unlike any other fought previously by
American soldiers. The average age of combatants was nineteen as
opposed to twenty-six in WWII. These boys, barely out of their teens,
were flown into the war zone as individuals instead of as a team. The
enemy was difficult to identify and could include women and children.
After their tour of duty, these young men were flown back to the United
States and within hours were expected to readjust to their new lives.
During WWII, returning soldiers had weeks on a boat to mentally adjust
to the home front. Conversations held during those weeks undoubtedly
served as sources of therapy.
Research has confirmed that people suffering from PTSD have a higher
rate of alcohol and drug use. There appear to be several reasons for
this. Some researchers believe that those suffering from PTSD were
already using drugs and alcohol before the traumatic events and that
this made facing the traumas more difficult. It is also very possible
that returning soldiers with PTSD use drug and alcohol to self-medicate
in an attempt to feel better.
PTSD is a serious problem. With new awareness, the government has
attempted to become proactive in reaching out to soldiers, especially
those who are too embarrassed to seek help themselves.
For help with PTSD and drug or alcohol addiction, please contact us today!