Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is a complex health issue. Many of our soldiers from past and present wars have this disorder. It may not be obvious or surface until much later in their civilian life. It is very beneficial to learn of the symptoms of the disorder.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can happen to anyone
- Soldiers
- Strangers
- Girlfriends/boyfriends
- neighbors/friends
- wives
- children
- relatives
“Some” PTSD symptoms and responses
- The smell of gasoline – can cause remembrances of fires, troop movement, Napalm
- Black silk – can cause remembrances of combat with the enemy. Certain gestures – hand, arms moving, motions with head, etc. even if done by a familiar person in a civilian setting
- Car backfiring – can cause a remembrance of gunfire
- Certain landscape scenes can trigger traumatic experiences
- Certain behaviors in people – even if those people are familiar to us
- A need to avoid crowds
- A need to have a wall at ones back
- Depression
- Heavy drinking, smoking, or drug use
This is just a small list of the many symptoms that can set a combat veteran “off,” so to speak. They are often not cognizant of the errant
behavior they are exhibiting in friendly civilian settings. This possible response is due to their rigid training and exposure. Any response
will be automatic and rapid.
When they return home, although they are in a different environment, the intensive training they received and had to use in combat,
remains indelible, in their psyche. Any reaction will always be, automatic and rapid, just the way they were trained to do, but the problem
is, it may happen in a peaceful setting.
It is important to learn these symptoms to better understand our returning combat veterans, so we have the knowledge to help. This also
applies to others who have had severe abuse.
What about “their” health?
The returning Veteran will most likely have access to the VA, but that does not mean they will go, and take care of themselves. They may
very well feel like they must “tough it out.” This seems to be an underlying feeling among all branches of the Military. This is sad but true.
It is almost like they are afraid the Drs. might find something wrong, causing their comrades to see them as “weak,”
I learned much during my marriage to a Veteran. What I learned has caused me to study the Emotional Freedom Technique; also called
EFT. I have seen firsthand how it can help many. It can be done in the privacy of one’s own home, and the relief for some is immediately
felt. Even the Caretakers of these Veterans can find relief for themselves.
It is definitely worth a try.
What is the Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT?
