Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that affects most people who have experienced traumatic events. While it affects the general population, people who have served in the military are more likely to be affected. This line of work comes with seeing or experiencing horrifying and life-threatening situations. Training accidents, military sexual trauma, and being deployed to war zone areas can all lead to PTSD. Keep reading to understand why this mental condition is prevalent among served people.
What Causes PTSD Among Veterans?
Veterans encounter some harsh realities while serving. Being in battle and life-threatening situations puts you under immense pressure, which can put your mental health at risk. PTSD is such a severe issue among military personnel that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs classifies it as a disability.
Vets with this condition are entitled to benefits if the condition is connected to their time in service. To get compensated, they have to file for VA disability claims, which can be complex and frustrating. Because of this, it's wise to hire a PTSD attorney for veterans to walk you through the claim process and appeal the VA's decision if necessary. VA disability benefits can help vets get the treatment they need to manage PTSD.
What Increases the Risk of PTSD Among Veterans?
Not everyone who has served in war develops PTSD. While some people struggle to overcome these events, others can successfully put the issue behind them. The various factors that can increase the risk of developing PTSD are as follows:
- The level of combat exposure: The more a person is exposed to combat or life-threatening situations, the higher the chance of developing PTSD.
- Age: PTSD is more common among younger people than in older veterans.
- Lack of social support: Vets with social connections are likely to open up about their struggles, which helps them cope better with traumatic events than those who keep to themselves.
- Having another mental health condition: People with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are more likely to develop PTSD.
- Sleep problems: Vets who sleep less are likely to experience this condition.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD affects about 7% of veterans. The condition can interfere with your life, making it almost impossible to perform tasks. The symptoms tend to manifest themselves in the following ways.
- Recurrent and intrusive memories of a traumatic event
- Avoidance of things that remind the victim of a traumatic event
- Bad moods
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dissociation
- Exaggerated startle response
What Triggers PTSD Among Veterans?
Different things can trigger PTSD among vets. Knowing these triggers can help vets avoid them. The most common trigger is a loud noise from firecrackers, helicopters, or car door slams. These sounds can remind a veteran of the sound of explosions or gunfire. The media can also be a trigger, especially if it covers issues of war or combat. Other triggers include physical touch, scents, and large crowds.
Treatment for PTSD
Fortunately, there's treatment for PTSD that can help vets manage the condition and live productive lives. Treatment mostly involves medication and therapy, which can be quite expensive. That's why vets must receive adequate disability benefits to cover these costs. Certain medications change how the brain reacts to fear, easing symptoms of PTSD. On the other hand, therapy teaches patients healthy ways to cope with the emotions and thoughts brought by PTSD.
If you or a loved one served in the military and developed PTSD in the process, you don't need to lose hope. You can undergo treatment to learn healthy ways to cope with the condition. You may also want to check in with VA as you're entitled to disability benefits.
