The Role Of PTSD In Soldiers

Post Traumatic stress disorder or more commonly known as PTSD is a condition triggered by a traumatic event that can cause you to have a series of various symptoms and emotions..The most common symptoms of PTSD are anxiety,and flashbacks.More severe cases of PTSD can also include avoidance,dissociation,hypervigilance,and even self guilt.PTSD can be brought on by any series of traumatic events including: rape,combat,natural disaster,physical abuse,or a serious accident,the list can go on and on.Women naturally are at higher risk of contracting PTSD.PTSD is a very serious and common disorder that can occur to anyone at any age,and although it is a mental rather than a physical illness,the disorder can cause physical symptoms,and is not an illness
that should be taken lightly.

When people think of PTSD they often think of soldiers or combat.Although not completely wrong,because”The phenomenon of soldiers “snapping” is as old as combat itself” (Knickerbocker 1).So the first documented cases of PTSD may have been from soldiers returning home from the hell they call war,but the illness isn’t just bias to soldiers,anyone can contract PTSD.People with PTSD tend to distance themselves from the rest of the world,because they feel they are sparing people the cost of having to listen to their stories,or having to relive the experience themselves.Getting startled easily or random moments of angry outburst come along with one of the symptoms of PTSD,hypervigilance.This may be caused by the victim reliving the experience and not realizing true surroundings.Reliving the experience that triggered the victims PTSD may be one of the symptoms for those affected.

PTSD symptoms are more than what catches the human eye.There is so much that goes on in the mind of a victim who is suffering from this illness.38 year old Robert Bales joined The army because after the attacks of 9/11 he felt the severe need to serve his country.at the beginning of his fourth tour in Iraq Sergeant Bales snuck away from his military base into a small village and slaughtered at least 16 people including nine children and it is said he set their bodies on fire afterwards.Bales was said to be an exemplary soldier and a good man before the event of his attacks.
Many others claim though that the army wasn't the only thing that contributed to his PTSD,before joining the army he was having financial problems and was said to even have assaulted a woman.No one knows exactly what triggered Robert Bales to do such a heinous thing but no one saw it coming. Robert didn't show any symptoms of having PTSD but it is for sure known that he was not in the right state of mind when he committed such a violent crime.”America is just beginning the reality that “war leaves no soldier untouched” (The week safe 2).Many may see him as a vicious criminal but in reality it is not his fault but rather the fault of the war and witnessing the most gruesome things and having to go through the same traumatic experiences over and over
again.

At times mental illnesses may not be taken as seriously as physical illnesses, but in reality mental illnesses can be just as bad or maybe even worse than the physical ones.One of the more severe cases of PTSD can mean symptoms such as depression or anxiety.it is much harder for victims to cope with the symptoms so many may try to self medicate with drugs or alcohol, but research shows that “Drinking alcohol and doing other drugs may not help PTSD and even make it worse” (NIMH 3). Research also shows that anxiety and depression are linked to very high rates of suicide. There are many treatments available for PTSD but many people who suffer from illness may not want to seek treatment because they're often scared about talking about the Traumatic event. Before getting treatment for PTSD victims must come to the reality that they are suffering from an illness because many sufferers try to avoid the fact. Treatments for PTSD can include therapy and even medication. The most common way to treat PTSD is therapy which can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Most suffers start seeing symptoms months or even years after the traumatic event and may even take them longer to realize what is wrong with them.Victims of PTSD are said to feel better about the event And come to terms with it after receiving help.

PTSD is a very serious condition that needs to be known more widely. There are ways to catch PTSD and treat it before it becomes very severe. Remember PTSD does not only affect soldiers it affects anyone of any race gender and age. The illness needs to be know more seriously so that suffers aren't afraid to come up and receive help. In order to do this society can be more accepting and understanding of known mental illnesses, and realize that they are just as serious as any other illness.