Ptsd in the Military

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the military: Coping with a mental illness

Introduction

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been a long standing problem service members have experienced but there had been little done to treat those afflicted with it until we were well into Operation Iraqi Freedom. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be a very serious disorder that brings about domestic abuse, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, insomnia just to name a few of the symptoms. One of the important issues that need to be addressed is the importance of current service members as well as veterans to seek treatment. I spent a year in Iraq from 2003-2004 and I never realized how that deployment would affect me or my family. Upon completion of a deployment every service member has to go fill out a questionnaire asking them about things they experienced and if it affected them, if so how.

The problem lies with the stigma that goes with any leader admitting that they have a mental issue and fearing that they will be looked at as not being capable of completing their tasks as a leader. In addition most of the effects of PTSD do not even appear until months or years later. It took me three years to realize I truly had a problem and I needed to speak with someone to work on getting this under control. When I first came forward I felt ashamed and embarrassed as a leader and it took a long time before I realized that this disorder is not something that just goes away it needs to be treated with therapy and at times medication.

Veterans Affairs have developed Veteran Centers in local communities that employ social workers to specifically provide therapy to those afflicted with this disorder. Veterans Affairs Hospitals employ Psychiatrists as well but the wait for an appointment to seek therapy can be up to 6 weeks. The Wounded Warrior Project is an organization that started in 2003, this organization is made up of veterans and their friends who have set out to help...