Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after you have seen or experienced a traumatic event. PTSD is common in soldiers that have just come back from war. About half of the soldiers who come back from war do not seek treatment for PTSD for they feel invinsible and incapable of such thing occurring to them. Other soldiers drop out of therapy too early, for they feel that they are professionals at what they do and see therapy as a sign of weakness. Some symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, and intense physical reaction when reminded of the event
Major Carlos C. Huerta shared his story about having PTSD. He admits to denying having PTSD. However, when he returned home, he felt he was not home. He says he brought back the battlefield with him. It was until his PTSD started affecting his family that he decided to admit he had a problem and seek for a cure. He stated “Instead of being a burden to the Army, I ended up being a burden to the most important people in my life, my wife and children. Fearing being minimized as a Soldier, I, like so many others, went underground.” Major Huerta is one of the many soldiers suffering from PTSD, unlike others he seeked for help.
Below is a link of soldier Rolando Villacres, who suffered from PTSD when he returned from the war of Iraq. It is important that soldiers seek help, once they come back from war due to the harmful affects it can cause not only them, but their family and loved one's as well.
Your post is so important I think, for people to be aware that PTSD is real and most that have it do not like admit it or receive help/counseling. It is a scary thought because of how it affects family and loved ones like how he explained in the video. I enjoyed reading and watching the video because I was not knowledgeable in this area at all, so it helped me learn some important aspects of the disorder.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rebecca that PTSD affects family members and loved ones. Prior to reading your blog it hadn't occurred to me that maybe some of them don't want to come forward and admit that they could be experiencing PTSD. I was under the impression that all of them wanted help and would willingly acknowledge that they needed help. For our soldiers who experience this and individuals who have experienced trauma I hope that treatment methods expand within the coming years.
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