Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) is a brain disorder that is caused by stress and some sort of trauma. This disorder can be influenced by life occurrences such as being in a war, abuse, assault, natural and unnatural disasters, military combat, and even accidents. PTSD affects the lives of 8 million people worldwide, including children! This disorder is known for being more prone to women than men. There is also some evidence that it runs through families, or can be passed down from generations. PTSD is frequently accompanied by other disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders, just to name a few. Unfortunately, veterans,
Humans are extremely social creatures. People have an unparalleled capacity to empathize and recognize the emotions of others. However, extreme trauma can severely compromise this ability, particularly trauma inflicted by warfare. As a result of his first hand experience with the government 's use of technology in warfare, Billy Pilgrim of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five loses his ability to control his social interactions, becoming apathetic and disconnected with the world around him, a phenomenon not uncommon amongst those who have seen the immediate devastation of modern warfare technology.
From the Revolutionary War and the beginning of America’s independence to the conflict we face today combatting terrorism, American civilians have been at war. In today’s society, war headlines our newspapers and is broadcasted and televised daily on the news for the world to see. Through the media, we Americans are placed into the shoes of a soldier’s daily life and are able to witness the experiences and firsthand accounts of what fighting on the front lines is like. Due to this, Americans have become immune to the troubles and violence of war we are shown by news anchors and told by journalists today and therefore neglect the long term effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder, defined as “a complex and chronic disorder caused by exposure
Mental health issues are a real problem for post-war veterans. The most prevalent mental health problem seen in veterans is Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that follows the experience of a traumatic event. Of the 2.7 million American veterans that served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, at least 20% were diagnosed with PTSD (Veterans Statistics). PTSD affects everyone differently but the most common symptoms of PTSD include: reliving the event, increased anxiety, and avoiding any reminders of the trauma (Robinson,Segal, Smith). These symptoms negatively affect their life
During the turbulent times of the Vietnam War, thousands of young men entered the warzone and came face-to-face with unimaginable scenes of death, destruction, and turmoil. While some perished in the dense Asian jungles, others returned to American soil and were forced to confront their lingering combat trauma. Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried provides distinct instances of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and reveals the psychological trauma felt by soldiers in the Vietnam War.
“It is well that war is so terrible-- otherwise we would grow too fond of it,” were the words once said by the Confederate General, Robert E. Lee. Indeed, even opposing nations can agree that war is full of destruction and devastation. Despite this, there are those who believe that war is glorious. Too often, movies and literature depict war as a virtuous endeavor. Young men are often told during war that they should become a soldier, for honor and glory. As a result, many young men are pressured into joining the military, or even join willingly, due to this over glorification. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque and “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen discuss this very topic. Quite similar works, both feature ex-soldiers as their authors.
In Soldier from the War Returning, Thomas Childers writes that “a curious silence lingers over what for many was the last great battle of the war.” This final battle was the soldier’s return home. After World War II, veterans came back to the United States and struggled with stigmatized mental illnesses as well as financial and social issues.
It may come and go over the years too. The significant impact of PTSD on the lives of veterans afflicted gives doctors a greater understanding of this illness. With knowledge about PTSD, returning veterans can seek the early diagnosis and treatment they need, giving them a chance to recover. Many veterans have spoken and stressed that the PTSD will never go away, even with treatment, group therapy, counseling, or medication. Awareness and understanding can also help and support the families. An estimated 7.8 percent of American Veterans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with women at (10.4%) twice as likely as men (5%) to develop PTSD. About 3.6 percent of U.S. adults aged 18-54 (5.2 million people) have PTSD during the course of a year. About 30 percent of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD. An additional 20 to 25 percent have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. More than half of all male Vietnam veterans and almost half of all female Vietnam veterans have experienced clinically serious stress reaction symptoms.” PTSD has also been detected among veterans of other wars. ("PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress
Veterans are some of the bravest men and women that you will ever know. They fought for our country in our most desperate hours and risked their lives so we could have the chance to live ours. It is such a shame that they are ignored and even homeless in today 's society. I had wondered how we could get veterans of the street and back into the job world. After research I found that there are programs and methods put in place specifically to help these struggling veterans.
This article was about Andrew Brannan, a Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”), who shot and killed 22 years old Deputy Kyle Dinkheller in Dublin Georgia. On January 12, 1998, Brannan was pulled over by Laurens County Sheriff Deputy Kyle Dinkheller for driving nearly 100 miles down a country road near Dublin, GA. Once pulled over, 66 year-old Brannan exited his truck and started screaming he was “a goddamn Vietnam veteran” and yelling profanities at Deputy Dinkheller. Then Brannan retrieved a rifle from his truck and fired several shot at Deputy Dinkheller. The deputy was able to return fire but was ultimately killed by Brannan. Brannan quickly fled the scene in his truck but he was captured the next morning.
The outcomes of war can sometimes be even worse that the fight itself. Psychological trauma that comes as a result of the events in war changes and forms a person. War is experienced physically and mentally, forcing soldiers to question basic values and beliefs. Timothy Findley’s The Wars portrays the theme of the destruction of innocence through various physical and psychological traumas. Early death of a sibling, sexual encounters, and the horrors of war, are traumas that the protagonist Robert Ross is forced to face. These traumas contribute to a significant change in Robert’s character and mental health. He battles with various anxieties, symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and both mental and
Physical and mental injuries affect a veteran's chance of getting a job drastically. These veterans have serious injuries that they suffered from defending and fighting for our country. Now when they return, they find that their injuries are causing them to be put at a disadvantage in the job market. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans says that “47,725 veterans are homeless on any given night”. That is around 9% of all homeless people and more than half of that 9% is between 18 and 30(Faq About Homeless Veterans). Many people have this idea that veterans get all the care they need from the V.A, but that is not true for many veterans. These men and women have proudly risked their lives so we can live free and they are coming home to
Novelist, Tim O’Brien writes short semi true stories about his and other’s experiences in the Vietnam war. O’Brien wanted to explain to his audience what happens in war and how it effects people after the fact. O’Brien really helps his audience acknowledge how much war really does change people. Tim’s dynamic use of symbolism, imagery, and figurative language emphasizes the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that people experience during and after the war.
USA Today reported a suicide rate of 19.9 per 100,000 for civilian men compared to rates of 31.8 per 100,000 for male soldiers and 34.2 per 100,000 for men in the National Guard. The system for how we distribute the claims made by veterans in the U.S. is not performing as it should. Soldiers cannot refuse to take medications that the government has deemed “mandatory” without the threat of a court martial. Veterans are not always easily acclimated back into civilian life and sometimes they need extra help financially after they come back, but many cannot get that kind of assistance and are simply living with very little. America’s veterans are not being treated unfairly for the sacrifices they made for this country, because the system meant to help them is currently ill equip to handle the situation.
income set by the Veterans Affairs. Veterans who are no longer serving and meet other additional qualifications will be placed within priority group six, seven, or eight (Military.com, 2015).