Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Consequence of War
Several weeks ago, during a radio broadcast, the wife of an American soldier spoke about the difficulties her husband was having after serving in the war in Iraq. As she wept, she told interviewers that her husband, who was a U.S. Marine, had recently found out that he was being re-deployed to Iraq, after having served one previous term. So distraught was he over the news, he barricaded himself in his home and vowed that he was NOT going back. And he never did. He was shot and killed by police that day, without provocation, according to his grieving widow.
Many extraordinary cases similar to this exist within American history, however most end up getting swept under the carpet, as military officials do little to investigate the cause, quick to arrest, and even historically known to execute deserters.
In 1945, Private Eddie Slovik became the 1st American soldier to be executed for desertion since the Civil War. Slovic made no secret that he did not want to fire against the enemy in World War II. Because the military wanted to make an example out of him, he was shot and killed, while tied to a post, by a firing squad. It is important to note that many others were considered deserters during WWll, but Private Slovik was the only one executed for his act.
When a human being witnesses or participates in the atrocities of war; senseless murder, bombings, child killings, rape, disfigurement....some, especially those who are particularly vulnerable to stressors in their environment, are not able to cope, thus developing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). According to the Veteran's Association, tens of thousands of U.S. solders suffer from PTSD, causing horrifying flashbacks, nightmares and intense anxiety.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), formerly known as "Shell Shock" during WWll, is defined in Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing as "the development of characteristic symptoms after a psychologically stressful event that is considered outside the range of normal human experience (rape, combat, motor vehicle crash, natural catastrophe). Symptoms of this disorder include intrusive thoughts and dreams, phobic avoidance reaction (avoidance of activities that arouse recollection of the traumatic event), heightened vigilance, exaggerated startle reaction, generalized anxiety and societal withdrawal. PTSD may be acute, chronic, or delayed".
The statistics surrounding PTSD are startling. Dr. Greg Passey, a retired military psychiatrist who treats individuals with this disorder claims that as many as one in five people with PTSD actually attempt suicide.
On December 17, 2007, Roy Thomas Bell, a 44 year old Winnipeg man who served in the armed forces for 20 years, was shot and killed by Winnipeg police when he reportedly threatened them with a bat and gun. When police arrived at the scene, Bell was pleading with police to shoot him. And they eventually did. Those who knew him suspected that this was an act of "suicide by cop" as friends claimed he was dealing with PTSD and his condition had recently deteriorated.
Most of those who join the ranks of the armed forces are young men, barely in their 20's, still developing as human beings, thus very impressionable. It becomes the military's job to make these young men "killing machines" as they develop the mentality that their mission is to either kill or be killed. When they encounter the actual brutalities of war, though pre-conditioned to maintain a certain level of detachment for their acts, their psyche becomes somewhat "fractured", as the natural inclination of human beings is that we are taught to preserve life and not take it. As this causes deep emotional scars and they return home, expected now to fully function as "normal human beings" in society, they may start to feel different. Why? Because they "are" different. How can someone who has experienced this type of horror ever be the same? Ultimately, this experience has inevitably changed them forever. For some who cannot cope, they eventually sink further and further into themselves, lost souls, not knowing where to turn.
The National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), developed by the Veteran's Administration in recognition of this growing problem, "aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders". Here you can learn more about PTSD, find a facility close to you that treats the disorder and read other published material related to PTSD.
Although the Veteran's Administration is making an attempt to confront the issue in some, perhaps some would say, menial way, the Bush Administration is perpetuating it by planning to cut health care costs for Veterans. This article taken from Think Progress explains further:
"The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans' health care two years from now - even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system. Bush is using the cuts, critics say, to help fulfill his pledge to balance the budget by 2012. ... Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly - by more than 10 percent in many years - White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter." February 12, 2007
Whatever the reason behind the Bush Administration's decision, the cuts will negatively impact Veterans, their families and our nation as a whole. As they strive to put the pieces of their lives back together, where do Vets turn when the nation that was supposed to support them, turns their collective back?
If you are suffering from symptoms that may resemble PTSD, it is vitally important that you seek prompt medical attention. Please remember, you are not alone! Don't wait until it is too late! Your life may depend upon it!
See Internet Mental Health Links for more information about this and other mental health disorders. To see the touching video that portrays WWll Veterans talking about their horrific experiences after the war, click below and scroll to the bottom of the page:
Many extraordinary cases similar to this exist within American history, however most end up getting swept under the carpet, as military officials do little to investigate the cause, quick to arrest, and even historically known to execute deserters.
In 1945, Private Eddie Slovik became the 1st American soldier to be executed for desertion since the Civil War. Slovic made no secret that he did not want to fire against the enemy in World War II. Because the military wanted to make an example out of him, he was shot and killed, while tied to a post, by a firing squad. It is important to note that many others were considered deserters during WWll, but Private Slovik was the only one executed for his act.
When a human being witnesses or participates in the atrocities of war; senseless murder, bombings, child killings, rape, disfigurement....some, especially those who are particularly vulnerable to stressors in their environment, are not able to cope, thus developing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). According to the Veteran's Association, tens of thousands of U.S. solders suffer from PTSD, causing horrifying flashbacks, nightmares and intense anxiety.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), formerly known as "Shell Shock" during WWll, is defined in Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing as "the development of characteristic symptoms after a psychologically stressful event that is considered outside the range of normal human experience (rape, combat, motor vehicle crash, natural catastrophe). Symptoms of this disorder include intrusive thoughts and dreams, phobic avoidance reaction (avoidance of activities that arouse recollection of the traumatic event), heightened vigilance, exaggerated startle reaction, generalized anxiety and societal withdrawal. PTSD may be acute, chronic, or delayed".
The statistics surrounding PTSD are startling. Dr. Greg Passey, a retired military psychiatrist who treats individuals with this disorder claims that as many as one in five people with PTSD actually attempt suicide.
On December 17, 2007, Roy Thomas Bell, a 44 year old Winnipeg man who served in the armed forces for 20 years, was shot and killed by Winnipeg police when he reportedly threatened them with a bat and gun. When police arrived at the scene, Bell was pleading with police to shoot him. And they eventually did. Those who knew him suspected that this was an act of "suicide by cop" as friends claimed he was dealing with PTSD and his condition had recently deteriorated.
Most of those who join the ranks of the armed forces are young men, barely in their 20's, still developing as human beings, thus very impressionable. It becomes the military's job to make these young men "killing machines" as they develop the mentality that their mission is to either kill or be killed. When they encounter the actual brutalities of war, though pre-conditioned to maintain a certain level of detachment for their acts, their psyche becomes somewhat "fractured", as the natural inclination of human beings is that we are taught to preserve life and not take it. As this causes deep emotional scars and they return home, expected now to fully function as "normal human beings" in society, they may start to feel different. Why? Because they "are" different. How can someone who has experienced this type of horror ever be the same? Ultimately, this experience has inevitably changed them forever. For some who cannot cope, they eventually sink further and further into themselves, lost souls, not knowing where to turn.
The National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), developed by the Veteran's Administration in recognition of this growing problem, "aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders". Here you can learn more about PTSD, find a facility close to you that treats the disorder and read other published material related to PTSD.
Although the Veteran's Administration is making an attempt to confront the issue in some, perhaps some would say, menial way, the Bush Administration is perpetuating it by planning to cut health care costs for Veterans. This article taken from Think Progress explains further:
"The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans' health care two years from now - even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system. Bush is using the cuts, critics say, to help fulfill his pledge to balance the budget by 2012. ... Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly - by more than 10 percent in many years - White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter." February 12, 2007
Whatever the reason behind the Bush Administration's decision, the cuts will negatively impact Veterans, their families and our nation as a whole. As they strive to put the pieces of their lives back together, where do Vets turn when the nation that was supposed to support them, turns their collective back?
If you are suffering from symptoms that may resemble PTSD, it is vitally important that you seek prompt medical attention. Please remember, you are not alone! Don't wait until it is too late! Your life may depend upon it!
See Internet Mental Health Links for more information about this and other mental health disorders. To see the touching video that portrays WWll Veterans talking about their horrific experiences after the war, click below and scroll to the bottom of the page:
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