May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when we focus on raising awareness and reducing stigma around mental health issues. This month is also when we traditionally celebrate Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day to honor our military personnel. The intersection of these three observations creates an ideal opportunity to discuss PTSD, a critical issue affecting many of our nation’s active-duty service members and veterans.
The Prevalence of PTSD Among Veterans
PTSD is an adverse outcome of military service due to issues like combat and military sexual trauma. PTSD can manifest in various ways, significantly disrupting your daily life and ability to function.
You may have PTSD if you experience the following symptoms for at least a month following a traumatic event such as serving in combat or surviving military sexual assault.
- Avoidance: Steering clear of people, places, or situations that remind you of your experience.
- Reliving the event: Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares about the traumatic occurrence.
- Anxiety and reactivity: Symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, hyperarousal, irritability, angry outbursts, or startling easily.
- Cognition and mood issues: Feelings of guilt, diminished self-esteem, memory and concentration problems, or a loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities.
Addressing PTSD in Veterans
Effectively treating PTSD requires a comprehensive approach tailored to veterans’ unique needs.
- Therapy: Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and trauma-focused psychotherapy have proven effective in treating PTSD. These therapies help veterans process their trauma and develop strategies for coping with severe symptoms.
- Medication: In some cases, a doctor may prescribe you medication to manage symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.
- Support groups: Veteran support groups provide a sense of community and understanding, allowing you to connect with others who have similar experiences.
- Holistic approaches: Holistic practices such as mindfulness, yoga, and meditation can help you manage stress and improve your well-being.
- Family education and therapy: Including family members in the therapeutic process can bring you closer together.
Understanding and Supporting Our Heroes
The transition from military to civilian life can be challenging. We must come together as a community to support our veterans effectively. At Palm Springs Behavioral Health, we recognize the unique obstacles caused by PTSD and provide the specialized attention veterans deserve to help them heal from their traumatic experiences. We encourage you to reach out to our admissions counselors if you or a veteran you know struggles with PTSD.
