About
10 to 15 percent of the more than 1.4 million Americans who have served
in Iraq and Afghanistan
are [dealing] with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD
results when a person experiences a traumatic event that involves
exposure to personal threat or the death or extreme suffering of others;
an event that creates strong feelings of fear, helplessness or horror.
It's common for one to be greatly troubled by uncontrollable painful
memories that cause emotional distress, ... sleep loss, irritability and
inability to have positive emotions. The good news is that effective
treatments for the disorder are available.
To date, the [VA] has seen more than 223,600 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars with PTSD.
What stops vets from going for help?
Going for treatment can feel like
an admission of failure or personal weakness. And most people don't know
much about what to expect of mental health treatment. In fact,
treatment for stress disorder is a straightforward process. You learn
about the effects of trauma ... and how recovery takes place.
You form
friendships with other vets. And you master some practical skills for
dealing with painful memories, anger or physical tension.
The earlier we
treat combat veterans with readjustment problems, the better chance we
have of stopping PTSD.
Going for help is an act of courage that
can cut short distress and restore a sense of personal power, hope and
connection with others. If you are a veteran reading this ... seize the
day and go for help. If you're a family member of a veteran
with a problem, talk to him or her about treatment and offer to help
with the process, or to go for counseling yourself to ... learn how you
can help your loved one.
Note: For practical information on how to get help with PTSD, click here.
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