Veterans and PTSD Disorder

Today is Veterans' Day and I am so very thankful to the Veterans for defending our Country.  I am also pround and thankful for my father who served his country in the Vietnam War. 

I woke up around 7:30 am this morning and began cleaning my house.  After cleaning for a little while,I made some breakfast and turned on the television.  A documentary was just about to start, so I began watching it.  The documentary is titled "Battetorn: 1861-2010."  It is directed by James Gandolfini or "Tony Soprano."  This documentary gives a sincere, realistic view of post traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD") and how the condition impacts soldiers returning from war and their families.  It depicts stories of suicides and other tragedies caused by the disorder.

PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder.  People experience the disorder after dealing with highly stressful, tramatic events such as: war, rape, assault, domestic abuse and terrorism.  The cause of PTSD is unknown but the disorder causes the body to react differently to stress.  There is also no definitive evidence as to why it impacts some people and not others.  Some of the symptons include "reliving" the incident, avoidance and arousal.  The documentary is full of narratives about soldiers reliving horrific incidences in their dreams every night.   

During the documentary, family members of soldiers were interviewed about how PTSD impacted their family.  One mother discussed that her son served two tours in Iraq and how her son was not the same when he returned.  She told the story of his suicide as a result of his struggle with PTSD.  Soldiers shared their personal stories as well.  One soldier told the story of his PTSD and how it caused him to commit a crime that landed him in prison for 6 years.  It also discussed the stance the military has taken with respect to the disorder and its impact on soldiers. The military, as a whole, has recently began acknowledging that PTSD is a real disorder with serious implications.  Prior to the Vietnam war,however, soldiers suffering from the disorder were made to feel weak.  They were told to "man up" and deal with it.  Some people simply could not understand how a person could be "injured" but not see blood or scars.  They could not understand that mental injury can be more severe than any physical condition and also that it can lead to physical injury as well. I am glad to hear that the military's stance has softened and people are beginning to understand the severity of the disorder.

This documentary is a "must see."  It sheds some light on PTSD and I think it is particularly important considering that the USA has recently ended a war and many soldiers will be returning home.  Unfortunately, many of them will suffer from PTSD.

Check it out.

Happy Veterans Day!

Peace