PTSD The Growing Problem for Returning Veterans

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studies are now being brought to light about the increase in combat related PTSD. Historically veterans who experience combat are twice as more likely to commit suicide than the non-veteran general population (Roehr, 2007). In the First World War the term shell shocked was coined referring to the precursor to the modern day diagnoses of PTSD and the inability to assimilate back into their normal lives (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 2012). Since the army has kept records for the last 26 years concerning veteran suicide the records show that the suicide rate is the highest it's been since the archive was first established. This appreciable increase in the suicide rate amongst veterans can possibly be attributed to veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and receiving mental health diagnosis of which 56% of the first 25,000 veterans treated received 2 or more diagnoses. The most frequently given were PTSD, depression, and drug abuse (Roehr, 2007).These are only preliminary ...

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memories, nightmares, flashbacks, triggered distress. The second group would start with avoidance: isolation, withdrawal, emotional numbing, detachment, and memory gaps. The third group is Hyperarousal; insomnia irritability and anger outbursts, poor concentration, and exaggerated startle. All three groups are mentioned in the Medscape article (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 2012). All these symptoms may be experienced by today's veterans. The truth is that no matter how hard the veteran tries to forget they may be unable to. After the initial events occur the brain becomes stuck and can make the veteran relive the very event that caused the PTSD. Those are all the official ...

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