Wounded Heroes
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that occurs after living through a traumatic event such as an assault, rape, combat, serious accident, terrorist attack or natural disaster. Usually, when people experience trauma they suffer from an initial stress reaction and eventually return to normal. Others, for reasons unknown, have difficulty coping and develop chronic reactions or PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Nightmares and flashbacks
- Sleep problems: thrashing movements at night, panic attacks, easily awakened by sound or movement
- Memory and cognition problems: amnesia, concentration problems
- Substance abuse issues
- Survivor's guilt
- Anger/Aggressiveness
- Depression
- Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
- An extreme startle response when caught off guard
- Anxiety symptoms: heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath or hyperventilating, fever, fainting, headaches
If these symptoms last more than three months or hinder a person's ability to function day-to-day, then a diagnosis of PTSD can be made. According to the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 8%of men and 20% of women develop PTSD after a traumatic event. Thirty percent of those diagnosed with PTSD will have chronic problems with the disease. It is important to rally friends and family together to provide a strong support system for your husband. Servicemembers with support systems are less likely to develop PTSD.
How is PTSD treated?
Many factors go into treating PTSD. If your servicemember has a substance abuse problem, is depressed or has a phobia, those issues need to be resolved before the PTSD is addressed. The following are four methods commonly used to treat PTSD. They can be used alone or used in a combination therapy:
-
Group therapy
Servicemembers can share their traumatic experience with others who have experienced similar tragedy. This therapy setting provides safety and empathy among the members and enables the patients to face their feelings and cope with their memories and symptoms.
-
Pharmacotherapy
Your servicemember will be prescribed medication(s) to help reduce their insomnia, anxiety and/or depression. Serotonin-specific re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac may be prescribed, as well as benzodiazepines such as Klonopin for anxiety and short-term insomnia relief.
-
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a technique that works to change behaviors, emotions and thoughts. A form of CBT commonly used with PTSD is exposure therapy. The patient is re-exposed to their trauma and learn to control the anger, stress and urges associated with the memories. A patient can be flooded with the memories all at once, or slowly desensitized to it.
-
Brief psychodynamic psychotherapy
This technique is similar to cognitive behavioral therapy in that the patient re-experiences the traumatic event. The focus, however, is on the emotional conflicts caused by the trauma. The patient retells the trauma to a therapist and in the process learns new thought patterns and coping skills.
While treatment can help, the prognosis for those with PTSD varies. Some recover within six months, while others develop chronic symptoms that persist for years. People respond differently to trauma, so don't get discouraged if your husband does not bounce back immediately.
How do I get treatment for my husband?
Find a trained mental health care professional that your husband trusts. Clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, master's level clinicians and psychiatrists are professionals that can effectively address your husband's PTSD. Veterans can seek mental health care at their local VET Center. Find a location near you with the VET Center Facilities Locater and Directory. VET Centers serve most combat veterans and servicemembers that have served in the Global War on Terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom). You can find a complete list of eligibility requirements on the VET Center Eligibility webpage.
