Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been a malady of veterans in every war that has been fought. Up to a certain point (until 1980) it wasn't known by the same name, but it existed. With more veterans of the current wars and varying theaters across the globe experiencing battle and then being discharged back into society, there is nothing available to stop PTSD, but the medical community has made strides with the treatment options for the disorder.

The Department of Veterans Affairs describes sufferers of PTSD as often reliving the life-threatening or extremely violent events they have seen through nightmares and flashbacks. Other symptoms may include feeling detached from things happening around him or her, or sleeplessness.

Often Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is diagnosed while appearing as part of or simultaneously with other problems such as substance abuse or depression. Difficulty with memory may or may not be manifest. It usually ends up touching all areas of life, causing problems on the home front and with the job.

If the disorder is not treated, or becomes chronic without treatment, it may last a lifetime and be severe, or it may offer some remission periods. No matter what stage a veteran seems to be in, however, or the severity, a doctor needs to be part of the decisions concerning how to deal with the PTSD.

Also according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of veterans who spent time in combat and suffer PTSD is nearly 30 percent. What is perhaps more startling is that 20 to 25 percent additional veterans have dealt with some milder form of the disorder. It is reported that more than half of Vietnam veterans have suffered some sort of stress related problems, and it is also noticeable with veterans of the more recent Gulf War.

Recognizing the symptoms and what to watch for behaviorally will be very beneficial for family members of the newest generation of future veterans. It may become noticeable rather quickly, or it may wait for years to appear. That is one of the reasons why it is rather difficult to diagnose; it reacts differently in different people.