Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Veterans’ Voices is directed toward veterans and their families who have given so much to ensure our freedom in this country. This is an area where you may share your experiences, or read of other veterans’ experiences. We thank you for your service, and hope that you know how much you are loved and appreciated.

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I have written about PTSD in past articles. A veteran that I met a few months ago reminded me that writing about this again could help other veterans suffering from this disease.

PTSD is an unseen disease that most veterans do not even know that he or she has it. Post Traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD) involves a development of certain symptoms that the veteran is exposed to one or more traumatic life-threatening events such as combat, a national disaster, a car accident or a sexual assault.

There are multiple symptoms that a veteran might have including nightmares, jumping to any loud sounds, don’t like to be around other people, (I call it I don’t play well with others), can’t concentrate properly, having anxiety, trouble sleeping, getting up multiple times each night rechecking all of the door locks for security, getting upset mostly to your spouse for no apparent reason, avoiding certain situations, depressed moods, irritability, self-destructive behavior, social isolation, flashbacks of the trauma, fear, loss of interest or pleasure of activities, guilt, loneliness, unwanted thoughts, emotional detachment, don’t trust most, mood swings, using drugs and alcohol to relax.