Changing Lives Forever

 Have you ever known someone who goes on a trip for a while and comes back as a different person? PTSD is a very vigorous anxiety disorder that takes over a soldier and comes about after witnessing something like war. PTSD is the abbreviation for posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD takes a large toll on soldiers who possess the disorder, therefore they change into another human being who ends up being very timid and anxious.

 

What are the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder? Depression, struggling to relate to and getting along with those who are close to your heart, and having nightmares and flashbacks about those events that caused you to have PTSD are just a few of the signs of PTSD. Depression in war can be the result of losing a close buddy from the same unit or even a job change. Stress and depression can go hand-in-hand in war. When preparing for deployment a soldier has a lot on their shoulders from leaving their family to not knowing if they will survive. When a soldier is depressed they may drink more alcohol than what they used to just because the alcohol relaxes them and gets their minds off of things. When a soldier comes back from war the relationships with their loved ones may be tough. They have problems connecting and communicating with their loved ones, therefore as a result they may isolate themselves. Lastly, some traumatic events are engraved in their heads. Many soldiers cannot even go to bed without having to worry about having a nightmare about something tragic that they witnessed. The effect of having nightmares for one may be a sleeping disorder. These awful events that they witness run through their heads during the night or the day. There is no escape from PTSD.

 

   

When should one get help and treatments for PTSD? If someone has been diagnosed with PTSD and they do not receive treatment for it then the disorder may worsen. According to The Better Health Channel, “If you experience a tragic event and you have the symptoms of PTSD, after two weeks it is important that you get attention to help you cope with the situation.” Many soldiers may threaten to harm someone or themselves. Soldiers are in need of help and direction. Overall if sleeping difficulties, irritability, and trouble performing tasks appear or begin to develop; they need to receive help. What treatments are available to one who has PTSD? When a loved one has PTSD one of the best medicines for them is support. Without support it is hard for anyone to move on from a bad experience. To receive help for PTSD you can get help from the following: psychiatrist, social worker, doctor, psychologist. Psychological treatment is the main treatment used for PTSD. A psychological treatment consist of confronting and talking through the issue. Mood stabilizers may be given to those who struggle with PTSD.

 

Posttraumatic stress disorder is changing the lives of veterans. Those veterans will never be the same when attacked by this disorder. If you know of someone with PTSD let them know that you support them and care about them.