PTSD and the Service Member/Veteran
There are many people today would consider it a great honor to serve in the United States military and fight for the very freedoms our country holds so dear. Service members, both active and veterans, along with their families make up an extremely large portion the country’s population. In fact, it is not uncommon to find someone today that does not know or have friends that have served or are still serving in the military. The big problem facing many of our service members who are returning from a combat deployment is that many of us start to experience many different types of adjustment issues and we suffer from emotional, mental, or physical difficulties (I say us and we because I myself am one of these service members).These difficulties can, at times make it almost next to impossible for a service member to return to a somewhat normal life that we may previously were living prior to combat. If these adjustment issues are affecting the service member (and their family), he/she needs to and should seek out help before their issues begin to run their lives. Admitting you need help and seeking treatment immediately, although isn’t very easy to do is what needs to be done and should not be looked at as a sign of weakness.
The treatment for any of these mental, physical, or emotional issues are available to all service members, veterans, and their families. Usually a consoler is the best place to start as they will listen to what you are going through and administer some standardized tests to help point out any condition(s) that require some type of treatment. Since the beginning of OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) and OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom), 1.8 million U.S. soldiers, airman, marines, and sailors have service in an overseas deployment in Afghanistan or Iraq in either a combat role or in a support role. Some, about 37% deploying at least twice, if not more and many of these men and...