While writing this blog, I took it upon myself to educate the reader on the bare minimum; including a description of PTSD, the effects the disorder has on the veterans who suffer from it, the amount of veterans the disorder effects, the medications and treatment options that are currently available, the side-effects of such medications, as well as why it’s important that we to continue to help those suffering from the disorder. Although I used a lot of information that i had included in my research paper, I presented such information in a way that is easier to read and understand by breaking up long paragraphs as well as bolding words or phrases to add emphasis on how important the information is. The pictures I included provide the reader an easy to understand visual as to the struggles a returning veteran with PTSD endures, as well as a motivational picture that emphasizes on the importance to care for those returning veterans. The video i provided, provides personal descriptions from our veterans as to how hard it is to live and function with PTSD. My biggest challenge while writing this blog was trying to figure out how to take an 8 page research paper and present the information in a manner that informs the reader without requiring them to read countless body paragraphs. Overall, i feel writing this blog was beneficial because it provides another way of educating the public about the seriousness of the disorder as well as providing the reader with a way to spread awareness by posting the blog to social networks.
PTSD: 7 Reasons Why Suffering Veterans Aren’t Recieving Proper Help
1. Lack of Awareness– A portion of the general public are unaware of the disorder and the effect it has on people. The public needs to be further educated on the effects PTSD has on the brain and the struggles veterans face on a daily basis while living with PTSD.
2. Lack of Desire– About 60 percent of veterans who suffer from PTSD do not seek help. This is due to a variety of factors such as self-denile, embarrassed, pride, fear of being labeled, and fear of discussing the traumatic situation.
3. VA Hospitals– The VA hospitals are too understaffed to handle the influx of veterans seeking help, therefore leaving many with no where to turn to.
4. Flawed Compensation– The amount of compensation a veteran suffering from PTSD receives is determined by a VA accessor, assessing how impaired they are. They base it off the GAF or Global Assessment of Functioning Scale which is comprised of different percentages, each corresponding with different amounts of compensation. However, it is possible for a VA accessor to improperly diagnose a veteran, therefore depriving them of the proper help and compensation they need.
5. Time- With a large amount of veterans applying for compensation and seeking help from VA hospitals, it can take up to a couple years for a veteran to receive the proper treatment and to obtain any form of compensation.
6. Lack of Funding– Annually, 3.3 billion is devoted to PTSD treatment and medication. This amount is equivalent to only 1/10th the amount of funding that the president has requested for HIV/AIDS research for the year 2016.
7. Stigma– Since PTSD is a mental disorder, it can be seen as abnormal in the eye of the public, therefore the disorder doesn’t receive the amount of attention and treatment development it deserves.
Ticking Time Bomb
From the public’s perspective, if a soldier returns with all limbs attached, they’ve made it home scratch free. However, the reality is that many veterans are fighting a battle against PTSD once they have returned home.
Available Treatments & Side-Effects
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy– “Helps veterans suffering from PTSD understand and change how they think about their trauma and its aftermath.”
- Exposure therapy- “In which one talks about their trauma repeatedly with a therapist; the main goal being to possess less fear about the memories revolving around the trauma.”
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing– “An 8-step therapy process intended to help the individual coop with the traumatic memories.”
–Side effects: None, however not all veterans like to discuss their traumatic experinces
Medications
–Side effects: Thoughts of suicide, hostile, agitated, further depression
–Side effects: Panic attacks, further depression, restless, trouble sleeping
–Side effects: Further depression, agitated, irritable, thoughts of suicide
–Side effects: Anxiety, trouble sleeping, irritable, skin rash
- It has been found that animals have a positive effect of helping veterans suffering from PTSD
–Side effects: None, however further funding for expansion is needed to show substantial results
Although these methods of treatments can show improvement in the lives of some, they are not effective enough to help all veterans suffering from PTSD.
Hear First-hand from our Suffering Veterans
Scratching the Surface of PTSD
PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, is a mental disorder in which someone develops after experincing a dramatic or several dramatic situations.
It is not uncommon for PTSD to trigger in the minds of veterans once they have returned home.
This disorder can prohibit veterans from preforming every day tasks such as socializing, working, and enjoying every day life.
Symptoms are usually present in three main forms:
1. Reliving the trauma and becoming upset when confronted with a traumatic reminder or when thinking about the trauma while trying to do something else.
2. Either staying away from places or people that remind oneself of the trauma, isolating from other people, or feeling numb.
3. The third set of symptoms includes things such as feeling on guard, irritable, or startling easily.
How Prevalent?
PTSD currently or at some point has affected roughly 30% of men and woman who have spent time in war zones. It has affected nearly 20 % of veterans who took part in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, roughly 30% of all Vietnam veterans suffer or suffered from PTSD, and about 12% of Gulf War veterans.
Becoming Involved
Spreading awareness for PTSD is essential for future treatment and medication development for our veterans
jschri 
