Veterans with PTSD

Veterans With PTSD
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Veterans With PTSD
Introduction
As the human species evolve, exposure to conditions that are likely to trigger trauma such as violence, disasters, illnesses, domestic violence among other unbearable acts in the human mind becomes almost inescapable. The survivors of such disquieting conditions often experience a great deal of discomfort that under certain diagnostic criteria can be classified as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It was until the 1980s when the American Psychiatric Association (APA) introduced the concept of PTSD into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-III), becoming a major milestone in the history of psychiatric and mental health (Friedman, n.d.). Although the diagnostic criteria for PTSD have dramatically changed since the 1980s, wars, rape, natural and man-made disasters, and illnesses remain the core trauma stressors because of their potential to put the life of the subject and others in great danger or even harm the physical integrity of a person (Friedman, n.d.). Wars, which is a major traumatic event, explains the reason why a large population of army veterans is battling PTSD. Army veterans battling PTSD often exhibit symptoms such as strict avoidance of any event that might remind them of the traumatic event, recurrent episodes of distressful thought, and the veteran might appear extremely alert and cautious in every life-threatening situation (Smith et al., 2020).
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of military personnel battling PTSD varies significantly depending on their missions and military services they were deployed to. The most notable service eras that have had a massive impact on the army veteran’s mental health and triggering PTSD include Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Desert Storm (ODS), and the Vietnam war. The OIF and OEF have as high as 20% of troops deployed in the mission battling PTSD, while operation Desert Storm and Vietnam war has 12% and 30 % of its troops battling PTSD respectively (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d.-a). Military sexual trauma has also accounted for the high prevalence of PTSD among war veterans, both male and female. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that about 23% of male army veterans have experienced military sexual trauma while 38% of the females have reported sexual trauma throughout their military experience. Due to the high population of male military persons, male veterans remain the dominant victims of sexual trauma despite the high rates of females reporting sexual harassment during military service.
Healthcare Needs for Veteran with PTSD
Mortal combat requires the army personnel to be super vigilant and hyper-aggressive, and they are trained to quickly trigger their adrenaline reflexes, the most notable culprits for causing PTSD among military persons post the army services (Smith et al., 2020). Such reactions, although necessary while in a military battle, are deemed inappropriate post-military services, necessitating veterans to devise means of overcoming the stress factors triggering traumatic events or even seek assistance from professionals. Also,...