Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder effects a portion of the men
and woman who serve our country. It is classified in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) as an anxiety disorder.
Experiencing a psychological trauma such as abuse, addictions, illness, as well
as war brings about post-traumatic stress disorder. Those who serve our country
experience war, death, and emotional unrest all of which when combined can
spark post-traumatic stress disorder. A trigger such as a loud noise can set
off the combination of these things, and it came bring them back to the state
of war.
Often when soldiers come back from war, they are evaluated
for post-traumatic stress disorder, but often times symptoms or signs don’t
show up until weeks later, or they are considered fine, even though in reality
they aren’t. Although there are some programs for soldiers for counseling and
help adjusting back to civilian life, I believe that there is not enough help
available, and the help that is available is almost shunned, because it is not
openly discussed.
I believe that there should be more programs available from
day one, of being state side. Even though one may say they are fine, they
should be required to attend a series of counseling sessions with trained personnel
to be fully evaluated, as well as to be kept up on after deployments.
