Apr

14

Here Today and Sometimes Still Here Tomorrow

Filed Under Combat PTSD, PTSD, Tears of a Warrior, Today's War, War 

cid_f9da461aaf5b4ed8bbc7af66896904faownerpc

PTSD continues to be everywhere in the news, on TV, and in the movies.  The question I have is “Who is listening to all of these stories?  Who is concerned about the growing number of new cases resulting from multiple tours of duty in our current wars? Are those in Washington who must attend to severe budget concerns able to do what is necessary?  What is right?  Is the average American informed enough to care?”  Following is information from just one of many data sources on PTSD.  It comes from Noel Brinkerhoff (Monday, April 12, 2010), and the information is disturbing.

Nearly 300,000 American troops have served three, four or more times in Iraq and/or Afghanistan, while cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have risen dramatically since the wars began. The possible correlation between these two facts has led to the question of whether it’s fair to send young men and women back into combat again and again, and risk causing long-term mental and emotional problems, not to mention the physical toll.

One U.S. Army study from 2009 found troops in Afghanistan were more vulnerable to developing psychological problems as the number of tours went up (31% for three tours, more than double the rate of those with just one). Another study focused on Iraq showed nearly 15% of Army troops who served two tours suffered from depression, anxiety or traumatic stress; more than double that of a single tour. The PTSD rate was almost 2.5 times higher for two deployments compared with one. 

“We just don’t know whether it’s combat exposure, repeated separation from the family or (not enough) time off,” Lieutenant Colonel Paul Bliese, director of the division of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, told the Associated Press. “All of those are reasonable explanations.” 

Whatever the reason, the ultimate result is that more troops returning home are bringing back with them a whole host of demons and ghosts.  These unwanted visitors may never leave the veteran and have significant impact on families, children, and communities.  Let us hope that people who can make war decisions are listening, creating effective support services, and making the process as uncomplicated as possible.  Let us hope that Americans are willing to provide the physical and mental health funding needed to restore those suffering from combat wounds.

For many families and veterans, the process of getting help becomes so overwhelming difficult that they feel victimized by the very system that should be offering them hope and healing.  And let us hope that every politician and every member of our society takes seriously our motto:

If we send them, then we must mend them.

Comments

One Response to “Here Today and Sometimes Still Here Tomorrow”

  1. Robert L. "Doc" Baty on April 15th, 2010 3:17 pm

    As a Vietnam Veteran with PTSD I have raised this subject with every Psychatrist and Counselor that I have had to deal with. Is the VA ready to handle the potential onslaught of returning or discharged troops that face this devastating condition. Thus far I have never gotten a straight answer from any of them. It appears that the various branches of service are making the determination as to the type of help these troops need.

    As with the Vietnam Veterans many of these young men and women will not seek the help they need because of the stigma associated with PTSD. This a discrase on the part of our government, but it appears that they just don’t give a d**n.

    This a real sore point with me and many of the Veterans of other wars and conflicts.