WHAT IS PTSD IN SOLDIERS Post-traumatic stress disorder or, as it’s commonly referred to PTSD, is a disorder that can affect someone after they have experienced traumatic events. This disease has been blamed for the several suicide deaths of active and former military members. Approximately 22 veterans take their life each day. What is PTSD? In a very basic description it causes someone who has been through a traumatic experience to suffer affects that may have happened during said event. This can manifest itself in a number of ways. The most common symptoms associated with PTSD are reliving, avoidance, and increased arousal. (Joseph Goldberg, MD, 2014) With reliving people who suffer from PTSD often relieve the traumatic experience. This
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The earliest that someone can be diagnosed is one month after the traumatic event. The process to diagnose someone with the disorder usually begins with being evaluated by a medical doctor, and then referred to a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. After being diagnosed there are two different treatment options that may be available, medicinal or psychotherapy. With medicinal treatment people who suffer from PTSD are often prescribed anti-depressants such as Prozac or Zoloft; tranquilizers such as Ativan or Klonopin; mood stabilizers such as Depakote and Lamictal; and neuroleptics such as Abilify. (Joseph Goldberg, MD 2014) There are several different types of psychotherapy treatments that have been used all have a different success with each person being treated. Cognitive behavioral therapy which teaches them to recognize thought patterns that lead to troublesome behavior and how to change those thought patterns. Exposure therapy where the person suffering with PTSD is made to re-live the traumatic experience in a well-controlled, safe environment. This has had great success in helping people with PTSD. Psychodynamic therapy examines the personal values and the emotional conflicts caused by the traumatic event. Family therapy is used in situations where the behavior of the person with PTSD begins to affect other family members. Group therapy is often helpful because it lets the person know they are not alone and lets them share their stories and experiences with other people who are suffering. Another treatment that has had success is the use of a service dog. They often perform two functions. They have the ability to alert or respond to the soldier if they are experiencing a hallucination or flash back. They also give the soldier comfort. Many soldiers have said that with a service dog it’s like they have someone watching their “six”. A term often used in the military for when someone is watching your back or looking out at
The earliest that someone can be diagnosed is one month after the traumatic event. The process to diagnose someone with the disorder usually begins with being evaluated by a medical doctor, and then referred to a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. After being diagnosed there are two different treatment options that may be available, medicinal or psychotherapy. With medicinal treatment people who suffer from PTSD are often prescribed anti-depressants such as Prozac or Zoloft; tranquilizers such as Ativan or Klonopin; mood stabilizers such as Depakote and Lamictal; and neuroleptics such as Abilify. (Joseph Goldberg, MD 2014) There are several different types of psychotherapy treatments that have been used all have a different success with each person being treated. Cognitive behavioral therapy which teaches them to recognize thought patterns that lead to troublesome behavior and how to change those thought patterns. Exposure therapy where the person suffering with PTSD is made to re-live the traumatic experience in a well-controlled, safe environment. This has had great success in helping people with PTSD. Psychodynamic therapy examines the personal values and the emotional conflicts caused by the traumatic event. Family therapy is used in situations where the behavior of the person with PTSD begins to affect other family members. Group therapy is often helpful because it lets the person know they are not alone and lets them share their stories and experiences with other people who are suffering. Another treatment that has had success is the use of a service dog. They often perform two functions. They have the ability to alert or respond to the soldier if they are experiencing a hallucination or flash back. They also give the soldier comfort. Many soldiers have said that with a service dog it’s like they have someone watching their “six”. A term often used in the military for when someone is watching your back or looking out at