Close your eyes and imagine that you are sitting in the middle of a desert thousands of miles from home. The sun is beating down on you, sand and dirt are stinging your skin and eyes, and you are running on little or no sleep. As you look to your left and then to your right at the brothers and sisters who are now your extended family, your mind shifts to the loved ones waiting for you at home. Wondering what they are doing at this very moment. What have I missed out on? Then you are suddenly jolted back to the reality of where you are when you hear the sound of gunfire. As the enemy draws closer, you are soon in the midst of a combat. During the engagement you witness one of your close friends, one of your brothers take a hit from a bullet.
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This may describe what our soldiers go through while protecting our American freedoms. Our soldiers sign up for this, many without thinking twice. They are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice if need be, the giving of their life to protect this wonderful country. For those who return home, they too often pay a high price. Many of them are diagnosed with PTSD. Approximately 1 in 15 Americans will develop symptoms of post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic life experience. (Velasquez-Manoff, July/Aug2015) Many veterans suffer from PTSD as a result of being involved in combat. What is really being done to help veterans who suffer with PTSD? What resources are available for family members of those who suffer from PTSD? What forms of treatment are available for PTSD? It seems society is made aware of it and the seriousness when our country is at war. As time passes and our troops filter back into society, we as a country soon forget what they have seen and endured. I foresee more public and political interest in the near future with the threat of ISIS …show more content…
He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and was diagnosed about five years ago. Watching him struggle with the demons of what he went through is heartbreaking. We know that Vietnam veterans were not treated the best when they returned home. When they returned home there was not the support for them like there was for the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. I feel that society has been educated more in the last few decades about PTSD. More awareness has been brought to light on the topic of PTSD through the media. There is also a greater number of medical professionals that are gaining education on the disorder through research. There also seems to be a greater number of veterans who are coming forward to say they are suffering from this disorder. I feel educating the public on PTSD as we have with diseases such as breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and AIDS is the key. I look at the support that people who have breast cancer receive and I think it is great. A large part of that support is due to educating the public. October is breast cancer awareness month. Several organizations raise money to further research in breast cancer in hopes that one day there will be a cure. What if we had a month that was designated for PTSD? How would it make our veterans who suffer from PTSD feel if there was that much support for them? Organizations could be set up to help raise money to further research in PTSD. In
This may describe what our soldiers go through while protecting our American freedoms. Our soldiers sign up for this, many without thinking twice. They are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice if need be, the giving of their life to protect this wonderful country. For those who return home, they too often pay a high price. Many of them are diagnosed with PTSD. Approximately 1 in 15 Americans will develop symptoms of post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic life experience. (Velasquez-Manoff, July/Aug2015) Many veterans suffer from PTSD as a result of being involved in combat. What is really being done to help veterans who suffer with PTSD? What resources are available for family members of those who suffer from PTSD? What forms of treatment are available for PTSD? It seems society is made aware of it and the seriousness when our country is at war. As time passes and our troops filter back into society, we as a country soon forget what they have seen and endured. I foresee more public and political interest in the near future with the threat of ISIS …show more content…
He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and was diagnosed about five years ago. Watching him struggle with the demons of what he went through is heartbreaking. We know that Vietnam veterans were not treated the best when they returned home. When they returned home there was not the support for them like there was for the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. I feel that society has been educated more in the last few decades about PTSD. More awareness has been brought to light on the topic of PTSD through the media. There is also a greater number of medical professionals that are gaining education on the disorder through research. There also seems to be a greater number of veterans who are coming forward to say they are suffering from this disorder. I feel educating the public on PTSD as we have with diseases such as breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and AIDS is the key. I look at the support that people who have breast cancer receive and I think it is great. A large part of that support is due to educating the public. October is breast cancer awareness month. Several organizations raise money to further research in breast cancer in hopes that one day there will be a cure. What if we had a month that was designated for PTSD? How would it make our veterans who suffer from PTSD feel if there was that much support for them? Organizations could be set up to help raise money to further research in PTSD. In