What is PTSD?

…..Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety condition that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events that threaten or cause great physical harm. The Red Baron has been a victim of this disorder ever since his naval discharge in 1945. I write about it here because not many people are aware of the meaning of PTSD, and even some medical personnel do not know anything about it, I have found.

…..As it relates to combat trauma, there are records dating back to 490 BC by Greek historians of soldiers experiencing long-term emotional effects from the experiences of war. PTSD, as we know it today, began to be recognized in soldiers of the Vietnam War, and it was then that treatment methods began to be developed. PTSD involves a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to extreme psychological trauma. This trauma may involve someone's actual death, a threat to the person’s or someone else's life, serious physical injury, or an unwanted sexual act. After WWII this disorder was known as “battle fatigue”; and after WWI it was called “shell shock”.

…..Symptoms of PTSD can include anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, anger, and hyper vigilance. One out of five Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars suffers from PTSD and/or depression, and only half of them seek out some sort of treatment. Many men and women in the military avoid asking for help with PTSD for fear of negative consequences from their superiors. This distrust often carries over to men and women who are separated from the military and it prevents them from accessing VA programs for Veterans suffering from PTSD.

…..Many Veterans afflicted with PTSD end up self-medicating with alcohol and/or drugs. Incidence of violent crimes, suicide and domestic violence are much higher in PTSD sufferers, and most report not having these types of problems before going to war. Some of the symptoms of PTSD can result in feelings of anger, hopelessness, constant anxiety, paranoia, and an inability to focus. It can severely affect work performance and relationships, especially if not treated—especially by psychiatry and anti-depressive medication ongoing for many years.