“Trauma is hell on earth. Trauma resolved is a gift from the gods.”
― Peter A. Levine (American biophysicist and clinical psychologist)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that develops from experiencing a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, warfare, and more.
It is quite common among veterans across the globe who have been part of militaries and fought in wars or combat zones. They left with emotional and psychological scars that can stay with them their whole life.
This can’t be taken lightly, and keeping this in consideration, I’m writing this article to raise awareness and understanding of PTSD among veterans along with possible healing tips.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. For veterans, this could include combat exposure, life-threatening situations, witnessing injury or death, or even long-term stress from deployment.
While it’s normal to have stress reactions after trauma, PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than a month and interfere with daily functioning.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD symptoms can be grouped into four main categories:
- Intrusive Thoughts: These include flashbacks, nightmares, and unwanted memories of the traumatic event. A veteran might suddenly relive a moment from combat, feeling as though they’re back in that situation.
- Avoidance: Veterans may avoid reminders of the trauma—this can include certain places, people, conversations, or even thoughts. They might also withdraw from friends and family or stop participating in activities they once enjoyed.
- Negative Thoughts and Mood Changes: This can manifest as persistent feelings of guilt, shame, or fear, as well as distorted beliefs about oneself or the world (e.g., “I can’t trust anyone,” or “I’m a failure”). Depression, emotional numbness, and detachment from others are common.
- Changes in Arousal and Reactivity: This includes being easily startled, feeling constantly on edge (hypervigilance), difficulty sleeping, irritability, or outbursts of anger.
Not all individuals experience PTSD in the same way, and symptoms may appear shortly after the traumatic event or surface years later.
The Veteran Experience
Military culture emphasizes strength, discipline, and endurance. While these qualities are admirable and necessary in service, they can sometimes make it difficult for veterans to seek help.
Many fear being perceived as weak or worry that others won’t understand their experiences. This stigma can delay diagnosis and treatment, making the healing process more challenging.
Additionally, the transition from military to civilian life can be disorienting. The sense of purpose, camaraderie, and structure found in the military may be hard to replicate, and this loss can compound PTSD symptoms. Understanding that PTSD is not a sign of weakness but a natural response to extraordinary stress is an essential step in recovery.
DID YOU KNOW?Over 3.9% of the global population suffers from PTSD!
Treatment and Support
The good news is that PTSD is treatable. A variety of evidence-based therapies are effective:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), especially Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), helps individuals process and reframes negative thoughts about the trauma.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another effective treatment that helps reprocess traumatic memories.
- Medication, such as SSRIs, can help manage symptoms like anxiety and depression, though it’s often most effective when combined with therapy.
Support groups and peer networks, like those offered through the Veterans Affairs (VA) or organizations like Wounded Warrior Project, provide invaluable connection and shared understanding.
Family and friends also play a crucial role by offering patience, support, and encouragement. Other therapies and treatments are mentioned in the graph below.
Moving Forward
PTSD can feel overwhelming, but recovery is possible. Many veterans who seek help go on to live fulfilling, meaningful lives. Raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting access to mental health care are all crucial parts of the journey.
If you or a loved one is struggling with PTSD, don’t wait. Help is available, and reaching out is a powerful act of courage, not weakness. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting the past—it means learning to live with it in a way that honors the strength it took to survive.
No one has to face PTSD alone. The first step toward healing is simply knowing that you don’t have to walk the path by yourself.
Infographic provided by Veteran Car Donations, a provider of Texas car donations
