Know PTSD Symptoms, Call the Veterans Crisis Line
Nonetheless, service members, veterans and their family members and friends should learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of PTSD.
“PTSD has an identifiable cause, which is experiencing or witnessing a significant trauma. People who might have symptoms should get treatment early, before symptoms worsen or they turn to unhealthy ways of coping with the symptoms, such as abusing alcohol or drugs.
Returning service members might not talk about traumatizing experiences, others around them might recognize hallmark symptoms. Signs of PTSD, can include re-experiencing the trauma, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and disturbances in thoughts or moods.
Some have a tendency to isolate themselves, withdraw from trauma reminders and avoid public places such as malls and large events. Some people with PTSD might emotionally detach or become estranged from people to whom they were once close, he added.
Signs of ‘Survivor Guilt’
Others might allude to blaming themselves for a trauma experienced by someone else, which is called “survivor guilt”. “If someone close died as result of trauma, those with PTSD might wonder, ‘Why him and not me?’”.
Another category of symptoms features hyperactivity — the person remains “on guard,” has angry outbursts, problems with sleep, and reckless or self-destructive behavior.
Successful Treatments Vary
The good news is that DoD and the Veterans Affairs Department have gone to great lengths to increase access to evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
The Army has embedded behavioral health providers close to operational units to increase access to help and decrease stigma some might feel about pursuing mental health treatment or counseling.
Treatments range from various psychotherapy approaches to pharmacotherapy — using “very safe, common medications for depression and anxiety” that can accompany disorder symptoms.
Counseling is available from an individual’s primary care doctor, and they also can talk to a behavioral health provider. Counseling also is available from a behavioral health specialty clinic, he added, and nonclinical settings where people can talk to a chaplain or access help from Military OneSource or VA’s readjustment counseling services.
Those feeling acutely distressed should call the Military/Veterans Crisis Line. The hotline is available at 800-273-8255 — press 1 or text 838255. Visit the confidential Veterans Live Chat.
Here is a growing list of Organizations, VA Departments and U.S. Government Agencies who are all working together to create awareness of PTSD and find effective treatments that can help:
Department of Veterans Affairs
To provide a wealth of resources to our US Veterans, VA is made up of three branches, Veterans Health (VHA), Veterans Benefits (VBA), and Cemetery.
VA’s National Center for PTSD: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
The National Center for PTSD is dedicated to research and education on trauma and PTSD. We work to assure that the latest research findings help those exposed to trauma.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA): https://www.va.gov/health/
This VHA site provides access to apply for health benefits. Read real stories from Inside Veterans Health, or access the MyHealthIVet portal.
VA Office of Mental Health Services: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/
Provides a range of information on depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems, to improve the health and well-being of Veterans through excellence in health care, social services, education, and research.
VA Military Sexual Trauma Support Team:
https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mentalhealth/msthome/index.asp
Military sexual trauma (MST) is the term that VA uses to refer to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred while the Veteran was in the military. Both women and men can experience MST during their service. Learn more about what VA is doing to help.
VA MIRECCs: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/
The Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (MIRECC) generates new knowledge about the causes and treatments of mental disorders, applies new findings to model clinical programs, and widely disseminates new findings through education to improve the quality of Veterans’ lives and their daily functioning in their recovering from mental illness.
Collaborators
Make the Connection is a public awareness campaign by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs aimed at helping Veterans overcome and seek treatment for mental health conditions. The campaign provides extensive resources for Veterans suffering from post traumatic stress, including:
VA approved treatment and support resources
Hundreds of video testimonials from Veterans who overcame PTSD
Information on how to recognize PTSD and seek treatment
after deployment: https://www.afterdeployment.org/
A mental wellness resource for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families.
BraveHeart Welcome Back Veterans Southeast Initiative
https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/centers-programs/veterans-program/index.html
Emory University and the Atlanta Braves have teamed up to offer Veterans of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and their family members a variety of expert support resources. Our mission is focused on helping people in the Southeastern United States get help for PTSD.
Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury https://www.usar.army.mil/DCOE-TBI/
Provides authoritative information and resources 24/7 to Service Members, Veterans, and families, and those who support them.
Contact: resources@dcoeoutreach.org or 1-866-966-1020.
Home Base Program: https://homebase.org/
The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program provides clinical care and support services in New England area to veterans of the current conflicts, who experience combat stress and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI); counseling for families including parents and children; education for clinicians and other community members; and research in the understanding and treatment of PTSD and TBI.
National Resource Directory: https://nrd.gov/
A tri-agency Web portal that connects wounded warriors, Service members, Veterans, their families and caregivers with those who support them. Links to 10,000+ resources.
Office of Recovery Act Coordination U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Recovery Act-funded programs are being invested in improving health and human services, including areas such as community health services, research, prevention and wellness.
Real Warriors Campaign https://www.realwarriors.net/ or after July 9th 2021 https://health.mil/realwarriors
The Real Warriors Campaign is a multimedia public education campaign sponsored by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury to encourage help-seeking behavior among service members and veterans with invisible wounds.
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) https://vva.org/
The VVA is a congressionally chartered not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to improving the condition of Vietnam-era Veterans and their families.
Warrior Care: https://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/
A blog that provides wounded, ill, injured and transitioning Service members and their families with information on programs and initiatives that affect them.
