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Female Veterans Suffer From PTSD Differently Than Male Veterans

There are thousands of soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although no two people suffer in the same way, which makes for many different approaches to treating veterans with these very specific disabilities. Men and women generally suffer in different ways as well, and "women are twice as likely suffer from [PTSD] than men," according to a recent ABC News article.

Almost 20,000 female veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD over the last couple of years. Not only are they more likely to suffer from PTSD than men, when they do develop the disorder, female veterans are 4 times "more likely than men to have long-lasting PTSD."

Multiple studies have shown not only that female veterans have longer healing times than men, but they are more likely to suffer from other physical issues than even other female veterans without PTSD. Those issues generally include:

• arthritis;
• lower back pain;
• obesity; and
• hypertension.

According to some therapists, the best thing a person with PTSD can do is "acknowledge the symptoms" exist and find the treatment approach that works for them. Once they have learned to accept the issues they are facing it will be much easier to address those problems.

Every veteran with PTSD will need some form of assistance. Female veterans should be aware their symptoms may be more severe and/or longer lasting than many of their male counterparts and recognizing that early on may help them embrace their recovery.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.