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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

When you enlisted in the military, chances are good that you knew what could be asked of you. You knew - whether you enlisted in the National Guard, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force or the Marines - that you would be called on to serve your country, either with service within the nation's borders or anywhere throughout the world.

During the past six years, more and more enlisted service men and women are seeing combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. While they believe in their mission and know that they will honor their commitment, many find that, after their time of service, they have difficulty processing what they saw on the front lines.

Of those who serve in Iraq, nearly all will see a dead body. Almost all of those who see combat will experience incoming fire, be shot at or otherwise attacked. Many will experience being ambushed or will be on the receiving end of rocket or mortar fire. But perhaps the most disturbing element of service in Iraq is that nearly all who serve will know someone who is injured or killed during the course of duty.

While those who serve in Afghanistan experience many of the same events less regularly, the trauma of service is just as real for those members of the armed services.

Many who experience traumatic events will be able to readjust easily. Others, however, return home with mental health concerns. Some experience depression, others turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate. Many others experience the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Unlike those who experience a traumatic event - an experience that is life-threatening and frightening, combat situations in which their own life or the lives of others were in danger, a situation that is completely out of control - and are able to process that the event was situational, those who suffer from PTSD find that the anger, fear and confusion that they experience doesn't fade. In fact, those with PTSD often find that their reaction to the traumatic event worsens over time.

Something as simple as a car backfiring can trigger a service veteran to relive the traumatic event - causing him or her to feel as though they are right there, experiencing the situation all over again. The sense of helplessness and loss that was experienced when a fellow soldier was wounded or killed in battle can leave a veteran pulling away from his or her loved one after a return from service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

For some, the symptoms of PTSD will not have a dramatic effect on their lives. They will be able to work with a therapist or counselor and work through their symptoms. Others will find themselves more limited by their symptoms - their relationships will suffer, and so will their ability to maintain employment.

For them, in addition to counseling services and treatment with medication, services are available from the Department of Veterans Affairs including disability compensation. While many who experience PTSD struggle to acknowledge their emotions and symptoms, acknowledging them to an experienced veterans' disability attorney may provide you with the opportunity to supplement your income with disability benefits.

Not everyone who serves in Iraq or Afghanistan will suffer from PTSD. For those who do, however, Veterans' Disability Compensation benefits can help to alleviate the financial difficulties when working through the emotional and physical symptoms leads to an inability to maintain steady employment.

If you have a current diagnoses that is the result of a service-connected injury, condition, or illness, call us toll-free at 1-(888)-234-5758 or fill out our contact form.

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