Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Veterans

“PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.” Defined from U.S. Department of Veteran affairs. There are many names for PTSD such as “shell shock” during the time or World war I and “combat fatigue” after World War II. In addition, posttraumatic stress disorder does not only occur in combat veterans. PTSD can occur in all different types of culture, age, gender, or ethnicity. “PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults, and an estimated one in 11 people will experience PTSD in their lifetime.” Even though an individual may have experienced or witness a terrible

Usually if an individual cannot function in their daily activities or lifestyle for more than four weeks, it is possible they have posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD usually has four symptoms to assist in diagnosis which are “reliving an event”, “avoiding situations that remind you of the event”, having more cynical beliefs and feelings, along with hyperarousal. Reliving an event can occur as a nightmare or bad memory, these are ways to flash back into an event where the individual feels as he/or she is re-experiencing the traumatic event all over again. Avoiding situations is when the individual refuses certain situations or avoid other people that may trigger off the traumatic memory. In addition to avoiding articulation of the traumatic event even thoughts. Having cynical thoughts or beliefs can lead to guilt, shame, can no longer trust people, or may perceive the world is very dangerous. Hyeprarousal symptom can lead to being on edge all the time as well as seeking other subsistence such as drugs, alcohol, or

When Viewing individuals with PTSD there is an unusual amount of alcohol consumption. Individuals who consume alcohol while having PTSD causes conflicts for family members and him or herself. According to U.S. Department of Veterans affairs PTSD increases the risk of developing an alcohol problem. In addition, a person suffering from PTSD increases the symptoms of it. For example, symptoms such as depression irritability, aggressiveness, always feeling you are on guard start to increase as the individual suffering from PTSD gets more intoxicated. Usually people turn to alcohol for a short term moment of getting away from problems. Individuals with PTSD use alcohol to cope with it, although it has the opposite effect. When it boils down to using substance to decrease negative problems it only increased internalizing symptoms. Internalizing symptoms which was mentioned earlier are anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and gives the individual a negative