In the United States, approximately 49% of veterans who saw combat have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Smith). PTSD is a condition in which an individual experiences a traumatic ordeal that causes a stimulation of the fight-or-flight response when no signs of harm or present. In health care, it is important for professionals to not only be aware of the symptoms of this disorder, but also be aware of what can be done to treat it and how this population is different from other individuals. After experiencing a traumatic event while deployed, symptoms of PTSD may not arise or be evident until months or years after returning from deployment. When PTSD becomes evident, the individual may experience symptoms such as …show more content…
The first step on the road to recovery is to get moving. Exercising helps to release endorphins and make individuals feel better ("Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)"). Exercise will also keep the body in shape. The second step on the road to recovery is connecting with others. Talking to someone about what happened is an effective way to calm the nervous system. This may be difficult for some people to discuss at first but it may become easier over time to share with people. Step three on the road to recovery is taking care of the body. This includes things like getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, finding a safe way to blow off steam, and avoiding alcohol and drugs (Smith). Step five of recovery is helping to deal with the flashbacks or nightmares. In the case of a flashback, it is important to try to use the senses to bring them back to the present ("Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)"). It is important to provide reassurance that the event is not occurring again in the present. The final step to recovery is seeking professional treatment. Professional treatment for PTSD includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (Smith). These are used to help the nervous system get back to a sense of