It’s a question that has been debated for years. Do you have to be military to suffer from PTSD? The answer is no. While the condition is often associated with those who have served in the military, anyone can have PTSD. In this blog post, we will discuss the symptoms of PTSD and how you can get help if you think you might be suffering from the condition.
– Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event
– Learning that a loved one has been harmed
– Experiencing or witnessing a natural disaster
– Flashbacks
– Nightmares
– anxiety
– depression
– irritability
Those who have been through a traumatic event may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is because they experienced, witnessed, or learned about an actual death threat which can lead them to serious medical problems in later life, such as mental health issues.; Non-Combat PTSD affects everyone regardless of age/gender/income level etc., it just happens differently depending on what situation you were caught up with at first.
Alongside PTSD due to time spent performing non-combat humanitarian duties like this, there are other causes of PTSD that can lead to VA disability claims, such as:
Physical assault. It’s not uncommon for veterans to report non-sexual physical assault while serving, often at the hands of a superior officer. Sometimes these are one-time assaults that nonetheless leave long-term effects. Still, just as often the issue goes on long-term, or the assault involves several servicemembers.
It can be challenging to admit that these assaults occurred. Still, they can leave lifelong physical, mental, and emotional scars on the veteran subjected to the assault(s).
Military sexual trauma. While women are often the “face” of military sexual trauma in pop culture and news articles, rape, sexual harassment, or sexual assault happens to both men and women serving in the military. The VA has very specific definitions for MST, especially regarding VA disability claims. They define MST as sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment occurring while the servicemember in question was serving.
Accidents. Non-combat accidents that lead to PTSD most often involve vehicles. Whether they took place while on-base, during deployment, or while the veteran was on leave, accidents can still be a common PTSD stressor. While a PTSD claim involving a simple dent or fender-bender wouldn’t be approved, more serious vehicular accidents or collisions have been known to be part of successful VA disability claims.
A fellow soldier’s death or suicide. After decades of being an “open secret” within the ranks of veterans, suicide is finally being acknowledged as one of the most significant issues facing U.S. military service members today. When serving alongside other service members, it’s common to create and maintain deep bonds similar to those of family. These bonds can last for years or even for a lifetime, and the suicide or other death or a fellow soldier can be a severe stressor for PTSD.
Whether a veteran witnessed the act or had close ties to a veteran who committed suicide or witnessed or was affected by the accidental or non-combat death of a fellow soldier, the resulting PTSD should never be ignored or minimized if it occurs.
Whether you served in combat or not, it’s essential to research the symptoms of PTSD. Knowing the symptoms in advance will help you if you begin to find yourself having trouble adjusting back to daily life after your time spent serving in the military.
The symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can be difficult to live with. They often come on suddenly and without warning, making it hard for people who are experiencing them at home or work (or both!) not only feel like their worlds are falling apart but also know that other loved ones might start noticing something’s wrong.
The impact doesn’t just go one way though – trauma has an effect on those close by too!
The unadjusted lifetime and past-year prevalence of PTSD was 13.2% and 11.4% for women veterans, respectively; 7.9% and 6.0% for women civilians; 6.2% and 5.2% for men veterans; and 3.6% and 2.7% for men civilians.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7217324/figure/F1/
If you think you might be suffering from PTSD, it’s important to seek help. Here ar New Brain Institute, we offer TMS treatments for PTSD., The sooner you get help, the better you will feel. If you’re not sure where to start, talking to your doctor is always a good first step. PTSD is treatable, and there is hope for recovery. With the right treatment plan, you can live a happy and healthy life.
PTSD resources:
– PTSD Foundation of America: pfa.org
– National Center for PTSD: ptsd.va.gov
– Anxiety and Depression Association of America: adaa.org/finding-help/directory/organization/
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