The Other War
Wars are usually tallied and broken down into statistics that are logical and make complete sense, Such as a count of the dead on both sides or exactly how many rounds of ammunition were used.
Sadly enough, for some who went abroad to fight for our country, the war continued when they returned home.
Many veterans of the Vietnam era can claim being a part of one of the most polarizing events in the history of the world. Upon returning to the United States, some veterans were disgraced by being linked to violent atrocities. They were accused of murder, rape and needless destruction, one more controversy in a war that would shape the nation as well as what we think about warfare and it’s motives.
However, later we would come to find out that for a number of Vietnam Vets, reminders were not necessary as the events they participated and witnessed would haunt them for decades.
They were victims of PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Some would turn to drugs and alcohol to quiet the inner torment within, with most completely unaware that the war was a part of the issue. Aggression, being arrested or incarcerated, failed marriages and broken homes were the new enemies, while the former soldier’s own mind was the new battlefield.
The United States Offices of Veterans Affairs has stated that an estimated eight-hundred thousand plus, Vietnam veterans may suffer from the disease and many more who have since passed had lived with the condition until death.
However, this column is not about sad statistics and useless fancy wordplay, it is about the fact that with help, many symptoms of PTSD can be solved through medications to battles the depressive feelings, therapy to help the victim cope, and exposure therapy.
The hardest part may be recognizing the symptoms and after there is a fair probability that PTSD may be present, getting the affected person to seek help.
More importantly, many veterans and family members of afflicted veterans have no idea where to go to start getting help.
First stop would be the aforementioned Department of Veterans Affairs, who offer a range of services for those who qualify.
Those services include counseling for both the afflicted and the family members of the afflicted, help getting the proper medication and numerous classes that help deal with Sleep loss, anger and stress.
To contact the Department of Veterans affairs, either visit them on the web at: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/help-for-veterans-with-ptsd.asp
Or if you are a concerned family member you can call the Vet’s Center’s twenty-four hour hotline, which is staffed by veterans all year long: 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387)
No matter how long it has been since that soldier first returned home or has seen the images and memories that caused his issues, it is never too late for a veteran to receive help.
Throughout this issue as we recall our past heroes of freedom, remember that the price they paid was not to be free themselves.
