The Impact of PTSD on Veterans and Their Families

When a loved one returns from military service with PTSD, it can take a serious toll on families and relationships. They may have to pick up extra household tasks, deal with their loved one’s frustration and anger, or even find themselves dealing with the change in personality that accompanies PTSD.

Symptoms

PTSD symptoms can be upsetting and uncomfortable, but they don’t have to interfere with your life. Treatments are proven to help you get better.

The first step is finding a mental health professional who can assess you for PTSD. They can do a physical exam and a psychological evaluation to diagnose your condition.

They may also ask you questions about the traumatic event. They will look at your memories, feelings and behaviors to determine whether you are showing signs of PTSD.

PTSD can include re-experiencing the traumatic event; avoidance of situations that remind you of the trauma; negative alterations in mood and cognition; and hyperarousal symptoms such as a racing heart, anxiety or flashbacks. To get a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms must last more than a month, and have an impact on your ability to function.

Treatment

Treatment options for veterans with PTSD range from trauma-focused psychotherapy and counseling to medications, or a combination of both. Medications can help people with PTSD control their symptoms, so they can get back to living their lives and work.

Symptoms of PTSD can start within a few weeks after the traumatic event, but it is not unusual to have symptoms for a longer period of time or to have them become more severe. Getting treatment right away can help prevent PTSD from becoming chronic.

Children also experience PTSD, but the symptoms are different. They may be withdrawn or have extreme temper tantrums, or they may develop nightmares that replay the event.

Some types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive processing therapy, can help people deal with their trauma in a more positive way. Prolonged exposure therapy can also be effective for many people with PTSD. It involves exposing them to objects or situations that are frightening and then gradually helping them feel more comfortable.

Support

PTSD can affect anyone, but it is most common in people who have experienced a traumatic event. This can include military combat, rape or sexual assault, natural disasters and serious accidents.

Symptoms can start soon after the trauma but can also be long-lasting. Some symptoms, such as nightmares and flashbacks, can be so intense that they may seem like the traumatic event is happening all over again.

These symptoms can also interfere with a person’s ability to function. Fortunately, there are many treatments for PTSD that can help.

In addition to seeking treatment from a mental health professional, veterans may also benefit from the support of their families and friends. Educating family members and friends about the disorder can improve understanding and open up conversations about treatment options.

Prevention

PTSD is one of the most common mental health disorders for veterans. Symptoms can interfere with relationships, cause difficulties in employment and other areas of life, and make it difficult for veterans to live healthy lives.

Fortunately, there are options for veterans and their families to prevent the development of PTSD. These include practicing optimism, identifying and utilizing peer support groups and seeking help from VA.

Prevention also includes learning how to deal with stress and anxiety. For example, practicing the coping strategies found in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) can be helpful.

In addition to traditional treatments, there are several programs being tested that blend web-based activities with face-to-face or telephone therapy. These include DE-STRESS, which uses a web-based intervention to provide self-help skills to manage and treat PTSD symptoms.