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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been a part of war since the time of Aristotle, however new evidence suggests it may be worse in the current war in Afghanistan than in any previous war.
PTSD has been around for centuries. In the civil and revolutionary war it was called Soldier’s Heart, Battle Fatigue or the Thousand Yard Stare. In WWI and WWII it became known as Shell Shock or War Malaise and later Vietnam Syndrome or Gulf War Syndrome. It appears no matter what time period we find ourselves in, where there is war there will be PTSD.
The Mayo Clinic defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as “A type of anxiety disorder which is triggered by a traumatic event. You can develop post-traumatic stress disorder when you experience or witness an event that causes intense fear, helplessness or horror.” Symptoms include flashbacks during which you relive the event for minutes or even days at a time, nightmares, severe depression, hopelessness, anger, shame, self destructive behavior, and hallucinations.
In 1983, the United States Government started the National Veterans Readjustment Study as part of a congressional mandate in order to better understand PTSD and its affects on Vietnam veterans. At the conclusion of the study it was found that 15.2% of male and 8.5% of female veterans showed signs of PTSD and those with high levels of war zone exposure had a 35.2% rate of PTSD.
According to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, 1 million troops left active duty between 2001 and 2009 and became eligible for VA services. 46% sought treatment for some ailment, disease or disability and 48% of these were diagnosed with a mental health problem. This is a rate of about 25% of returning troops having some form of PTSD.
The rate increases when the National Guard and Reserve units are compared with the Army and Marines, as National Guard and Reserve units not only make up 40% of our gross force in Afghanistan but are more susceptible to PTSD.
As high as the PTSD rate currently is, in reality it should be higher. The majority of those suffering from PTSD due to the Iraq or Afghanistan war will not accept treatment. The VA lists possible reasons such as concern towards being seen as weak or losing respect, being treated differently, lack of faith in treatment or not being able to access the treatment required.
PTSD makes it difficult for returning veterans to have meaningful relationships with friends and family, hold steady jobs, sleep peacefully and abide by social constructs and norms. Frighteningly, the rates of PTSD in returning veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan war is nearly equal with that of the Vietnam War already. With the real number unknown as the majority of those afflicted are opting out of treatment, the current war in Afghanistan could produce a higher percentage of mentally disabled veterans than any previous American war.
Afghanistan PTSD worse?
My Marine Corps unit of 900 plus 15 went down to less then 300 in one month. We had a turnover rate of at least 200% maybe over within 1 year. Four congressional Medals of Honor and at least 7 to 11 Navy Crosses.
In one day in one fire fight we lost two companies of men, In other words the men had to be attached to two other infantry companies. This is just one fire fight.
The last of April to May of 1968 the Marine Battalion was almost destroyed. Very few US Marines were left after to fight in a place called Dai Doh.
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[...] skriver News by the second. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are serious problems for soldiers who return home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. An average of 10 percent of returning soldiers suffer from these mental health disorders, with many displaying violent behavior as well. [...]
Will (comment July 2),
if you were at Dai Do, you might be interested in the story that ran in June issue of Vietnam magazine, “Showdown at Dai Do,” by Robert E. Hunt. About the 2/4 and the 1/3 Marines fighting the 320th NVA Division in April-May 1968.
The story is also available at the magazine website. See http://www.historynet.com/marine-showdown-at-dai-do-recollections-of-a-green-one-four-man.htm
Daniel,
I found your article very touching and informative.
I first learned about PTSD when I read the book “Faith uner Fire”, the story of Roger Benimoff , a chaplain stuggling with PTSD while trying to counsel others with the syndrome. It was a very interesting and moving account. I’m a high school camper at a debate camp at Bob Jones University and was reasearching information when I read your article. I look forward to regularly reading your columns!
Hi, Thanks alot for the post. You’ve helped me a lot.