AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- In 2010, the U.S. Congress recognized June as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness month to provide better information and support for veterans and civilians.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is just one organization that informs the public about PTSD in order to help those who experience PTSD symptoms.
“I think the VA does a wonderful job of outlining what PTSD really is, they identify the signs and symptoms and provide available global resources for treatment,” said Capt. Jocelyn Moore, 31st Medical Operations Squadron licensed social worker. “It’s important for people to become aware of their symptoms, acknowledge the effects and accept treatment. There are several groups available to help in this effort.”
This year, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network launched their Learn, Connect and Share campaign to help raise PTSD awareness.
Learn
“Simply put, PTSD is a prolonged response to a traumatic experience,” said Moore. “As simple as the definition is, the disorder is very complex and affects more than just the individual with the symptoms.”
Moore said a traumatic experience may come from any stressful trigger, most commonly combat environments, violent disasters, accidents, childhood traumas and sexual assaults. When an individual continues to live with prolonged responses they are prone to develop PTSD.
“Our bodies enter a fight or flight mode to protect us during a traumatic experience,” said Moore. “However, when someone remains in that mode for long periods of time, continued hyper alertness causes anxiety and other symptoms.”
These symptoms can include flashbacks of the traumatic event, nightmares, feelings of distress, nausea, lack of sleep, emotional numbness and isolation.
“With PTSD, the symptoms can affect the individual, and those around them, especially family and friends,” said Capt. Kathleen McNamara, 31st MDOS family advocacy officer. “Family advocacy focuses on how the PTSD affects relationships within the family.”
McNamara and Moore agree on how important it is for family and friends to better understand the symptoms of PTSD so they can recognize behavioral changes and assist with recovery.
“People can visit the VA, Military OneSource and the Center for Disease Control websites for information,” said Moore. “For on-base resources, the library has books about PTSD, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment program, and the mental health clinic provides pre-exposure briefs to Airmen in high-stress jobs.”
According to Moore, sometimes education and awareness is not enough. Acknowledgment of symptoms and accepting treatment is often the next step in an individual’s recovery.
Connect
“A common PTSD myth is when people tell themselves, ‘Once I have this diagnosis, I’ll always have it,’” said Moore. “Treatments can be very helpful and connecting with a community is a part of the healing process.”
According to Moore, because physical and emotional isolation are symptoms of PTSD, a sense of belonging is a huge step toward recovery. As an individual becomes more accepting of his or her disorder, connecting becomes easier as well.
“Connecting is the informal support from friends, family and coworkers,” said McNamara. “As children, we are given a community to connect with. As adults, we must actively find our own communities.”
Learning about PTSD and connecting with a community can strengthen an individual, but sharing one’s story of recovery can help strengthen others.
Share
“The best scenario is when someone in a leadership position shares their personal story to break down the stigmas of PTSD and convince others it’s okay to seek help.” said Moore.
The VA website provides personal stories to encourage military members to seek PTSD help. The power of sharing reinforces resiliency and helps create an educated environment.
“One PTSD myth is it only comes from combat, but many people who develop the disorder experienced childhood trauma or were sexually assaulted,” said McNamara. “Imagine the impact on someone who is struggling with PTSD symptoms from childhood, who has decided they don’t qualify to get help, and then they hear someone’s story.”
With June gone, it’s important to learn the symptoms of PTSD to help loved ones connect and seek treatment.
For personal success stories and more VA information, click here. For questions about on-base support, call the mental health clinic at 632-5321 or Family Advocacy at 632-5667.