Scars of War

Scars of War

War: some may say that it is an unavoidable event and that it is necessary to ensure peace, while others say it is just a way for childish leaders to get their way. What are the wounds that war is responsible for? Destroyed cities, ravaged lands, and perhaps, worst of all, loss of the human life. Those who do come home from conflict often don't make it back without wounds of their own. Some of the worst wounds, however, are often the ones you can't even see. Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, occurs after someone experiences a tragic event, such as war. War or military combat is the most common cause of PTSD in men. According to the National Institute of Health, “The US Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that around 31 percent of Vietnam veterans, 10 percent of Desert Storm veterans, 11 percent of veterans in the war of Afghanistan, and 20 percent of Iraqi war veterans have been affected by PTSD.”

PTSD is caused by a traumatic event, but there's more to it than just witnessing it. When in a dangerous or stressful scenario, the body has a "fight or flight" reaction. It is a healthy reaction to help keep the person from harm. However, in PTSD victims this reaction is changed or damaged, and sometimes that feeling of being in danger never leaves. Symptoms of PTSD usually start to show within three months of the event, often beginning with lack of sleep, and possibly escalating to symptoms as severe as hallucinations. When returning from combat, sufferers often become distance from their loved ones. Some feel as though they never left the battlefield at all. In a story released by the Department of Veteran Affairs, a sufferer of PTSD named Frank admitted to only being able to sit at restaurants with his back against a wall, fearing someone was still after him.. Often the result of anxiety and depression, drug and alcohol abuse are common in those that suffer with PTSD. According to 60 Minutes, "Every day, some 22 American heroes take their own lives because of the stresses they experienced on the battlefield.” If not treated promptly and effectively, we could lose more of our war heros.

So what are the treatments for PTSD? There are many options to treat PTSD, but the most common and effective are therapy and medication. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of counseling. It appears to be the most effective type of counseling for PTSD.” The VA also provides other types of therapy, such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), group therapy, and family therapy. “CBT treatment for PTSD often lasts for 3 to 6 months. Other types of treatment for PTSD can last longer,” states VA. As for medication treatment, the National Institute of Health says, “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for treating adults with PTSD; sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil).” The NIH also lists a few more medications that may possibly be prescribed, such as Antipsychotics and Benzodiazepines, but there is little information on how this may work.

In Saving Private Ryan, one of the reoccurring trends was the fact that Captain John Millers’ hands shook.

The true cause was the beginning of PTSD. After being in combat for more than two years and seeing so many of his comrades parish in front of him, the Captain is under so much stress and pressure that his hands involuntarily shake. In the film Full Metal Jacket, Gomer Pyle cannot handle the stresses of boot camp and slowly loses his mind. He ends up killing his drill instructor, and then himself, in one of the most powerful scenes of the movie. This shows that PTSD can start to manifest itself in the earliest stages of military training. Also, the movie Gran Torino is a fantastic representation of PTSD. Clint Eastwood plays a man, Walt Kowalski, who earned a silver star in the Korean war. As Dr. Phillip Leveque writes for Salem-News.com, "Clint shows survivor guilt, paranoia, total irascibility, hate of all enemies and even a death wish which are all symptoms of PTSD."

The tragedies continue as these American heroes come back home to fight yet another battle, this time in their own minds. PTSD, while being a known aftereffect of war since the early 1900s, has come more to the public’s attention during and after the wars in the Middle East. Through close support and therapy, this disorder can be managed. As Lane Evans says, “Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and their families, this Nation, along with our allies around the world, would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly and live so freely.” I believe that more time and research should be put forth to find ways to prevent PTSD from happening in the first place. Don’t we owe them at least that much for their sacrifice?