Get Help with PTSD

What is PTSD?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety condition that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events that threaten or cause great physical harm. 

As it relates to combat trauma, there are records dating back to 490 BC by Greek historians of soldiers experience long-term emotional effects from the experiences of war.   PTSD, as we know it today, began to be recognized in soldiers of the Vietnam War, and it was then that treatment methods began to be developed. 

PTSD involves a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to extreme psychological trauma. This trauma may involve someone's actual death, a threat to the person’s or someone else's life, serious physical injury, or an unwanted sexual act.

Symptoms

Symptoms of PTSD can include anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, anger, and hyper vigilance.

PTSD in Soldiers and Combat Veterans

One out of five Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars suffers from PTSD and/or depression, and only half of them seek out some sort of treatment. 

Many soldiers avoid asking for help with PTSD for fear of negative consequences from military.   This distrust of government resources often carries over to men and women who are separated from the military and it prevents them from accessing VA programs for Veterans suffering from PTSD. 

Many Veterans with PTSD end up self-medicating with alcohol and/or drugs.  Incidence of violent crimes, suicide and domestic violence are much higher in PTSD sufferers, and most report not having these types of problems before going to war. 

PTSD can result in feelings of anger, hopelessness, constant anxiety, paranoia, and an inability to focus.  It can severely affect work performance and relationships, especially if not treated 

Crisis Intervention

Active duty military and Veterans who think they may have PTSD should call the National Veterans Foundation’s (NVF) Lifeline for Vets™ at 888-777-4443, 365 days a year. 

The National Veterans Foundation was founded by Shad Meshad, a former Army Medical Service Officer in the Vietnam War. Shad was one of the pioneers in PTSD treatment. Helping veterans with PTSD remains a core focus of the NVF’s programs and services. 

The National Veterans Foundation’s Lifeline for Vets™ provides crisis counseling to Veterans with a wide-range of problems, including PTSD.  Active duty military and Veterans who think they may be suffering from PTSD and want help, especially if they are having thoughts of harming themselves or others should call the Lifeline immediately.  The Lifeline for Vets™ is open 365 days a year and is staffed with Veterans who understand the unique problems that military and former military men and women deal with. 

After 6pm Eastern Standard Time, for suicide intervention, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK. 

PTSD Treatment for Veterans

The VA’s Vet Center program is the National Veterans Foundation’s recommended resource for Veterans seeking real long-term help with their PTSD. 

The program, co-founded by NVF President Shad Meshad, is funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but is run by Veterans who care about and understand what other Veterans go through.  

The Vet Center Program provides counseling and outreach to any Veteran who served in a combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military related issues. Vet Centers furnish bereavement counseling services to surviving parents, spouses, children and siblings of service members who die of any cause while on active duty. Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the Veteran or family.

The 232 community based Vet Centers are located in all fifty states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

To find the nearest Vet Center to you, or for resources for active duty military, contact the NVF Lifeline for Vets™ at 888-777-4443.