Monday, February 17, 2014
PTSD
The issue of Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder has always been a problem starting back in history. There needs to be
more awareness about PTSD as it affects not only the soldier, but also many who
are close to the solider. According to Candice M. Monson, Casey T.
Taft, and Steffany J. Fredman (all involved with the Department of
Veterans' Affairs National Center for PTSD at Boston University School of
Medicine), PTSD has become an increasingly sensitive and
recognized issue in the military community during the United State’s
involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operations such as Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and
Enduring freedom (OEF) have shed light on just how detrimental exposure to
traumatic stress can be to a veteran’s mental welfare. Veterans who are
afflicted with PTSD hold higher divorce rates than average. They also have been
shown to have much higher anxiety levels and more difficulty being emotionally
expressive (707). As hard as it may be to deal with PTSD, the family issues
that can develop can have a long lasting affect as well. No person should have
to deal with such problems alone. More attention needs to be brought to this
conflict to let all who deal with PTSD first hand and significant others know
they are not alone.
Families need to be more educated
about the barriers that PTSD can bring into the home. It starts with the issues
of the soldier who is suffering then leads to issues within the family causing
conflict to arise among people who have a close relationship with the sufferer.
Research has shown that throughout history PTSD has affected families of
military members. Evidence consistently states that veterans who have been
diagnosed with chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder encounter more prevalent
relationship problems and worse family adjustment than veterans who were not
diagnosed. Studies also show that male veterans diagnosed with PTSD were more
likely to engage in physical and psychological aggression towards their
children and partners. The research indicates that it is not the direct
exposure to combat that leads to relationship problems, but the post traumatic
psychopathology that can progress and develop after the veteran has returned
from combat (708). All types of conflict and heartache can come up within the
family environment based off one of their close family members struggling with
PTSD. It is important for families to become educated about what they can do to
help their family member deal with PSTD. There are resources out there to
provide families and the PTSD sufferer with support and to recognize the fact
that there is help.
Monson, C. M.,
Taft, C. T., & Fredman, S. J. (2009). Military-related PTSD and intimate
relationships: From description to theory-driven research and intervention development.
Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 707-714. Retrieved February 11, 2014, from
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.lib.utah.edu/
Mental Health
While I don’t
have any conditions that you could call severe. I know someone very close to me
that is Schizophrenic. PSTD and Schizophrenia have more in common than most
people know. Symptoms include delusions, paranoia, a lack of both emotion and
motivation. I’ve been there for him all his life and for some reason now, I’ve
tended to think about him more. It feels odd to actually go into detail about
it. I have seen a lot as a result of what he is going through. He takes several
forms of medication to counteract it. I’ve been to meetings where there are
other people he interacts with those who suffer from similar conditions or
conditions that are closely correlated to it in some way .(i.e. drug and
alcohol abuse, other mental disorders, etc) There’s a lot of research that
suggests that there are many other potential factors that have a bearing on it
as well. Genetics as well as parenting styles themselves. To put a positive
spin on this disorder, The film A Beautiful Mind starring Russell Crowe from
two thousand one was a positive example of what could be achieved despite
Schizophrenia. John Nash, a famous Mathematician won the Nobel Prize for
Economics (that is a rough subject I feel!) in nineteen ninety four. I feel it kind of out of place talking about this but I also
feel it is relevant. I hope someone agrees with me. These are both clearly notable conditions that should be
addressed continuously. Thanks everyone!
-Raul
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