East Carolinian

Issue date: 6/11/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: staff photo

According to a recent publication by MSNBC, the US Army conducted a study of the mental health of troops who fought in Iraq and found that one in eight reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The survey also showed that less than half of those with problems sought help from a medical professional out of fear of being stigmatized or hurting their careers. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents or military combat.

People with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to. They may experience sleep problems, feel detached or numb or be easily startled.

According to the National Institute of Mental Illness, PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults, but it can occur at any age, including childhood. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and there is some evidence that susceptibility to the disorder may run in families.

J.P. Jernigan, a company executive who speaks out regarding PTSD in rape or child molestation cases believes that PTSD can be even more fatal than some addictions if not treated properly.

"It can make you a person you don't want to be, it can control you life," said Jernigan to MSNBC.

Jernigan, a rape survivor, encourages anyone who thinks they may have PTSD to get help. PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders.

The disorder and its effects have become more widely researched in recent decades.

"Most studies of past wars' effects on mental health were done years later, making it difficult to compare the latest results with those from the Vietnam or Persian Gulf wars," Dr. Charles W. Hoge, one of the researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, told MSNBC. "Of particular concern is that troops with problems are not seeking care."

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs suggests for those who think they have PTSD to talk to a family doctor, a mental health professional or a religious leader.

Many studies have shown that speaking with a medical professional can help rid the inner turmoil of PTSD. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, having symptoms of the disorder does not always mean that someone has it. Some of the symptoms of PTSD are also symptoms for other mental health problems. For example, trouble concentrating or feeling less interested in activities that were enjoyable in the past can be symptoms of both depression and PTSD--different problems have different treatments.

Diagnosis will usually involve a formal evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or clinical social worker specifically trained to assess psychological problems.

Fortunately, PTSD is treatable and once diagnosed, most people can return to normal lives.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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