Image via WikipediaI could see my 16-year-old daughter was exhausted. She had been up all night, she told me, on Facebook consoling a friend whose friend attempted suicide. He was in a coma and they were not sure if he would live. My daughter's friend was taking it pretty hard, and my daughter did her best to console her. As the story began to unfold, I was saddened once again by the reality of what war can do to people. For this young man had recently returned from active duty. He had been diagnosed with combat post-traumatic stress disorder. "They aren't sure if the PTSD is the reason behind why he attempted suicide or not, but we may never know the real reason now." She said.Sometimes I wish a virtual reality room were create where people could spend some time and 'experience' what these brave men and women have had to go through. The movies, though they would try to make war look realistic, also glamorize it at the same time. We walk away with that warm, fuzzy feeling celebrating the victory of the hero(s). But this isn't reality. What they don't show is the hero that returns home only to continue to suffer from the aftereffects, unable to erase the horrific visions permanently etched in his mind/psyche.
Thankfully post-traumatic stress disorder today is now considered an official diagnosis in the DSM and can be used as a claim for disability for (some) veterans. Though this disorder is not limited to just military personnel, I have included links that are specific to the armed forces below.
If you have served in the military and suffer from PTSD, arm yourself with understanding and get the help you need and deserve.
http://www.ptsdhelp.net/index.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/227200.php
http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2010/04/latest-military-combat-veteran-suicide.html
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness-day/ptsd_awareness_day.asp
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/339/index.html - (watch the video)
http://www.vva.org/benefits/ptsd.htm
http://www.giveanhour.org/skins/gah/home.aspx
