He Said, She Said

INVISIBLE WAR WOUNDS: Veterans Become Prisoners Back Home to the Hidden Pain of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder By Paul Chute, LMSW 

Much has been written about the war in Iraq, with many of the reports focusing on casualties and deaths.  But there are hidden wounds that exist which often don’t surface until soldiers actually leave the war zone and unexpectedly find themselves in harm’s way on the home front in the hidden battlefield of their mind

As a psychotherapist, relationship expert and war veteran, I know from professional as well as my own personal experience that the invisible yet very real wound is known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

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. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma.

 As it relates to combat, PTSD was first documented during World War I under the now familiar term, shell shock. In World War II, PTSD was commonly referred to as battle or combat fatigue. But it wasn’t until the Vietnam War that the effects of PTSD began to be significantly studied and documented.  Combat tours in Vietnam were usually a year in duration with soldiers in a heightened state of alert 24/7.  When they returned home, they began struggling with enormous mental health issues and the VA system was inadequately prepared to help them.  As a psychotherapist, I treat combat veterans suffering from PTSD and can approach the disorder from the unique vantage point of my professional training as a therapist, and also as a former non-commissioned officer in charge with air force special operations. I conducted classified assignments from 1980 to 1988 and am a member of the Disabled American Veterans.  Having gone through treatment for PTSD myself, I’m able to connect deeply with vets.  We speak the same language; I know, all too well, where they’ve been and what they are experiencing.  

Currently, one in six veterans returning Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from some form of PTSD.  Although the Department of Veterans Affairs has made significant advances in the treatment of this mental health issue, many are not seeking treatment. 

Many veterans I work with voiced concerns about seeking treatment for PTSD, fearing it would hurt their military careers. Individuals also avoid treatment because they feel they are letting down their buddies.  Others simply believe they can handle it.

I can relate. I was one of those people that thought they could handle it. Unfortunately, PTSD handled me.  I suffered through a divorce, addiction and job losses. It wasn’t until I met my future wife Ellen that I was able to feel safe enough to get help. I found a wonderful therapist who helped me through my significant traumas and received tremendous support from family and friends that I did not know existed.

My message to a veteran who is suffering in silence is simple and straightforward. IT IS OK TO GET HELP.  There is a support system available to you. There are new techniques and advances that effectively treat PTSD.  It is up to you to take the first step.