Dr. Gregory Jantz – Is the veteran in your life suffering from PTSD?

Is the veteran in your life suffering from PTSD?

The sacrifices that veterans make on behalf of all of us are too numerous to mention. For many veterans, one of these sacrifices has to do with the state of their mental well-being, and the long-term effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Soldiers who have seen action in a war consistently show high rates of PTSD. In fact, one recent study of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars found that approximately 12.5% of these veterans experienced post-traumatic stress disorder after deployment. Sadly, many of these veterans, all of whom deserve the very best treatment our country can offer, never seek or receive treatment at all.

Are you as a veteran, or is a veteran in your life, exhibiting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder? If so, these signs should not be ignored. These include:

• Reliving the traumatic event over and over via nightmares, flashbacks, etc.
• Avoiding situations that remind you of the event
• Feelings of numbness
• Hyperarousal
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Continuously being startled by noises or surprises

Post- traumatic stress disorder and the symptoms that come with it usually begin soon after the traumatic event in question. Sometimes, however, these symptoms may not happen for months. Or they may come and go over the years. When PTSD is at its worst things the sufferer hears, sees or even smells can act as triggers that cause them to relive the event. Left untreated, these symptoms can become worse. With suicide rates soaring among veterans these days, it is vital to address mental health issues as they arise among this especially vulnerable subset of our society.

A Place of Hope’s Center for Counseling and Health Resources has worked with those suffering from post- traumatic stress disorder for well over two decades. The Center offers a whole-person approach to PTSD treatment that is unique and especially effective. This approach addresses the emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual, nutritional and relational issues at play in a specific individual. Doing so allows for a personalized approach to treatment that accounts for the unique experiences, thoughts and beliefs each individual brings to the table. By gaining a better understanding of what is going on in each of these areas, we can begin to implement lasting solutions in order to help the individual put their PTSD behind them.

Our number is (888) 771-5166. If you are a veteran suffering from post- traumatic stress disorder, or if you have one in your life, place your call to A Place of Hope today.