All stressful events have an impact on our mind and body. Our minds are hardwired, through evolution, to respond to life-threatening occurrences. This built-in defense mechanism is called flight-or-fight response. The flight-or-fight response creates a series of changes in the body that will help us in times of trouble.

These changes often regulate themselves and go away without any reinforcement. However, for some traumatic experiences, the stress and their impacts often last longer than they should, inhibiting activities of daily living. One of these traumatic experiences is a war.

Wars have changed the lives of a lot of people. Families have been separated with no assurance of a reunion. And when, lucky enough, they reunite, things are never the same. There will always be this brush of coldness and air of distress brought about by wars. What our veterans went through those times is not easy, and what their families have to go through is challenging.

Most veterans suffer from PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD happens when the fear, anxiety, and other responses to a stressful event linger long after the event is over. This haunting of a distressful event often interferes with how a person goes through daily life. PTSD, like any other psychological disorder, presents itself in a combination of symptoms and is treated behaviorally.

Treating PTSD begins with the person accepting that there is something wrong and help is required. The patient should understand that it is okay to talk about it to someone. Although this may be a little difficult for them since not everyone in the family went to war, family members and caregivers should be of help by being attentive to the veterans. Family members should primarily be the ones to encourage them to share and always lend an ear.

Veterans with PTSD are also taught positive coping mechanisms through psychotherapy. There are various kinds of psychotherapy; patients can actually choose which one will help them most, depending on their preference. Family members can also join the sessions (depending on psychologists or psychiatrist’s discretion) to better understand the patient and to also provide support. Psychotherapy helps the veterans in diverting their stress and helps them deal with their past experiences.

The war and the nightmare we call PTSD that comes after it are something both veterans and their families should face together. Recovering from it is not a one-day thing but a gradual process that may take years. This is why the veterans and their families need all the support they can get, especially from each other.

References:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatme...

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