Post Tramatic War Syndrom Essay Research Paper

Post Tramatic War Syndrom Essay, Research Paper

Gary Cone was one among many Vietnam Veterans that had a difficult time dealing with the horrors of the gruesome war. Drugs and alcohol became his escape from life. Not being able to deal with the images that continued to fill his mind long after the war was over, he drugged himself up to dull and block out the pain. He also had to deal with his uncontrolled fits of rage and anger that somehow took over his body with out his consciousness. He was depressed with no real understanding of what was his problem(Dicks 13-17). Cane was not alone though. Many of the Vietnam Veterans experienced the same symptoms. They were suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Returning home and adjusting to normal civilian life was the ultimate goal for many of the men and women that served in the Vietnam War. For the majority of Americans the Vietnam War is over and long forgotten, but many of the veterans still live the horror of this unpleasant, painful event.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the problem that many United States Veterans face in their daily lives. Soldiers that return from war often experience traumatic nightmares and daytime images during which recollections of the war haunt their memory. They often battle with substance abuse, violent tempers, and depression. This makes it hard for them to reintegrate into society. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a widespread problem in the post war era.

For some Vietnam Veterans the PTSD symptoms that they experienced are severe and prevalent. On the other hand, not all symptoms are always noticed because many do not associate these psychological problems with war. Other times the symptoms are ignored.

There are three classifications of the symptoms of PTSD. Reexperiencing the traumatic event, which occurs in nightmares or daytime images, results in painful and unpleasant memories(Kulka 31). The horrible recollections can not be controlled by the individual, this is what makes the disorder so distressing. There are four symptoms that are classified into the reexperiencing category: “recurrent and intrusive recollections of the event; recurrent distressing dreams of the event; sudden act or feeling as if the trauma was recurring (for example flashbacks); intense psychological distress at the exposure to events that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event, including anniversaries of the trauma”(Kulka 41). Only one of these four symptoms need to be present to be diagnosed with PTSD. If the person has more than one of these symptoms, their disorder is considered to be more severe than that of the person who only has one of the symptoms (Kulka 40). Avoidance of the causes associated with the event, or numbing of ones senses, making it harder for an individual to respond and function normally, is the next symptom. Avoidance symptomatology purposely avoids the thoughts and feelings of the horrific event. The sufferer also abstains from activities or situations that may trigger recollections of a specific trauma. Numbing of the responsiveness or “emotional anesthesia” is commonly described as “feelings of detachment or estrangement from other people; loss of the ability to become interested and vitally involved in the previously pleasurable activities; and diminishing capacity to experience emotions of any type, particularly those associated with intimacy, tenderness, sexuality, and grief”(Kulka 42). Such examples include feeling alienation from close personal friends and family members. The final major symptom of PTSD is increased arousal which can be detected when a veteran has trouble sleeping, outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, high levels of energy, easily startled by noises and movements, and reactions to recollections of the traumatic event. Veterans who have these symptoms are constantly observing their surroundings and anticipating something to happen(Kulka 45).

People have always gathered in communities and organizations to help with outside challenges, but those diagnosed with PTSD must suffer an even tougher challenge. A challenge that separates them from society. The Vietnam conflict was largely controversial, and everyone had many different opinions. One key function of the human society is to provide institutions and value systems that can protect an individual from harsh, stressful situations. Religion is an important example that helps the veteran face terrifying realities, which helps them rise above their individual sufferings(Kolk 25). Certainly the abandonment by society was a large factor of the Post Traumatic Stress reaction experienced by the veterans. “Society emphasized guilt, and encouraged repression(Kelly 47). A reason society separated from Vietnam Veterans was the actual lack of distinction between society and the Vietnam Veterans themselves. One myth included their uncontrolled violence. Brewin (1975) noted that virtually every portrayal of Vietnam veterans was one of drug abusers, killers, or potential , if not actual psychotics, and frequently all three”(Kelly 48).

Drugs and alcohol may have been an easy way out for many of the Vietnam Veterans. Because they did not know how to cope with their disorder, they turned to substances that would cover up and block out unwanted thoughts and memories. In a PTSD investigation at a drug rehabilitation clinic, it was discovered that th