{"id":97376,"date":"2020-11-11T11:17:31","date_gmt":"2020-11-11T19:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=97376"},"modified":"2020-11-11T11:17:58","modified_gmt":"2020-11-11T19:17:58","slug":"op-ed-understanding-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-this-veterans-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2020\/11\/11\/op-ed-understanding-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-this-veterans-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Op-ed: Understanding post-traumatic stress disorder this Veterans Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Terry Kanakri, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

America is observing Veterans Day today (Nov. 11) to honor all of those who have served our country in war or peace, and recognize them for their sacrifices to protect the freedoms we all enjoy.<\/p>\n

For many veterans who served in military conflicts, however, they continue to experience nightmares or flashbacks caused by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Those people often relive traumatic events experienced on the battlefield, which have become seared in their memories and can negatively affect their mental health.<\/p>\n

In one major\u00a0study\u00a0of 60,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, 13.5% of deployed and non-deployed veterans screened positive for PTSD,\u00a0while other studies show the rate to be as high as 20% to 30%.\u00a0As many as 500,000 U.S. troops who served in those wars may have been diagnosed with PTSD, according to the study.<\/p>\n

And, according to the\u00a0U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study found differences among African American and white Vietnam theater Veterans in terms of readjustment after military service. African American male Vietnam Veterans had higher rates of PTSD than Whites. Rates of current PTSD in the study were 21% among African Americans, and 14% among whites.<\/p>\n

\u201cPTSD affects individuals in many different ways,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Juan-Carlos Zuberbuhler, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. \u201cThere\u2019s one common denominator, however. Those who suffer from PTSD can experience significant challenges when it comes to handling daily activities such as work, going to school or having healthy relationships with your spouse, children, friends and loved ones. That can often lead to social withdrawal, anxiety, shame, sleep disorders, or even suicide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Zuberbuhler noted the simplest triggers can make someone with PTSD feel like their nervous system becomes hijacked by a panic reaction, and that can cause you to fight (get angry), flight (avoid) or freeze (feel numb).<\/p>\n

He noted certain factors increase the chances of someone developing PTSD, including having directly experienced or repeatedly witnessed the aftermath of a very intense or long-lasting traumatic event, which is common among many veterans.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Zuberbuhler, doing the following may improve a person\u2019s path to recovery from PTSD:<\/p>\n