Behavioral Health Articles

Veterans Help Decrease the Stigma of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

by Faith Bentley

According to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is “an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event.” This can include events and exposure particular to veterans. PTSD can develop at different times and with different intensity depending on the individual and the circumstances of the traumatic event. The likelihood of developing PTSD can depend on how intense the trauma was, how long it lasted, if it involved a close friend or family member, how much control there was over the event, and how much help and support was available following the event.

There are four types of symptoms typical to post-traumatic stress disorder: reliving the event, avoidance, numbing, and feeling keyed up (also known as hyperarousal). Many times other problems accompany PTSD. Sufferers may try to ease their pain with drugs or drinking. Symptoms may make it difficult to go to work or maintain relationships. Depression, shame, and violence may be experienced.  It is not uncommon for those suffering from PTSD to have other problems that need treatment as well.

The American Psychological Association published an article in Monitors on Psychology identifying top reasons for not seeking treatment, which include the stigma associated with receiving mental health care and the possibility of that stigma negatively affecting their military careers. However, it should be noted that left untreated, PTSD and other anxiety disorders resulting from war-related trauma can have debilitating and long-term effects.

Terry Garritillo, who retired from the Air Force in 2003, shares his experience as a veteran, a member of the American Legion Post 297, and working with the Syracuse V.A. “Being that the Syracuse V.A. is my primary care facility, I do know that at every appointment they ask ‘have you been in combat the last thirty days’ and there is a survey about feelings… they come right out and ask [about mental health].” He acknowledges that the issue of stigma and mental health is present with many veterans, but feels that veterans in need are encouraged to seek treatment. “There is a lot of signage up trying to help get over the stigma and let people know there are people to talk to. There is a lot of outreach, and the American Legion Magazine has a lot of articles about PTSD, subliminally saying if you got it, go get help. Obviously it's a magazine geared toward vets.”

There are indications of progress. Just talking about mental health and treatment for veterans is a change from thirty or forty years ago. “It has come out a lot since I retired," says Terry. "I do feel that, and maybe not even at Desert Storm, but since the OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and AIF (Anti-Iraqi Forces), it's come out even more. I don’t want to say it’s because things are taking so much longer, but this is the first extended combat in a generation. When I first signed up in ’84, the longest combat we had was Grenada which was a week or two weeks; since Vietnam we haven’t had any real studies on it or a real gauge on what people were experiencing then. It was a different feeling towards the Vietnam vets than it is towards these veterans. I think it's come more to the forefront. It’s more real and more of a problem and there’s a lot more guys returning that are not seen as just being complainers or any other negative stigmas that they may have had returning.”

Terry also recognizes what good care can do for people. “We’re sending people to do some tough stuff and they’re having problems adjusting and it’s a very real thing and they need help. I met a guy with both his legs blown off and he was so thankful to have been able to serve his country and seems so well adjusted. This was after probably months and months of rehab and you could barely tell … he didn’t have crutches or canes, he was walking on prosthetics. If he had any trauma, he either got some excellent counseling or is good at hiding it, because he seems like a well-adjusted thankful person who was happy. That may go towards the quality of the care.”

Faith Bentley is a Sociology major at SUNY Cortland and an intern at Seven Valleys Health Coalition.