Remembering veterans' struggles on July 4th

by Mikki Baloy, LDRNY Coordinator

Songs were sung to honor the fighting men, and prayers were offered for their souls so that they be cleansed of terrible things they had to do to defend the people... Any community that unconditionally heals and nurtures its warriors is ensuring its own survival. -Joseph M. Marshall III, Walking with Grandfather: The Wisdom of Lakota Elders

News articles have recently reported that Vietnam veterans are experiencing greater severity of symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since hearing and seeing reports of the war in Iraq.

Symptoms include depression, anxiety, flashbacks, and insomnia or nightmares. The Veterans Administration stated that the overwhelming majority of its disability claims are PTSD related, and that there was a spike in these claims in 2003, as the war in Iraq gained momentum. 

Soldiers returning home from combat in the Middle East are also affected, some with adjustment disorders and some with full-blown PTSD. According to a Journal of the American Medical Association, U.S. military research indicates that more than one-third of service members returning from Iraq access mental health services in the year after returning home.  Faithful Response, a partnership of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, and LDRNY, is one organization dedicated to serving those who have PTSD as a result of 9/11 and the subsequent military action in Afghanistan and Iraq.

War is not the only event that may cause PTSD. Any major life event, including plane or train crashes, vehicle accidents, sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence and natural or man-made disasters, may lead to debilitating trauma, anxiety, and depression. 

Experts are looking to veterans to learn about resiliency and the lingering affects of trauma, as well as what triggers symptoms like flashbacks, panic attacks, and sleep disturbances, particularly as long-term affects of the September 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina are considered.  

(c) 2001- The Bergen Record , Bergen NJ

For example, many veterans refrain from watching news reports about Iraq or war movies.  With the approach of the fifth anniversary of 9/11 and the release of several films about the attacks, it is appropriate for you to consider your own level of sensitivity. Use discretion and compassion when choosing activities for yourself and your family, bearing in mind that not everyone will react the same way to such a difficult topic. This is especially true if PTSD or other mental health issues have been a concern.

With the approach of Independence Day, LDRNY asks that you reach out in compassion to all those who suffer the affects of trauma and violence, especially our veterans and servicemen and women. 

For more information on combat-related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, visit Winning the War Within, the Journal of the American Medical Association, or the National Center for PTSD.