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BENTON, Ill. – Local Army Veterans share misconceptions about PTSD on National Disturbance Awareness Day.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone, child or adult, who has experienced an adverse event. However, he has recently been linked to veterans returning from service because of their high rate of suicide, killing 20 people a day.
Gary Fravel, commander of the Benton VFW, along with veterans Michael Cross and John Metzger, see first-hand how PTSD affects the military.
Metzger, who served in Vietnam, says it can be very difficult for veterans at the occasion of a traumatic event but that they also have recurring struggles. "There are nights when you have nightmares, night sweats and flashbacks, you may not know it yourself, but suddenly you're back in the desert, you're back in the jungle .
These veterans believe that the media portrays members of the return service as having erratic or aggressive behavior, but in reality, they often hide their symptoms. "There is this stereotype of a crazy veterinarian coming home, they handle it calmly, you do not know who has insomnia or who has intrusive thoughts," says Cross, a former combat nurse. .
They claim that it is also a misconception that PTSD only affects veterans who have fought, while it hurts a much larger group. They may have been in a theater of operations, but they never went out on patrol. Because of the stress of their workload, they could have been involved in a training accident, "says Cross.
Behavioral health experts say that those who suffer from PTSD can talk about their experience with a family member or trusted friend, which is very helpful, which is exactly what these veterans say about VFW. "When they come in, even if often the tone of their voice, you can say that we have problems today and that you make yourself available to listen," says Fravel.
Those who have been diagnosed with PTSD or who believe they are suffering from the disorder can click here for helpful resources.
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