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The Truth About PTSD and America’s Military Veterans

Feb. 5, 2013 10:00pm Tiffany Gabbay

There are few people who inspire more respect and admiration than our brave servicemen and women — those willing to selflessly serve their country and at times, even face death for the sake of others. While it is always a celebrated occasion when a soldiers’ tour of duty has ended, those who endured combat often return home bearing painful psychological scars that few outside fellow veterans are equipped to understand.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder affecting one’s ability to cope physically and mentally following severe psychological trauma. Given war’s gruesome elements, it is no wonder many of those serving on the front-lines will experience the disorder at some point. Flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, aggression and insomnia are just a few of the symptoms one experiences while in the throes of this serious condition.

Focusing on the sacrifices and struggles facing American soldiers today, Glenn Beck dedicated his Tuesday evening broadcast to those like former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who was shot by a fellow veteran potentially suffering from PTSD just days ago.

“He came home and continued his life of service,” Beck said. “His mission was to help fellow battle-torn soldiers cope with coming home.”

Beck, who has spent time with the families of both Kyle and fellow veteran Marcus Luttrell, noted the senseless nature of Kyle’s death and that accusations leveled by Ron Paul and others indicating that Kyle had been “treating PTSD” only serves to disrespect the fallen veteran’s legacy.

Military men and women enlist for pure motives guided by “love of country,” Beck said. And because they believe it is the honorable thing to do. While the roles and duties for American soldiers are as diverse as the enlistees, those who serve in combat positions, or come toe-to-toe with life and death scenarios, face challenges few could imagine.

To illustrate, Beck read an excerpt from Kyle’s book, “American Sniper,” in which the world-class marksman explained how difficult his job truly was:

I looked through the scope. The only people who were moving were the woman and maybe a child or two nearby. I watched our troops pull up. ten young, proud Marines in uniform got out of their vehicles and gathered for a foot patrol. As the Americans organized, the woman took something from beneath her clothes, and yanked at it. She’d set a grenade. I didn’t realize it at first. ‘Looks yellow,’ I told the chief… ‘She’s got a grenade,’ said the chief. ‘That’s a Chinese grenade…’ ‘Take a shot. ‘But” — ‘Shoot.’ Get the grenade. The Marines- I hesitated. Someone was trying to get the Marines on the radio, but we couldn’t reach them. They were coming down the street, heading toward the woman. ‘Shoot!’ said the chief… I shot. The grenade dropped. I fired again as the grenade blew up. It was the first time I’d killed anyone while I was on the sniper rifle.

The passage outlines the difficult decisions those in Kyle’s position have to make everyday when they are on the front-lines and truly hold someone else’s life in their hands. The crisis of conscience, the call of duty, the desire to protect and do good, and feelings of guilt — even for killing one poised to commit unspeakable ill — are likely all emotions that rise to the surface of one’s psyche in these times.

When a veteran returns, potentially suffering from PTSD, prescriptions tend to be the first line of defense employed by doctors who’ve only a rudimentary understanding of the disorder. Despite their laundry list of serious side effects, soldiers in mental and emotional pain are left with few options but to take whatever help is afforded them.

Having gone through similar experiences, Kyle’s approach was to be a listening friend who helped fellow veterans endure through their own respective struggles.

Beck noted that medicines can only mask problems and symptoms of PTSD but cannot dislodge the painful experiences and emotions that brought them to bear in the first place. He added that we have an “obligation” to end the current war and prevent additional wars from being created. What’s more, a greater focus on the care troops receive upon their return home should be paramount.

Beck said it is his goal to raise money for helping to treat those with PTSD and noted the skewed priorities of government in spending billions of taxpayer dollars on other initiatives, knowing there are veterans in our country who are hurting.

Beck was also joined by Vietnam veteran Bill Potter, former Navy SEALs Pete Scobell and Marcus Luttrell to discuss PTSD:

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Glenn Beck’s charitable organization, Mercury One, began taking donations for those wishing to honor Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield.

To donate by mail:
Mercury One
PO Box 140489
Irving, TX 75014

Make checks payable to Mercury one but in the memo field please write “Chris Kyle Fund.”

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Comments (74)

Arc
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:05pm
Take notice that the PTSD that a military man/woman experience is considerably different from the events that produce PTSD in the civilian community. TRAUMA can be experienced by anyone, anywhere, anytime ( a school, a church, a hospital ).

Granted, the combat experience is like no other ( we were trained to kill and when we had to do it, the military and the government wasn’t prepared for the aftermath( and remains unprepared ) I often wonder just how many of the dead would trade for PTSD.

Sure, there are some who feel dead, have the 1000 yd stare and go thru the motions of living, and the family members try as they may, can’t understand what is bothering their brother, daughter, son, husband and father.

The reason most Veterans don’t want to discuss it with family, he/she feels the family should not be burdened with what he/she has gone thru so they remain quiet.

Rest assured, the family’s concern is probably the best medicine at the time.

It doesn’t go away, we just get very proficient at handling it.

An 18 month combat veteran.

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DennisNJ
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 10:32am
Check out GoodBye Vietnam to get an insight of PTSD.

http://youtu.be/lVUhlw_yVFQ

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brovet
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 10:11am
Shorelineliz,

You are a dumb sh#t who knows nothing PTSD and how it impacts our vets (I am a combat vet who knows of what I speak). You have disrespected our vets with your stupid comments. Please stick with watching the view and avoid leaving your thoughts (which I am sure are few) in a public place.

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LiveforFreedom
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 9:48am
The Veterans Claim system is not all at fault here, the Department of Defense and each branch of the armed forces is to blame here also, some vets receive disability ratings of 10 to 20 percent from the armed services and are told to go to the VA. and get a combined claim of 580 pecent for a total disability of 100 percent, armed services rate low so they don’t have to pay full benefits at 30 percent and above. a major cost savings to the Services. I happen to be one of those vets with 70% for back injuries received in combat and 20 percent for hearing from combat 40 percent for TBI from combat 20 percent for upper extremity nerve damage for combat, 10 percent for high blood pressure, 40 percent for spinal cord damage from combat all service related, and 100 percent for PTSD!! The Army gave me a 10 percent rating, and when I requested the one review you get the Army said my back didn’t rate a increased rating! They are to look at everything that the VA rated the Veteran at but they don’t and my Senators and Congessman concur with the Army!!! That is whats wrong! The services screw the vet, and the VA has to pick up the care, and wait the VA health care system is what Obama care is going to be. My primary care doc has over 4000 people to see once a year how the hell can one Doc see 4000 people and give you quaility health care?????

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walnutportconservative
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:41am
Jesus told the disciples that following His deparure (from the physical here under the sun), he would send a helper. That helper is “The Holy Spirit”. It is understood, that in order to receive help from that helper… “You Must Be BORN AGAIN”.
Are you Born Again?
Investigate these things… Please.

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shorelineliz
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:34am
Something stinks to high heaven about the slaying of Chris Kyle and there is no news media reporting that can lead this old gal who is the daughter of a WWII combat veteran to believe differently. I know too much. That makes me dangerous. You can parade your bullspit PTSD just got out of the psyche ward all day long and stick it where the sun don’t shine. Two and two don’t add up to four but what they do add up to is yet another stinking pile of government cover up.

The government is counting on their web of lies and deceit to provide a palatable cover story for the assassination of Chris Kyle. Because that is what it is. It’s not about a deranged ex military man named Eddie Ray Routh with PTSD who had just been in a psyche ward. Although that makes a very believable headline most people who understand how the government and the military work aren’t buying the Pablum that is being spoon fed to the public on this one. Because most of us who have been around realize that the government and the press just aren’t that smart. They continue to use the same tired and worn out pattern of killing people.

If an incident proves too unbelievable to accept then it is routinely rejected or discredited by the public. The government knows this hands down. So, they filter the real facts through an imaginary web of lies and deceit and produce a believable scenario that the public can stomach. They realize that people are gullible and naïve. They are never disappointed.

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