True Religion Skinny Mens PTSD - The Invisible Wou

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Now a whole new generation of young men and women are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with their own invisible wounds. Just like John, many of them are struggling to readjust and make sense of life in the aftermath of their own encounters with war. They are coping with what used to be called “combat fatigue,” known today as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
How certain areas of the brain work is an important key to understanding PTSD. Fear is a natural human response to danger. When a person is actually experiencing a life threatening situation, an area hidden deep inside the brain known as the amygdala triggers an automatic protective reaction we know as fight or flight. When that happens, the body releases chemicals that make us tense, alert, and ready for action. PTSD is an extreme version of that response, and research suggests that one of the causes of PTSD may be an abnormal activation of the amygdala. Once the amygdala is conditioned by a certain stimulus, a pattern is established that is difficult to change.
It has been nearly 34 years since the Viet Nam war ended in 1975, but to John W. and thousands of others like him, it might as well have been yesterday. John still jumps violently when he hears fire crackers or a car backfire. He still awakens during the night tense and alert for any hint of danger. When he does manage to sleep,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], he is often troubled by nightmares that leave him exhausted and shaken. Since his wife divorced him he has never quite gotten himself back together. He drifts from job to job and from relationship to relationship, never really settling, becoming emotionally attached, or feeling that he belongs anywhere. Occasionally he erupts in angry outbursts. His best friend and worst enemy is alcohol, and life is just one empty day after another. He never talks about himself or his experiences, but those around him know that his war wound has never healed. It is simply invisible.
What Causes It?
What is PTSD?
Although we frequently hear and read about PTSD and the devastating effects it is having on military personnel, we may be far less aware that it is a severe emotional condition that anyone can develop. It occurs as the result of a terrifying event or ordeal during which severe physical harm actually happens or is threatened. Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include automobile accidents, violent personal assaults (rape, robbery, parental or spousal abuse, kidnapping), natural disasters such as hurricanes Katrina and Ike, or unnatural disasters such as the Oklahoma City bombing or the events of 9/11.
People with PTSD have also been found to have abnormally elevated levels of stress related hormones. When in danger, the body produces high levels of natural opiates that can temporarily mask pain. Those w
PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults. It can occur at any age, including childhood. Some people are more predisposed to it than others. Women are more likely to develop the disorder than men, and there is some evidence that it may run in families. It is estimated that roughly 30% of Vietnam veterans and 8% of Gulf War veterans developed PTSD. The numbers from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are anticipated to be far higher. However,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], there are some troubling signs that soldiers in an all-volunteer professional military are reluctant to seek help. A study conducted in 2004 found that while approximately 80% of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who showed signs of PTSD were willing to admit they had a problem, only 40% were receptive to any kind of therapy. Military personnel today are very concerned about stigma and may be ashamed to expose their “weaknesses” to professionals. They are also concerned that accepting treatment for mental health problems will negatively impact their careers. Unfortunately, PTSD is a serious mental condition that rarely resolves itself. Without intervention and treatment, these young people are likely to live with the after effects of their war experiences for the rest of their lives.