The Even Sadder Truth About PTSD

Constantly in fear of losing their lives, their friends and family, and even themselves, the men
and women of our military are put through a lot. No, Im not speaking of combat. Not even
deployment. The fear I speak of often develops after theyve come home. The attack often comes from
veterans minds in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental disorder that afflicts many people. It is a
mental response to experiencing a negative life-altering event and can cause physical symptoms; most
notably, inability to sleep, anxiety, and flashbacks to the event. Though PTSD can occur to anyone who
undergoes a terrifying ordeal, returning war veterans brought PTSD to the national spotlight. While
many of us hear stories of the horrors of wars, the men and women who return have often lived them,
and many of them do not escape those stories unscathed.
The war stories that follow our veterans home often invoke feelings of horror, incredulity, and
sadness. The stories of veterans continuously suffering from PTSD should produce the same effect.
Countless soldiers have returned home from one hell and entered another found in their own minds.
The suicide rate of veterans returning from an active combat zone is now the leading cause of death in
the Army. Suicide is an extreme symptom of PTSD, but its prevalence led to a Suicide Stand-Down in
the Army, bringing to light the severe consequences of the disorder.
In recent years, there have been stories circulating that those afflicted with PTSD can become
violent and aggressive towards others if they experience a trigger, an event that links sufferers minds
back to their experienced tragedy. Its important to recognize that these stories do not compose the
majority, or even a slight minority, of all cases of PTSD. In fact, the association between PTSD and
mentally unstable veterans has further harmed returning soldiers. In a fight for societal acceptance and
a return to the norm, veterans now are afraid to seek treatment for the disorder as they would have to
admit that they have it.
Alex Smith, a veteran and former Marine lieutenant, said, I have friends who know there is
something wrong with them. But theyre Marines. Sure we were told to get help if we needed it, but no
one ever admitted anything. We knew better. This sentiment accurately reflects the stigma felt
throughout the military about PTSD.
To admit to having PTSD is to admit failure.
Many veterans, including Smith, feel that the therapy, costs, and label of PTSD are not worth the
effort of treatment. To label yourself as having PTSD will mean that employers, your future military
career, and even close friends see you differently. You are no longer normal or healthy; a broken good.
Not to mention the health costs. Thankfully, new treatments for PTSD are being developed, though no
quick-fix has been found.
Historically, PTSD treatment has consisted of one-on-one therapy sessions and perhaps a
prescription for anxiety. This treatment has been in practice ever since the Vietnam War. Its now the
21
st
century. Old treatments and therapy are finally beginning to make way for more effective and less
costly methods.
One of the most exciting research ventures is led by Dr. Eugene Lipov, the medical director of
Advanced Pain Centers in Chicago. He is looking for the quick-fix and might have found it in something
called the Stellate ganglion block (SGB). The Stellate ganglion block is a small group of nerves found at
the base of the neck. By injecting an anesthetic to the SGB, Dr. Lipov has been able to reduce PTSD
symptoms in patients in just over half an hour. Ive seen soldiers going 120 miles an hour before the
block [SGB treatment], and thirty minutes latertheyll say, Im chilling now; Im ok.
Setbacks to Dr. Lipovs one-hit wonder do exist. His clinical trials are awaiting approval from the
FDA and his funding is limited. Also, his treatment is still costly. $1000 for an injection, but to many
veterans who are not willing to undergo extensive therapy, this price tag might not appear to steep.
So now, we find ourselves at a crossroads for PTSD. We know of the troubles and effects it has
on veterans, that it needs treated, and that PTSD is too common among returning vets. However, the
impasse arises where those who need the treatment the most will fight to not receive it and a cure-all
does not exist. The good news is that modern research is rigorously searching for a solution on both
fronts. Support groups in the military are fighting the negative stigma found in the military while
researchers, like Dr. Lipov, strive for an quick, affordable cure for the terror that is post-traumatic stress
disorder.