What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. For veterans, these events may include combat, military sexual trauma (MST), accidents, or the death of fellow service members.
PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is a normal response to abnormal circumstances — and it is treatable.
Common Symptoms
PTSD symptoms fall into four main categories:
1. Re-experiencing
- Flashbacks — reliving the trauma as if it's happening again
- Nightmares about the event
- Intrusive memories triggered by sights, sounds, or smells
- Intense emotional or physical reactions to reminders
2. Avoidance
- Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the trauma
- Avoiding places, people, or activities that trigger memories
- Emotional numbness or detachment
3. Negative Changes in Thoughts and Mood
- Persistent negative beliefs about yourself or the world
- Feeling detached from others
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Persistent feelings of guilt, shame, or blame
4. Hyperarousal
- Being easily startled or constantly on guard ("hypervigilance")
- Sleep problems — difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Irritability or anger outbursts
- Difficulty concentrating
- Reckless or self-destructive behavior
When to Seek Help
Consider reaching out if:
- Symptoms have lasted more than one month
- Symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life, work, or relationships
- You're using alcohol or drugs to cope
- You're having thoughts of harming yourself
Treatment Options That Work
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) — helps you process and challenge unhelpful thoughts about the trauma
- Prolonged Exposure (PE) — gradually helps you confront trauma-related memories and situations
- EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, highly effective for trauma
- Medication — SSRIs like sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for PTSD
Getting Help
VA PTSD programs: VA.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/mental-health/ptsd
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, press 1
Vet Center: VA.gov/find-locations
You survived the worst. You deserve to heal.