What is it?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is sometimes described as ‘a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.’
It is an anxiety disorder.
Who can get it?
Anyone who has been in the Services – it doesn’t matter how long you served for, where or whether you were ‘in theatre’ – you can be 19 or 90; PTSD can happen to anyone.
What are the signs?
Flashbacks, nightmares, increased levels of anxiety, hyper arousal (being over sensitive to life in general), insomnia, inability to concentrate, mood swings, intensive thoughts, depression, possible psychosis, substance misuse – drinking more heavily than usual.
What can be done to help?
There are lots of things which can be done to improve the lives of Service personnel and veterans who suffer with PTSD.
The first step is to get the correct diagnosis so that the treatment you receive is relevant to the symptoms you are experiencing.
Combat Stress, the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (www.combatstress.org) is the only specialist charity of its kind in the UK and their Welfare Officer can come and visit you at home and point you in the direction of specialist services and help explain more about what can be done to help you and your family.
Apart from psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), anger management, relaxation techniques and sleep hygiene can all help. Non clinical interventions such as Gardening Leave and fishing which help to get veterans together again, also play a big part in helping to reduce the social isolation and exclusion which affect many veterans.
Table of Symptoms
| Physical Signs | Mental Signs | Behavioural Signs |
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