_/PtSD\_

PTSD – posttraumatic stress disorder – has been a diagnosable syndrome since 1980, when it was defined and detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition (DSM-III). You can read about the most current information for diagnosing and treating PTSD on the VA's PTSD: National Center for PTSD web page. You can select the Read Full Article button for a full description.

In the spring of 2005, as an ed tech at the local high school, I took a college-credit course, Introduction to Psychology. The last assignment was to select a disorder found in the current DSM-IV-TR, to write a research paper about it, and to give a short presentation. I chose PTSD, due to my involvement in a war (Vietnam), and the increase of cases precipitated by the then-current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's the only research paper I've ever written. I still have it, and I'm glad I saved it, in particular because of my conclusion.

In the conclusion, I drew upon statistics from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Survey (NVVRS) conducted between November 1986 and February 1988. They surveyed men and women; 30.9% of the men had PTSD, as did 26.3% of the women surveyed. Additionally, 22.5% of men and 21.2% of women had had partial PTSD at some point. All told 1,700,000 Vietnam veterans had experienced "clinically serious stress reaction symptoms".

The conclusion ends as follows:

I am not one of those 1.7 million, at least as far as I know. Perhaps I am one of those people who have all of the right coping mechanisms in my genetic and experiential toolbox. From my research, I have learned that a major traumatic event does not produce the same reaction in everyone. I have also learned that little is known about how to predict who may be more susceptible to getting PTSD. Considering the prevalence for experiencing a major traumatic event, it would seem prudent to me that a section about trauma and coping with trauma should be taught in middle and high school health classes. Along with all of the other challenges our young people must face and prepare for, trauma awareness should be one more important parts of their education.

My research and study of PTSD have given me a better understanding of the world we live in, and how we treat each other as human beings. I hope to find more time to spend with veterans who are less fortunate than I am, both the vets of my generation and those coming back from war now and in the future.

Today when I was mailing a package at the post office, I also picked up a couple sheets of the new semi-postal stamp, Healing PTSD. You can click here for more information about the new stamp and how it will be used to help fund VA PTSD programs. Please consider buying a sheet. A day doesn't go by when you will see a news story about a soldier of the current wars who is dealing with PTSD. And don't forget: when these men are lucky enough to have a family life, their loved ones are also dealing with the fallout from PTSD.

© 2019 John Robin Swanson