Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also often referred to as combat stress. It is a cluster of psychiatric symptoms that can occur following a traumatic event in which there was threat of injury or death to the service member or to someone else close to him or her. PTSD may occur soon after a major trauma, or it can have a delayed onset from months to years after the event. When it occurs, the symptoms often subside on their own in months, but some people experience a longer-lasting form of the condition that can require professional treatment. A good social support system can help to protect service members from developing more chronic and severe cases of PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD fall into three general categories:

1. Repeated “reliving” or "reexperiencing" of the traumatic event. These symptoms can disturb day-to-day activities and include recurring distressing memories or intrusive thoughts of the event, recurring dreams of the event, flashback episodes in which the event seems to be happening in the present moment, and bodily reactions to situations that remind the person of the traumatic event.
2. Avoidance responses. These include symptoms such as difficulty remembering important aspects of the trauma, lack of interest in normal activities, feelings of detachment, the sense of having no future, emotional “numbing” or seeming not to care about anything, reduced expression of moods, and avoidance of places, people, or objects that remind the person of the event.
3. Heightened sense of alertness. Typical symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleeping difficulties, difficulty concentrating, exaggerated response to things that startle the person, and hypervigilance.

All of the military services have plans and resources for assisting those with PTSD through the local military treatment facility or hospitals. Those discharged from the service or in the National Guard or reserves who have returned from deployment to war zones should contact the nearest VA facility to determine eligibility. The VA has seasoned clinicians with a wealth of experience in dealing with problems related to wartime service. An excellent resource for individuals and families to learn more about PTSD can be accessed at www.ncptsd.va.gov/war/guide/index.html.

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