Tag Archives: veterans

Remembering Our Heroes on Veteran’s Day

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Every year on November 11th, America comes together to honor and give thanks to the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Recognized as a federal holiday, Veteran’s Day serves as a time of both somber reflection and celebration of the people who sometimes paid the ultimate price for their country.

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The Origins of Veteran’s Day

Veteran’s Day, initially known as Armistice Day, traces its roots back to the end of World War I. On November 11, 1918… at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month…an armistice was signed. This monumental event marked the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front. In the years following, Armistice Day became a time to reflect on the sacrifices of those who served in World War I.

In 1954, recognizing the need to honor veterans of all wars, the U.S. Congress officially changed the name to Veteran’s Day. It became a day not just to remember World War I but to pay tribute to all American veterans, acknowledging their service, patriotism, and the tremendous debt of gratitude owed to them.

The Challenges Faced by Veterans

While Veteran’s Day is a time of celebration, it’s also crucial to acknowledge the challenges many veterans face, particularly those dealing with the invisible wounds of war such as PTSD. The experiences of combat can leave lasting psychological effects, impacting the mental health and well-being of veterans.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common challenge among veterans, manifesting as a result of exposure to traumatic events. It can affect daily life, relationships, and overall quality of life. Recognizing the unique struggles faced by veterans with PTSD is integral to offering meaningful support and assistance.

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Resources for Veterans with PTSD

Numerous resources are available to assist veterans in coping with PTSD and reclaiming their lives. Organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project, Give an Hour, and the Veterans Crisis Line offer support, counseling, and outreach programs.

  1. Wounded Warrior Project: This organization provides a variety of programs and services. These include mental health support, adaptive sports, and career counseling, all specifically tailored to wounded veterans.
  2. Give an Hour: The Give an Hour program sees mental health professionals volunteer their time to provide free counseling and support to veterans and their families. This resource aims to bridge the gap in mental health care for military personnel.
  3. Veterans Crisis Line: This confidential helpline offers immediate assistance to veterans in crisis. Available 24/7, it connects veterans and their families with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders. To reach the line, you can dial 988 and then press 1.

In addition to the above resources, Face of Combat offers our own page of resources which you can find by clicking here.

Celebrating Resilience and Recovery

As we celebrate Veteran’s Day, let us not only express gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our veterans but also remember those facing the silent battles of PTSD. By understanding their challenges and providing access to the necessary resources, we can contribute to the healing and well-being of those who have given so much for our freedom. This Veteran’s Day, let our appreciation be more than words – let it be a commitment to supporting those who have served.

Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Both hotlines are free and confidential. If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here.

PTSD and Military Families: The Ripple Effect of Trauma

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As September comes to a close and the holidays begin, many families around the world will be preparing for three months of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas celebrations. For many military veterans however, this time can be a stressful one as they do their best to cope with life after service and the expectations such holidays place upon them in their new familial roles. For veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this can prove even more challenging.

That’s because the toll of PTSD doesn’t stop at the veteran; it ripples through their families. In this article, we’ll delve into the often-overlooked impact of PTSD on military families. We’ll explore how the trauma endured during service affects not only the veteran but also their loved ones. Understanding this ripple effect is crucial for supporting both veterans and their families on their journey to recovery.

The Veteran’s Burden:

Before delving into the impact on families, it’s essential to understand the weight of PTSD on veterans themselves. These individuals often carry invisible scars from their service, leading to nightmares, flashbacks, anger, and isolation. Coping with these symptoms is a daily struggle, one that can strain both familial relationships and other aspects of a veteran’s day-to-day life.

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The Family’s Role:

Military families play a vital role in supporting veterans with PTSD. Spouses, children, parents, and siblings become unofficial caregivers, even if they don’t have formal training. They provide emotional support, offer a listening ear, and, at times, must navigate challenging situations when the veteran is in crisis.

The Strain on Relationships:

One of the most immediate impacts of PTSD on families is the strain it places on relationships. Spouses may grapple with understanding their partner’s unpredictable behavior and mood swings. Children might be frightened or confused when a parent experiences a flashback. This strain can lead to feelings of helplessness, frustration, and even resentment, further complicating the path to recovery.

Parenting Challenges:

Military families with children face unique parenting challenges when a parent has PTSD. The need to provide emotional support to both the veteran and the children can be overwhelming. Moreover, veterans with PTSD may struggle with parenting, feeling disconnected or unable to fully engage due to their symptoms.

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Financial Stress:

Veterans with PTSD may find it challenging to maintain steady employment, which can lead to financial instability. This instability, coupled with the medical costs associated with treatment, can create immense stress within the family. The burden of managing finances can fall on the spouse, adding to their already considerable responsibilities.

Breaking the Silence:

One of the most significant barriers to healing for military families dealing with PTSD is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Many veterans and their families suffer in silence, fearing judgment or repercussions. Breaking this silence is crucial. Encouraging open communication within the family and seeking professional help when needed can be transformative.

Support Systems:

There is an increasing recognition of the need for support systems specifically tailored to military families dealing with PTSD. These include family counseling services, support groups, and online resources. Organizations like the National Military Family Association and Give an Hour provide valuable assistance to both veterans and their families.

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Resilience and Recovery:

Despite the challenges, military families can emerge from the shadow of PTSD stronger and more resilient. The journey to recovery involves both the veteran and their loved ones working together, seeking therapy, and finding healthy coping mechanisms. This process can strengthen family bonds and create a deeper understanding of the experiences faced during military service.

So as the holidays begin, remember:

PTSD’s ripple effect on military families is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve. Understanding and addressing this impact is crucial for holistic recovery. By providing support, breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, and fostering open communication, we can help military families not only survive but thrive in the face of PTSD’s challenges. It’s a reminder that healing is not just an individual journey but a collective one, undertaken by families who stand strong together.

Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Both hotlines are free and confidential. If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here.

Recreational Therapy Deep Dive #3: Adventure Therapy/Outdoor Therapy

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Today we’re continuing our ongoing series on the different forms of recreational therapy available to veterans by exploring an option that many people may not know even exists: Adventure Therapy, also known as Outdoor Therapy.

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What Is Adventure Therapy?

Adventure Therapy is primarily based around the healing properties of interacting with nature in fun, exciting ways, hence why its often referred to as Outdoor Therapy. It can be practiced alone but is often done as a group to utilize the healing power of group therapy through shared activities. Performing Adventure Therapy with others fosters a sense of community among each member involved, leading to many positive benefits down the line in addition to the naturally therapeutic activities each person is performing outside.

These activities can be almost anything, from hiking, fishing, or hunting to ultimate frisbee and horseback riding. Some groups will hike out into the wilderness together and camp for a weekend or more. The sky is quite literally the limit when it comes to Adventure Therapy, so there’s almost certainly an activity out there for everyone.

Does It Really Help?

While there isn’t a lot of data specifically studying Adventure Therapy since its still relatively new, its actually quite easy to see how it could be beneficial for many people. Most of the activities involve some form of exercise, which has many studies supporting it as a form of therapy. Since almost all of the activities take place outside, there are also the benefits of getting fresh sunshine and interacting with nature. When looked at individually, it’s easy to see how the separate therapeutic parts can come together to make Adventure Therapy an effective alternative to more traditional forms of therapy.

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Veteran Specific Programs

Knowing the benefits of Adventure Therapy, several organizations have risen up to provide a place where veterans specifically can go through the therapy with other veterans.

The Warrior Bonfire Program is one such program, with an emphasis on providing adventure therapy for Purple Heart medal recipients. They have multiple camping retreats per month and each group is made up of six Purple Heart recipients.

Warriors & Quite Waters provides something similar, allowing their veterans access to a sprawling outdoor ranch located in the heart of Montana for fishing, hunting, and building a sense of community with other veterans. Instead of Purple Heart recipients, this program emphasizes assistance for any combat veterans who served post 9/11.

Outward Bound for Veterans is a program run by the Outward Bound organization and serves over 600 veterans per year. Much like the other programs, the emphasis here is on a camping retreat with other veterans. Outward Bound takes a unique approach however, incorporating certain aspects of military life into the camping retreat in order to recontexualize those experiences in a positive, supportive environment.

These are but three of the many options available to veterans seeking Adventure/Outdoor therapy. Several other such programs exist in a smaller, more local capacity, so it never hurts to search online for similar programs near you!

Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Both hotlines are free and confidential. If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and How to Diagnose Them

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One of the hardest parts of seeing a soldier return home from combat is seeing the heavy price they paid in service to our country. At first glance, it’s easy to notice someone missing a limb, but it’s almost impossible to look at someone and see the traumatic brain injuries they may have suffered during their service. As a result, there’s a bit of a disconnect among the general population and their understanding of just how devastating a traumatic brain injury can be for our servicemen and women.

The Link Between TBI and Veterans

In 2020, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs for short) were responsible for over 64,000 deaths in the U.S. alone. While not all of these were military veterans, you can find an especially strong link between military service and traumatic brain injuries by looking at a bit of additional data for context.

For example, did you know that the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries is firearm assisted suicide? Or that around 72% of veteran suicides are from firearms, 22% higher than the national average? Considering that U.S. veterans are a little over twice as likely to own a gun than the average citizen, it becomes all too easy to connect the dots and see that veterans are especially at risk of TBI’s even long after they’ve returned home.

Aside from the suicide risk, the vast majority of veterans receive their TBI’s in combat. Soldiers in the field can be surrounded day and night by explosions, bullets, and even falling debris, any of which can cause a TBI. In fact, such injuries are actually the leading cause of both death and disabilities in warzones. U.S. House of Representatives member, Bill Pascrell, even went so far as to call TBI “the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan”, further driving home the fact that traumatic brain injuries are more common among veterans than most people realize.

It’s easy to think that somebody returning home from service appears to be physically healthy and without scars from their time away. But the brain is by far the most important and delicate organ in our entire body, which is why internal brain injuries like TBIs can be so devastating to someone who may otherwise appear perfectly fine on the outside.

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Diagnosing a Traumatic Brain Injury

In order to understand how to diagnose a TBI, it’s important to know a little more about how they cause their damage.

The first thing to know is that not all of the injury takes place at once. A “primary brain injury” occurs at the actual time of the injury, while a “secondary brain injury” may slowly manifest and cause additional damage over time. In essence, just because a brain injury might not be immediately devastating, it does not mean that it can’t eventually be devastating if left untreated.

This is why seeking a medical professional as soon as possible after the primary brain injury is so important. While any official TBI diagnosis should come from a qualified doctor, there are a few things that can tip you off to a potential sustained TBI that could save you valuable days, weeks, or months worth of additional secondary brain damage.

The first and most obvious question to answer is a simple one: Did you sustain any kind of head-related injury? Even something as simple as bumping your head on the ceiling of an attic can lead to a TBI, so don’t hesitate to see a doctor if you’re suffering from non-typical headaches or especially any periods of unconsciousness right in the aftermath of the injury.

You should also be on the lookout for “vomiting, nausea, lack of motor coordination, dizziness, difficulty balancing, lightheadedness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, and changes in sleep patterns,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. An especially obvious sign can be pupils of two different dilation levels.

Unfortunately, not all the symptoms of a TBI are so easy to spot. Sometimes a TBI can take much longer to manifest thanks to additional secondary brain damage, which can lead to gradual changes in personality or even decision-making capabilities over a long period time. Thankfully, these more subtle symptoms often come in tandem with at least a few of the more obvious physical symptoms, so if you or someone you know has been suffering from symptoms of both types then it’s time to see a doctor.

Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). Both hotlines are free and confidential.

If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here.

PTSD: The Silent Killer

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“War scars us all, but does the most damage to those closest to it.“

In his book, Faces of Combat, author Eric Newhouse describes PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as “…a series of persistent symptoms that follow exposure to a catastrophe or series of catastrophes that are outside a person’s control and that cause feelings of intense fear, helplessness, or horror.”

If you are unfamiliar with PTSD, Newhouse’s definition paints a somber picture of the living hell that people suffering from PTSD go though each and every day. But what makes veterans in particular so susceptible to the disorder?

Veterans who see combat can often experience these extremely stressful situations (or catastrophes) several times per day during tours that can last for years at a time. Each stressful situation compounds upon all the stressful situations that came before it, all but ensuring lasting effects long after the soldier returns home from duty. This untreated PTSD is largely why the suicide rate among veterans is statistically higher than the national average.

To support this theory, let’s look at some data.

The 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report conducted by the VA states that “In each year from 2001 through 2020, age and sex-adjusted suicide rates of Veterans exceeded those of non-Veteran U.S. adults.” Specifically, the report lists the 2020 rate of suicide among veterans as 57.3% higher than the general, non-veteran population.

Another study performed in 2017 found that 12.9% of their veteran participants were living with PTSD, compared to just 6.8% of the general, non-veteran population. This means veterans are almost twice as likely to have some form of PTSD and, when taken into consideration with the 2022 Suicide Prevention study by the VA, suggests a direct link between combat-related PTSD and suicide rates among veterans.

But despite how dire things may seem, there are reasons to feel optimistic about the future.

Thankfully, a lot of positive action has been taken in the past few years that is starting to yield very promising results. For instance, 2020 saw the lowest number of veteran suicides since 2006. Furthermore, the adjusted rate of veteran suicides is decreasing faster than the adjusted suicide rate of the general population, at 9.7% and 5.5% respectively. This means that things are absolutely trending in the right direction…but there’s still a long way to go.

In the meantime, each of us can focus on doing our part to fund programs that assist veterans. We can continue to spread awareness of the various programs that exist to provide mental health support to our veterans (several of which can be found here). The more visible these programs are, the more likely they are to be seen by the people who need them the most.

Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). Both hotlines are free and confidential.

If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here.