...The Unseen Wound Salvador Siegel COMM/112 May 17, 2012 Rick De La Pena The Unseen Wound Many soldiers returning home from war have many obstacles to overcome both physical and mental. Most soldiers are not aware of a certain condition that they might have developed while deployed in a war zone. This condition is called Traumatic Brain Injury, also known as TBI. It is an injury that is not found on the outside of the body but rather internal, therefore it is called the Unseen Wound. Even though it’s unseen, TBI is real and affects a large percentage of veterans returning from war and test results show that an average of 46 percent of soldiers have TBI. Traumatic brain injury, the signature wound of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, is doubly cruel: it leaves many victims emotionally shattered and cognitively crippled. But because mild and moderate brain injuries do not show up on CT or other imaging devices, doctors and even family members are often skeptical that any real damage exists. TBI is real and affects a large percentage of veterans returning from war. “Consistent with the designation of TBI as one of the signature injuries of the war theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan, 46% of the returning veterans recruited for this project screened positive for a deployment-related TBI” (Morissette, Woodward, & Kimbrel, Meyer, Kruse, 2011, p. 346). I have deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan and have sustained injuries in result of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s)...
Words: 3162 - Pages: 13
...05 Baldwin April 12th, 2013 Emotional Consequences Faced By Veterans and Their Families Many books, articles, or even essays that are read throughout one’s life, can at times be slightly unclear about what precisely the main idea is or what the authors true purpose is for writing that text. Most people do not understand that every writer uses rhetorical strategies throughout their writing to make their text clear and understandable for the reader. These rhetorical strategies are particularly important because they help with the clarity of complex ideas and assist the writer in getting their point across. In doing so, writers are able to make their text more effective for a wider range of people to read. In the article “Iraq, Afghanistan War Veterans Struggle With Combat Trauma,” by David Wood, and in the short story, “Gold Star,” by Siobhan Fallon, the authors use numerous amounts of rhetorical tools to help guide the reader through the text. While “Gold Star” is a short story about a wife who has lost her husband due to the war and “Iraq, Afghanistan War Veterans Struggle With Combat Trauma,” is an informative newspaper article about how the war can have severe consequences on not only the soldiers themselves but their loved ones back at home too, both text use emotive appeals that aim to inform the general public of the various emotional and psychological tolls faced by veterans and their families today. Furthermore, throughout both texts the authors delivered a nearly...
Words: 2264 - Pages: 10
...back home. This is how america treats its veterans by throwing them out on the streets, with PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder), and addictions as the only way to ease the pain. This shameful practice happens throughout this country, hurting many heroes. Many heroes have sacrificed so much to protect this great country, but this country has given very little back in return for this great risk. There is a big problem which is that many veterans are homeless. A very disproportionate amount of them, according to nationalhomeless.org male veterans are 34% of the population, but make up 40% of the homeless population. In fact one fourth to one fifth of veterans are homeless. Sadly men get it the worst with women making up only 4% of the homeless veterans. This is a big problem in society. Because people are waking up to these facts people could stop wanting to join the military, this is huge because america is the world police and without it many other countries couldn’t prosper because they rely on america's protection....
Words: 511 - Pages: 3
...media during a war and was this role effectively fulfilled during the Vietnam War? Does the Selective Service Act address the need for an effective fighting military in the U.S.? How or how not? How would a draft affect morale of soldiers? Looking at the soldier’s experience in Vietnam, how would a draft today affect soldiers both during and after a modern conflict? If the U.S. enacted the draft today, what would the American public response be? Would this have a positive or negative impact on the U.S. overall? If a draft were reinstated today, how might domestic issues in the U.S. be influenced? How would domestic issues such as the economy, political leadership and contemporary American culture influence foreign policy either with or without a draft? Is an all-volunteer military a more effective fighting force? Why or why not? Is it an American’s patriotic duty to serve in the military during their lifetime? Would a powerful, drafted military force enhance or impair U.S. foreign relations? According to the Selective Service Act, men ages 18 to 26 must register. Should women be required to register as well? Enacting a draft is the best solution for engage American youth in domestic and foreign politics. How do veterans contribute to American society upon their return, and are their contributions defined by whether they were drafted or volunteers? Does American media today accurately inform...
Words: 364 - Pages: 2
...cause different side effects such as headaches or sexual problems. Group therapy is the most effective because people can relate to what you are going through. Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that occurs after being exposed to a terrifying event or when severe harm or after being threatened. Post-traumatic stress disorder is also known PTSD. Events that may trigger this disorder may come from violent personal assaults, natural or unnatural disasters, accidents, or military combat. Most that's in the military that serve time in another country, usually, suffer from this disorder. Psychology today states that it is 7.7 million adults that are affected by this disorder. This disorder can occur at any age even childhood. This anxiety disorder affects women more than it does men, and it could even ruin families because people don't know how to handle it or afraid to get help. This disorder could cause many things such as depression, substance abuse and even a number of anxiety disorders....
Words: 1599 - Pages: 7
...and how has been effective. “Music can be described as an embodied flow in time of our sense of being. When listening to music, we have available the possibility of experiencing ourselves as both familiar and changed,” (Sutton & De Backer, 2009, p. 76). “Music can affect a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior and has been shown to assist with managing stress, expressing emotion and improving communication,” (Arora, 2013). In order to understand how music therapy works, one must understand what music therapy is. Music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals-helps people with understanding and developing...
Words: 1308 - Pages: 6
...This paper is about Post-traumatic Stress disorder or PTSD. This paper will show and explain what PTSD is and what may trigger the mental illness. PTSD can affect individuals from all paths of life. For this reason, I included the effects of PTSD on different groups of people. These groups are broken three categories, the general impart of PTSD on ordinary people, PTSD effect on children and PTSD effect on veterans. There many ways of treating PTSD in all three groups. This paper will go in detail of all the most effective and common used treatments of PTSD and their potential side effects. However, there is an alternative treatment or a way of life above all men kind invention. That is a Christian and living by Jesus Christ’s words. Therefore you will see the potential benefits of accepting Christ as our savior. In the final part of this paper, it includes a personal story of a hero who servers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who is not safely home but suffering from PTSD. The Lord is the only way to true happiness and fulfillment. The doors are opened to anyone who wishes to enter, even the ones who denied and betrayed our Lord. In Matthew 21:22 God said “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a disorder caused by anxiety. PTSD can be categorized into two types of acute and chronic PTSD: if symptoms persist for less than three months, it is termed “acute PTSD,” otherwise, it is called “chronic...
Words: 3725 - Pages: 15
...Women Veterans: The Effects of Combat Deployment Patricia Rochedieu Liberty University Introduction to Human Services HSCO 500 Mrs. Jennifer Griffin November 17, 2014 Abstract The relocation and adjustment processes occurring within persons facing involuntary deployment are most certainly filled with anxiety and uncertainly. This discussion will focus on women veterans who have served on the front lines and the affects of combat deployment. Examinations defining the trials and tribulations faced by the female military member will place attention on the psychological and psychosocial transactions that occur during military operations and the challenges women face. Expansion of this topic will include a dialogue that offers insight into the growing concerns shaping the outcomes of the female member’s deployment to include military sexual trauma, eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, adjustment disorders, sleep disturbances and spiritual and existential struggles. Although this topic will only provide a brief glimpse into the female veteran’s plight it opens up a forum for further discussions within this topic with the intentions of highlighting the effects of combat deployment on women veterans who served on the front lines. Women Veterans: The Effects of Combat Deployment The participation of women deployed to combat areas throughout the world is vital to the successful outcomes of any mission. Women in the military are well trained and possess specific...
Words: 4779 - Pages: 20
...people is the terrorist attack on 9/11. Every year on that day, we remember the people that we lost and we replay all the horrible things that happened. This attack lead to several wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the men and women who fought for our country during these wars should always be remembered for the sacrifices they have made. Many veterans today do not have jobs, homes, or families because of their illnesses and inabilities to conform back into their normal lives. Although many Veteran Organizations think that they are doing more than enough for our soldiers, the US government needs to focus more on the soldier’s care after returning home because they are the ones who took care of America in our time of need. As all of the tours ended in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, surviving soldiers began to return home, well the United States, not what people would typically consider “home.” Rodenbush and Dillon state that, “Data collected during the annual Point-in-Time Count conducted in January 2014 shows there were 49,933 homeless veterans in America.” There are several reasons as to why this many veterans are homeless. First, because a large amount of soldiers are returning home with brain injuries, PTSD or TBI, they have a greater inability to find jobs; without any kind of job, the veterans have no choice but to live on the streets. Some families are also known for leaving their solider behind before his/her return home, resulting in another soldier without a home. The...
Words: 1666 - Pages: 7
...traumatic events that could trigger this disease. Some examples that may lead to PTSD are witnessing a crime, domestic abuse, and war. The most experience I have had with PTSD is learning about soldiers who have been affected by fighting in war. I’ve read several fiction novels that display a soldier dealing with PTSD. In Tim O’Brien’s fiction novel The Things They Carried, many soldiers are affected by fighting in the Vietnam War. The book takes the reader through the soldiers’ experiences while fighting, and then fast-forwards to years down the road when the veterans are much older. The reason for this is to show how the veterans are still affected by the war many years later. One particular soldier, Norman Bowker, spent his late years reflecting on his time in the war. He blamed himself for what happened to his fellow soldiers. He first handily watched one of his good friends die in combat. Bowker had the chance to save his friend, but he was unable to do so. Norman had reoccurring episodes where he found himself in the middle of combat, not knowing what to do. After these episodes occurred, he felt no purpose of living anymore. The aftermath of the war is what got to Bowker the most. Eventually Bowker committed suicide because his PTSD was so severe. He could not go on with his life. Seeing Bowker commit suicide really put into perspective how serious PTSD is. I do not imagine most PTSD victims’ lives end in suicide, but it is definitely a possibility. Post-traumatic...
Words: 989 - Pages: 4
...immeasurable effect on one’s way of life. The pieces in Collection One: Finding Common Ground demonstrate how individuals can be unified by the mourning of the lost, can be strong during hard times, and will be connected to their heritage and memories always. In 1964, the US became involved in The Vietnam War. They are not particularly fond of...
Words: 886 - Pages: 4
...VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FISCAL BUDGET THOMAS POULTER UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY INTRODUCTION In the 1930s, the United States government established the Veterans Administration on a philosophy of President Lincoln; who stated that the country needs “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans. Approximately one percent of the American population will serve their country in one of the five branches of military service. Today, the Veterans Administration has one of the most comprehensive health care systems for military veterans than any other country. In 1930, the US government budgeted over $73,000.00 to take care of the country’s veterans. The fiscal budget for the Veteran’s Administration continues to grow every year. There are several reasons the budget changes every year. First, the continuing number of veterans rises every year. Second, the budget needs to account for inflation and the consumer price index. Finally, Congress and the President may approve new programs that will help service members cope with medical or mental issues. This paper will discuss the history of the VA; budget preparation; constant dollars and current dollars, increasing budget in percentages and dollars the past 20 years; five year fiscal plan; and a conclusion. HISTORY OF THE VA BUDGET The United States has been caring for service members since the early 1600’s; the first...
Words: 1764 - Pages: 8
...Jimmy Carter once said “War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.” What I think Jimmy Carter means by this is even though we see war and inevitable, war is never going to be a good thing. We will never grow as a whole as long as we keep killing each other’s youth. The youth are fighting in the wars of today many not even being able to see tomorrow. The implications that war brings a sense of supreme power and security to the Americas does not make up for the trauma, PTSD disorders, and emotional detachment issues our soldiers face at the end of the day. Trauma can be experienced one of two ways, physical being wounded or hurt on the outside or mental trauma which is experienced inside the individuals own mind. Both can affect a person’s life drastically, but it’s the mental patients that give the appearance that they have no problems, but upon further examination end up being the lives that where affected the most. In the film “In the Valley of Elah” by Paul Haggis a young woman goes to the police after her war veteran husband drowns their dog in the bathtub, believing she’ll be next only to be turned away. It is very clear that the woman’s husband is suffering from mental trauma. That is why he drowned the dog. Trauma can make you do things you never thought humane. Trauma can change your whole process of thinking. Trauma can change...
Words: 281 - Pages: 2
...Resilience The stories of ex-former prisoners of war inhumane experiences they faced during their captures are unimaginable. Prisoners of war, from all nations, were subject to daily beatings, slow starvation, dehydration, murder, forced labor, isolation and even medical experimentation. The ones who did survive were returned to their homes; only these veterans were left with a lifelong scar. The devastating effects of POW’s affects family, work, social and all other aspects of their lives. One illustration is of a Holocaust survivor who spoke about the bitterness that remains in himself about Nazi’s treated him and other POW’s, “If you could lick my heart, it would poison you” (Thomas). To some, crimes like the Holocaust may seem unforgivable, from a religious aspect, it is a Christian obligation. But many could argue that one cannot commit such cruelty and evil and simply be forgiven, so crimes like the holocaust may seem unforgiveable but it is evident by many researchers and scholars that in fact they have found that forgiveness plays a crucial role in the ex- Prisoners of war emotional healing to be able to lead a resilient life after such traumatic events. Generally, forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life. But forgiving allows you to help you focus on other, positive parts of your life. Understanding that everyone may or may not deserve forgiveness no matter...
Words: 1445 - Pages: 6
...Reflection on Understanding and Treating PTSD Xxxxxxx xxxxxx EmpireState College I have read and am aware of the university requirements regarding academic honesty Instructor: Bernard Wakely December 21, 2012 Introduction What is now known as Posttraumatic Syndrome Disorder has a long history and list of names. It has been suggested that Homer form the Odysseus described symptoms of PTSD upon his return from the Trojan War. More recently it has been given many names. During the civil war it came to be known as Soldiers heart. During WWI it became known as “shell shock” and “war neurosis”, changing again during WWII to “battle fatigue” and ‘combat neurosis”. During this war the condition was so severe during this war psychiatric discharged soldier outnumbered new recruits. The name once again morphed during the Vietnam War to “post-Vietnam syndrome” and finally settling to its current moniker Posttraumatic syndrome disorder. Despite the many name changes one thing has remained constant and that is the condition causes suffering Over View Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is an anxiety disorder that is caused by exposure to a situation or environment that is violent or life threatening to an individual or others. Its symptoms include flashbacks, hyperarousal and avoidance. It was originally believed that PTSD represented a natural and normal response at the extreme end of a response continuum based on the severity of the trauma. This response is the flight...
Words: 2076 - Pages: 9
