Night Vision
COMM215
July 28, 2014
David Mumford

Night Vision

It's four forty-one in the morning, and the room is pitch black dark and the only light illuminating in the room is from the clock. You feel an additional presence in the room. You look back and forth trying to get your eyes to adjust in the darkness, and you realize there is a person in the room with you. Standing over you dressed in full military fatigues is your husband fresh from the most recent deployment and this time he has a loaded .357 in his hand. With all the horrifying and traumatic events that our soldiers encounter and experience overseas fighting for our country it raises the question: Is it really okay to be sending our soldiers straight home and attempt to return them to normal lives with their families without any post-war therapy? Although some people may object and claim that soldiers are doing just fine, and there's no reason to worry about them, soldiers should complete therapy before returning into normal life for the simple reason that some soldiers are not able to snap out of "War Mode" and think that everyone in their lives is the enemy including their loved ones. We will discuss the importance of getting the required treatment.
“Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is defined as an anxiety disorder that can develop after expose to a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened. (Psychology Today) The symptoms can include, but not limited to flashbacks, bad dreams, and panic attacks. Hypervigilence, excessive drinking or drug usage and difficulty sleeping are the symptoms usually seen in the military. Since the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan began over 200,000-combat veterans have received treatment for PTSD that equals roughly 16% of the 1.6 million who have seen combat. The Department of Veteran Affairs report that of that 16% the VA only treats about half that number with the other half not seek any form of treatment. It is projected that now both conflicts have come to an end there will be an increase of 5% per quarter. With these statistics, there is a great call of accountability that needs to be on the Veteran's Administration to ensure that all soldiers are receiving the necessary aftercare before return them home to their families. (Zoroya, 2011).
Once a soldier returns home from war there are adjustment periods becoming aquantiaed with the normalcy of life and their families. For many of this means returning home to a family who during their deployment carried on life as usual. During this transition, the will be a barrage of emotions on both sides. However, the transition for the soldier has often proven times to be more difficult. The stressors of adjustment usually trigger the onset of PTSD. It is during this time that is the hardest for the soldier to admit that there is an actual problem. Out of fear of being released from their duties if, there is an admission this in turn starts the downward spiral. Sleepless nights, bad dreams, patrolling the perimeter of the home are all medicated with excessive drinking which caused the precursor of be paranoid which in turn leads to hyperviligence. Now everyone is viewed as a threat, even their families and those around them. All making the recipe for the perfect disaster. "From 2001 to 2011, alcohol use associated with physical domestic violence increased by 54% and child abuse by 40%. This trend is maybe associated with research linking increased alcohol consumption with partner aggression among those who suffer from combat-related illnesses. ("Cost Of War", 2013).
Once a soldier returns from any deployment the military has no true structure readjustment program prior to acclimating them back to normal life. According to the "Returning from War" guide the signs and symptoms of PTSD are just common reactions to trauma, and most service member will successfully readjust. ("Returning For the War Guide", 2010). With a guide stating these are the common occurrence how is one to decide if they are truly suffering for any form of mental illness. Couple this with the fear of being relieved of military duties and losing your livelihood. The military lackluster approach to this real epidemic is proof that they see no real problem. "Military policies call for the spouse or family member to serve as an unpaid caregiver. Family member then in turn pay with their own mental wellbeing”. (Howell & Wool 2013) However, this calls for the need of change in approach. With the growing violence to families and the community caused by these soldiers there is an urgent need to rehabilitate Implementation of a program to help these soldier deal with the stress of return from war is imperative to the families and communities in which they return.

Works Cited

Howell, A., & Wool, Z. H. (2011, June 13). The Toll of Was and shifting the burden of Care. Retrieved from Cost of War: http://costsofwar.org/sites/default/files/articles/12/attachments/HowellWoolTheWarComesHomeVeterans.pdf

Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder. (2010, June 19). Retrieved from Pscychology Today: Pscychology Today. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

Returning from the war guide. (2010, September ). Retrieved from VA National Center for PTSD: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/reintegration/guide-pdf/SMGuide.pdf

US Veterns ans Military Families. (2013, March). Retrieved from Cost of War: http://costsofwar.org/article/us-veterans-and-military-families

Zoroya, G. (2011, November 30). USA Today. Retrieved from Rise in PTSD caes from two wars strains resources: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2011-11-29/PTSD-cases-rise/51476604/1