Could PTSD Have Caused a Massacre?

As details of a mass killing of Afghans by an American serviceman emerge and images of lifeless bodies flash on television screens, we are all left to wonder what may have triggered the reported rampage.

Not far from many minds is the shadow of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, especially after it was revealed the sergeant was in his fourth deployment. He served three tours in Iraq and was on his first to Afghanistan.

It is not known what exactly provoked the soldier. According to ABC News, the 38-year-old man is not talking and has asked for an attorney. He is accused killing women and children in the middle of the night, some as they slept.

But the specter of PTSD looms. It is a condition all too familiar for the physicians at the who have treated thousands of patients. While it is recognized by most Americans, it is still hard for many who cannot see psychological scars to understand the depth of the disability, experts say.

PTSD is a reality for people throughout the country, not just soldiers.

It can exist in child victims of sexual or physical abuse, terrorist attacks such as the 9-11 attacks or the Oklahoma bombing, victims of sexual or physical assault, survivors of serious crashes and natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake.

“Symptoms of PTSD can be terrifying,” according to information available through the Loma Linda VA. “They may disrupt your life and make it hard to continue with your daily activities. It may be hard just to get through the day.

“PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not happen until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you probably have PTSD.”

If you think you have PTSD, doctors encourage you to seek help. Do not ignore the symptoms.

“Witnessing or going through a trauma can lead to both emotional and physical problems,” VA experts say. “At first, you may find it hard to discuss your experiences.

The National Center for PTSD staff has put together the checklist below. VA Physicians recommend you print this information, complete this list and show it to your doctor.

Brief checklist of trauma symptoms

Check the symptoms below that you experience. Include symptoms you have even if you are not sure they are related to a traumatic event.

I experienced or witnessed a traumatic event during which I felt extreme fear, helplessness, or horror.

The event happened on (day/month/year) _______________.

What happened? ________________________________________.

1. I have symptoms of re-experiencing or reliving the traumatic event:

• Have bad dreams or nightmares about the event or something similar to it
• Behave or feel as if the event were happening all over again (this is known as having flashbacks)
• Have a lot of intense feelings when I am reminded of the event
• Have a lot of physical sensations when I am reminded of the event (for example, my heart races or pounds, I sweat, find it hard to breathe, feel faint, feel like I'm going to lose control)

2. I have symptoms of avoiding reminders of the traumatic event:

• Avoid thoughts, conversations, or feelings that remind me about the event
• Avoid people, places, or activities that remind me of the event
• Have trouble remembering some important part of the event

3. I have noticed these symptoms since the event happened:

• Have lost interest in, or just don't do, things that used to be important to me
• Feel detached from people; find it hard to trust people
• Feel emotionally "numb" and find it hard to have loving feelings even toward those who are emotionally close to me
• Have a hard time falling or staying asleep
• Am irritable and have problems with my anger
• Have a hard time concentrating
• Think I may not live very long and feel there's no point in planning for the future
• Am jumpy and get startled easily
• Am always "on guard"

4. I experience these medical or emotional problems:

• Stomach problems
• Intestinal (bowel) problems
• Gynecological (female) problems
• Weight gain or loss
• Pain, for example, in back, neck, or pelvic area
• Headaches
• Skin rashes and other skin problems
• Lack of energy; feel tired all the time
• Alcohol, drug, or other substance use problems
• Depression or feeling down
• Anxiety or worry
• Panic attacks

Other symptoms such as: ______________________________