Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD can be triggered by any traumatic event that you hear about, see or that happens to you such as combat exposure, sexual abuse or assault, any serious accident or a natural disaster. Symptoms can start immediately after the event or even years later and they are often disruptive of everyday living. Physical symptoms include: nightmares, flashbacks and bad memories, jitters, and trouble concentrating or sleeping. Emotional symptoms include: avoiding events or places which remind you of the trauma, avoidance of talking or thinking about the trauma, and feelings of guilt, fear, anger or shame. Left untreated these symptoms can lead to depression, addiction and in some cases symptoms can present as physical pain. If you or someone you know is in crisis:
- Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
- Call the Veterans Crisis Line for 24 hour crisis support: 1-800-273-8255 and Press1; text 838255 or chat live with a crisis counselor. Family members of soldiers may also call to receive help.
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273- 8355 (1-800-273-TALK)
Often, military personal experience PTSD and Healing Foundations is aware of some of these challenges facing our country's enlisted and retired service men and women. Therefore, in an effort to support those who have served us, we have created two programs to help soldiers have more access to health and wellness services.
The programs are based on the length of time the soldier has been discharged: the Warrior Program for those that have recently left service or on active duty. The Retired Warrior Program is for those that have been discharged from service for at least 1 year. If you are a veteran, or know someone who is, please share with them this information.
