Invisible Wounds In Vietnam

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Invisible wounds have existed for years in the military lifestyle. Some of these wounds have the capacity to suppress the urges and often can go unnoticed for years. With that being said, it does not take much for these invisible wounds to arise and turn a person’s life upside down. These wounds are invisible to eyes and hard to track down. These invisible wounds have made its appearance as early as World War II. Soldiers at the time were showing strange symptoms but no one was able to figure out. At the time, the knowledge of the Invisible Wounds has not been discovered just yet. Although, the symptoms were there, soldiers were not properly treated psychologically and cognitively. Nowadays, service members are required to go through a screening …show more content…
Before Vietnam War, those symptoms were considered a temporary shock from the war. Many years later, it has become evidence that those symptoms are something that should be considered a red flag to our service members as well as the veterans. According to Beaupre “It was not until the Vietnam War that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) began gaining recognition as the real and debilitating affliction it is. No longer dismissed as an indicator of personal weakness, cowardice, or damaged nerves, PTSD captured the attention of the mental health community—making its way into the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in 1980. Not far behind came the attention of the media, the Pentagon, and the public at large.” (Beaupre, 2010). Ever since then, PTSD has become a terrible condition that forces the military to take …show more content…
PTSD is a unique condition and each person can experience the same condition differently. PTSD is a condition that includes symptoms such as repetitions of unwanted bad memories. One can also experience flashback that makes them lose touch of reality. This condition can cause individual to steer away from peers, friends and family. Individual can sometimes detach themselves from others for unknown reasons. Individuals can sometimes feel suicidal because they cannot explain the things that they are going through. They sometimes feel isolated because they are incapable of relating what they are going through with their new environment. They sometimes feel guilty usually due to the loss of fellow soldiers. “Individuals with PTSD are at increased risk for depression, physical injuries, substance abuse, and sleep problems, which in turn can affect thoughts and actions. These risk factors also occur with brain injury.” (Lash). It is common among the Vietnam War Veterans to use different substances to cope with their symptoms. It is a reoccurring theme through out history of service member and veterans to seek drugs and alcohol instead of seeking professional help. On the other hand, condition such TBI can occur anytime to anyone. Anyone who has been in a car accident can also experience TBI due to a level
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