The sacrifice of our nation's veterans doesn't end when they come back from abroad. Many will be contending with the injuries they suffered for the rest of their lives. Even if they come back unscathed, they are more likely to develop addictions, exhibit violent behaviors, and attempt suicide. Every war has its trademark injury, whether we are talking about civil war amputations, WWII shrapnel wounds or Iraq/Afghan war PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
One of the most common injuries for people returning from war is TBI. It is a well-documented fact that the weapon of choice of many insurgents is roadside bombs. The shock from these blasts can lead to concussions or more severe types of TBI. A concussion diagnosis is sometimes overlooked in the chaos of war. Also several concussions can have sever and cumulative effects. Often times, after several injuries, it is too late for a concussion diagnosis because the problem becomes more severe and may be the result of a fundamental change in the make-up of the brain.
Unfortunately it can be hard to detect TBI. It is sort of a catch all term for damage to the brain by things like sports injuries, bomb blasts, car accidents and other traumatic activity. Sometimes PTSD, depression and TBI can exists in the same veteran. Often times veterans and their families are forced to deal with a myriad of symptoms like depression, memory impairment, changes in mood, and violence. This makes sorting out exactly what conditions are responsible for what ailment or exacerbating which problems can become difficult. A good place to start is with a neuropsychological evaluation. This is a good first step in getting a more precise diagnosis. Unfortunately there is something of a stigma with neurospych testing. No one wants to think of themselves as brain damaged.
Another problem facing veterans is depression. Some estimates believe that 1/5th of returning veterans will suffer some kind of PTSD. These symptoms can include depression, anxiety, addiction, risk taking behavior, hyper vigilance, flashbacks, and nightmares. Many veterans do not seek help because of the social stigma associated with a depression diagnosis. More should be done to encourage veterans to seek a diagnosis for depression. Only after a diagnosis for depression is given can a veteran take full advantage of the veteran's health system.
If you know someone who came back from Iraq or Afghanistan and has not been able to fully re-enter civilian life, you should encourage them to seek help. Veterans have excellent chances in recovery even though getting them to agree to treatment can be hard.
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