Feature Article
Scars of Service
• Adjustment difficulties
• Crying, stress, panic, loneliness
• Problem-solving, decision making, memory and cognition problems
• Irritability and anger; expression of terrible anger that may include violent outbursts
• Easy access to or familiarity with guns and other lethal weapons
• Becoming emotionally numb to survive; shutting down; active avoidance of trauma-related thoughts and feelings
• Loss of interest in activities or people; feeling detached or estranged from loved ones; dissipation of some basic human emotions like empathy; building a wall against others with lack of trust
• Marital difficulties; acts of physical and verbal violence toward partner; lack of communication in family, absence of family support
• Frequent nightmares and other sleep disturbances related to war zone traumatic stress
• Child-rearing difficulties
• Employment challenges
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder arising from combat; flashbacks, or triggers or intrusive thoughts that are unwelcome memories or re-experiencing of past traumatic events
• Fight-or-flight reaction to a life-threatening situation
• Numbing with alcohol or drugs; problem alcohol or drug use to cope with stress reactions
• Criminal activity to support illegal drug use
• Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts and violent behavior
• Survivor/survival guilt – self-blame, guilt, shame
• Major depression
• Comorbid psychiatric and medical disorders and substance abuse
• Cancers or other medical conditions due to exposure to chemical agents; can include a range of toxic substances such as chemical and biological warfare agents, vaccinations for botulinum toxoid and anthrax, infectious diseases, depleted uranium, oil well fires, pesticides, chemical agent-resistant coatings (CARC) paint and a combination of these exposures
• Homelessness
