Coming Together to Heal, and Not Re-Traumatize
War on the Homefront
“Warriors Live On has been highlighted in the Checkpoints Magazine put out by the United States Air Force Academy Air Officer’s Group.”
… One person who has experienced PTSD, and done something t help herself and other, is Eva Belanger, Class of 2003. During a 2006 deployment to Ballad Air Base, Iraq, she was subject to many near-miss mortar attacks. From those, nad her volunteer work at the hospital, she saw a lot of injured troops.In addition, there were personal safety concerns for women during the deployment, with several sexual assaults having been committed on base. Through it all, as an executive officer she had to keep her emotions inside, as do most soldiers. Also as with most soldiers, the problems really began when she left the war zone.
PTSD is a major issue for returning soldiers. VA studies show that between 11 percent and 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom manifest PTSD in a given year. The VA estimates that “about 30 out of every 100 (or 30 percent) of Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.” Suicide and unemployment rates are also significantly higher for veterans than for the non-military civilian population.
Belanger moved to Kirkland AFB, New Mexico, then separated in 2007, and her challenges continued. After an internship, she took a job as a Readjustment Counseling Therapist at the San Diego Vet Center. In dealing with combat veterans, she quickly discovered that their stories were her stories. She had trouble sleeping and was not eating well, common symptoms of PTSD.She had migraine headaches. She shut down socially, even rejecting family overtures for help.
You can read the rest of story :War on the Homefront” from Checkpoints Magazine on go to pages 45-50.
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