what to know about ptsd
- Where there is war, there is PTSD, which is an anxiety disorder that develops in reaction to physical injury or severe mental or emotional distress. Traumatic Brain injury (TBI) from head trauma or repeated exposure to explosives can also lead to PTSD.
- The effects of PTSD can include sudden unexpected attacks of paranoia, flashbacks, depression, hopelessness, suicidal thinking, insomnia, hypervigilance, headaches, social isolation, and a host of other kinds of suffering.
- Half of veterans who are suffering from the effects of PTSD also use drugs or alcohol to numb their pain, which can make things even worse. PTSD rewires your nervous system and automatically overrides your conscious willpower. It is not a choice.
- Combat PTSD is extremely common in military veterans who’ve been on active duty or experienced direct combat. It is also the most difficult to treat.
- PTSD can inadvertently be passed along to a veteran’s spouse, family, and loved ones, who may experience depression, anxiety, hopelessness, fatigue, and more as a result.
- PTSD is not a matter of poor character, weakness, cowardice, or insanity. It is a legitimate health condition with serious implications for a veteran’s physical and mental wellbeing.
- If you have PTSD, you are not alone. Over 500,000 U.S. veterans who served in post 9/11 wars have PTSD.
- Unless treated, PTSD can be a life sentence. 271,000 Vietnam vets still have PTSD 50 years later.
- Traditional veteran treatment programs for PTSD have low rates of completion and success.
- PTSD causes such great suffering that more U.S. veterans have died by suicide than have died in all the wars since 9/11.
THE GOOD NEWS: PSYCHEDELIC HEALING
The good news is that researchers have discovered a surprising new way to recover from PTSD: psychedelics. Heroic Hearts Project was founded by veterans with PTSD to help veterans with PTSD. In addition to a growing body of research that shows the positive effects of psychedelics overall for treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more, preliminary research results show that over 80% of the veterans who attend a psychedelic program through Heroic Hearts Project see meaningful improvement in their PTSD.
Additional Resources
REVIEW THIS PTSD CHECKLIST to see if you have common symptoms of PTSD. An estimated 83% of all combat veterans since 9/11 have experienced PTSD.
UNDERSTANDING COMBAT PTSD. Causes, Symptoms, & HHP Treatment Programs.
Visit the RESOURCES PAGE for information you can use in the meantime for dealing with PTSD until you get treatment.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call the Veteran Crisis Line immediately by calling 988, then pressing 1. You can also text the hotline at 838255.