Photo By Cpl. Ashley Gomez | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Dustin Nelson, sergeant major, Wounded Warrior...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Post-traumatic stress disorder effects those that have experienced a traumatic event in their lives, which is not rare. According to the National Center for PTSD 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience trauma at least once in their lives.
In 2010, Congress named June 27 PTSD Awareness Day, and four years later, in 2014, the Senate designated the entire month of June to raise awareness for PTSD.
The purpose of PTSD Awareness month is to encourage everyone to raise awareness for PTSD and effective treatments for it.
“Greater understanding and awareness of PTSD will help veterans and others recognize symptoms, and seek and obtain needed care," said Dr. Paula P. Schnurr, executive director of the National Center for PTSD.
The effects of PTSD can be shown through different emotions and actions.
“PTSD shows itself in insomnia, depression, decreased affection, anxiety, and fearfulness,” said Lt. Jonathan Jones, Battalion Chaplain, Wounded Warrior Battalion-East. “Stigma is definitely a big one because a lot of (people) have a hard time admitting that they have been affected. Lack of community and isolation is also a very big issue. These guys just don’t talk about their problems and when they don’t talk about it they don’t get any better.”
In some cases those who suffer from PTSD do not seek help because they believe it will make them less of a person or less of a Marine.
“I was diagnosed [with PTSD] a year ago, but I have been suffering from it for about 15-16 years,” said Lt. Col. Larry Coleman, commanding officer, WWBn-E. “I took so long (to seek help) because I was too proud. My ego got in the way and it was exhausting.”
According to Coleman, after he sought help he felt like there was a weight lifted off his shoulders. The overall quality of his life improved greatly because he was starting to become happier and he was no longer embarrassed to be affected by PTSD.
“The best advice I can give is to go, don’t wait for it to go away and don’t try to fight it on your own,” said Coleman. “I waited and missed the majority of my adulthood. Don’t miss out on things in life like family because you’re too proud to get help.”
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2018 12:54 |
| Story ID: | 282177 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 295 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Bringing awareness to post-traumatic stress through PTSD awareness month, by Cpl Nikki Morales, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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