What is PTSD?

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a natural reaction to the extreme trauma and chaotic circumstances of war. For Iraq and Afghanistan veterans this can include trauma from combat, sexual assault, repeated deployments, and urban warfare. Symptoms may include: hypervigalence, loss of sleep, disassociation, flashbacks, numbing, and avoidance. Symptoms of PTSD may be onset or not appear for months or years after the traumatic event(s).

Prevalence: As of October 2007, over 100,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD or other mental health conditions. Women veterans are showing higher rates of PTSD, with nearly 3,800 treated for it in 2006 alone.

What the CIAV is Doing:

ONE Freedom, Inc. www.onefreedom.org provides returning veterans and their families with meaningful education and training on prolonged stress, trauma, and personal, self-managed skill-sets for maintaining strength after service.

The National Veterans Foundation, Inc. www.nvf.org manages and operates the nation’s only toll-free helpline for all veterans and their families as well as spotlights the needs of America’s veterans and provides much needed outreach services.

New Directions, Inc. www.newdirectionsinc.org , like many of the members of the CIAV is made up of veterans helping veterans. They have licensed staff you can call 24/7, seven days a week with mental health concerns. If they can not help you, they will find someone who can.