Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. For some people, symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time.
The number of Veterans with PTSD varies by service era and symptoms do not always present themselves in a typical manner at the end of life.
Need Immediate Assistance? Connect with the Veteran’s Crisis Line
If you are in need of immediate assistance or are supporting a Veteran in crisis, connect with the Veterans Crisis Line:
- By phone: Dial 988, then press 1
- Via online chat
- By text: Text 838255
The Veterans Crisis Line provides free, confidential support 24/7. Enrollment in VA benefits or health care is not required. If you or someone you are supporting is in immediate danger, dial 911 immediately.
How May a Veteran Develop PTSD?
All Veterans with PTSD have lived through a traumatic event that caused them to fear for their lives, see horrible things, and feel helpless. Strong emotions caused by the event create changes in the brain that may result in PTSD. Some examples of traumatic events may include:
- Combat or military exposure
- Child sexual or physical abuse
- Terrorist attacks
- Sexual or physical assault
- Serious accidents, such as a car wreck
- Natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake
After the event, the Veteran may feel scared, confused, or angry. If these feelings don’t go away or they get worse, the symptoms may disrupt the person’s life, making it hard to continue daily activities.
Most Veterans who go through a traumatic event have some symptoms at the beginning. Yet only some will develop PTSD; the reason for this is not clear. How likely someone is to get PTSD depends on many things:
- How intense the trauma was or how long it lasted
- If someone close was lost hurt
- Proximity to the event
- Strength of the reaction to the event
- How much the Veteran felt in control of events
- How much help and support the Veteran got after the event
Symptoms of Veterans Suffering from PTSD
PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not occur until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than 4 weeks, cause great distress, or interfere with work or homelife, the individual probably has PTSD. There are four types of PTSD symptoms:
Veterans may relive the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms)
Bad memories of the traumatic event can return at any time. The Veteran may feel the same fear and horror as when the event took place. He/she may have nightmares or may feel like he/she is going through the event again. This is called a flashback. Sometimes there is a trigger — a sound or sight that causes the Veteran to relive the event. Triggers might include:
- Hearing a car backfire, which can bring back memories of gunfire and war for a combat Veteran.
- Seeing a car accident, which can remind a crash survivor of his or her own accident
- Seeing a news report of a sexual assault, which may bring back memories of assault for a person who was raped
Veterans may avoid situations that are reminders of the event
The Veteran may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event, and even avoid talking or thinking about the event. For example:
- A person who was in an earthquake may avoid watching television shows or movies in which there are earthquakes.
- A person who was robbed at gunpoint while ordering at a hamburger drive-in may avoid fast-food restaurants.
- Some people may keep very busy or avoid seeking help. This keeps them from having to think or talk about the event.
Veterans may express that they feeling numb
The Veteran may find it hard to express feelings. This is another way to avoid memories. They may not:
- have positive or loving feelings toward other people and may stay away from relationships
- be interested in previously enjoyed activities
- be able to remember parts of the traumatic event or be able to talk about them
Veterans may feel keyed up (also called hyper-arousal)
The Veteran may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. This is known as hyper-arousal. It can cause:
- Sudden anger or irritation
- Difficulty sleeping and concentration
- Fear for personal safety and a constant need to be on guard
- Overreaction when something surprises him/her.
Other common problems Veterans with PTSD may experience
People with PTSD may also have other problems. These include:
- Alcohol use or substance dependence
- Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
- Employment problems
- Relationship problems, including divorce and violence
- Physical symptoms
Supporting Veterans with PTSD at the End of Life
When a Veteran has PTSD, dealing with the past can be difficult, and feelings are generally kept “bottled up”. Treatment must be provided by qualified hospice or VA staff. We Honor Veterans and the VA have many resources available for you to help the Veterans in your care.
VA’s PTSD Consultation Program: For Providers Who Treat Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder’s PTSD Consultation Program offers free expert consultation, education, and resources to VA and non-VA (community-based) providers treating Veterans.
The PTSD Consultation Program’s consultants include expert clinicians from a variety of disciplines with experience leading PTSD treatment programs and consulting on PTSD cases. These consultants are prepared to consult on just about anything related to Veterans experiencing trauma. No question is too big or too small!
Connect with PTSD Consultation Program
Providers can contact consultants from the PTSD Consultation Program by phone or via email. Most requests receive a response the same day!
- By phone: 866-948-7880
- Via email: PTSDconsult@va.gov
Not sure what to ask? Check out these questions:
- What are treatment recommendations for older adults with PTSD?
- How do I know if my client has PTSD?
- How should racial trauma be treated?
- How can we educate non-clinical staff about PTSD?
- Do you have handouts for family members in other languages?
Learn more about additional resources offered by the PTSD Consultation Program including continuing education, monthly newsletters, and resources on the program’s website and by downloading the PTSD Consultation Program Fact Sheet.
We Honor Veterans is Here to Support You
Our resource library contains numerous webinars, documents, and links to informative websites that can help you and your team support and treat the Veterans with PTSD that are in your care.
