Combat-related PTSD
For all too many Veterans, returning from military service means coping with symptoms of PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after you have been through a trauma. A trauma is a shocking and dangerous event that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger.Roughly 15% of Veterans returning from war-zones have been diagnosed with PTSD, although the actual percentage is thought to be much higher (around 30%). Other factors in a combat situation can add more stress to an already stressful situation, which may contribute to PTSD. These factors include what you do in the war, the politics around the war, where the war is fought, and the type of enemy you face.
Another cause of PTSD in the military can be military sexual trauma. This constitutes any sexual harassment or sexual assault that occurs while you are in the military. On average, 23% of female Veterans have reported sexual assault when in the military, with a further 55% of female Veterans reporting to have experienced sexual harassment when in the military. Military sexual trauma can happen to both men and women, with approximately 38% of male Veterans reporting to have experienced sexual harassment. Military sexual trauma can occur during peacetime, training, or war. There are many more male Veterans than there are female Veterans. So, even though military sexual trauma is more common in women Veterans, over half of all Veterans with military sexual trauma are men.
PTSD Symptoms in Veterans
Some people develop PTSD symptoms in the hours or days following a traumatic event, however, for others, symptoms don't surface until months or years after you return from deployment. While PTSD develops differently in each Veteran, there are four main types of symptoms:
- Recurrent, intrusive reminders of the traumatic event
- Extreme avoidance of things that remind you of the traumatic event
- Negative changes in your thoughts and mood
- Being on guard all of the time, jumpy and very emotionally reactive
Suicide Prevention
It is common for Veterans with PTSD to experience suicidal thoughts.
How we can help
If you or a loved one is a Veteran suffering from PTSD, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. It is important to contact a qualified attorney with experience in PTSD claims in order to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Our Los Angeles based law firm invites you to contact us for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to review your case!