• Mar 29, 2024
  • 7:01 AM

PTSD Treatable is Available and It Works


By: VA Staff Reports  

June is PTSD Awareness Month, while June 27this designatedasPTSD Awareness Day. The designation is aimed at helping to raise awareness about the many different PTSD treatment options available and how you can make a difference in the lives of veterans and others who have experienced trauma. Everyone can and should help.  

What is PTSD? 

It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. If it’s been longer than a few months and you’re still having symptoms, you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time.  

Get the facts here: 

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/index.asp  

What are the signs and symptoms of PTSD? 

People who live through a traumatic event sometimes suffer its effects long after the real danger has passed. This is called post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. While PTSD is often associated with combat veterans, any survivor of a natural disaster, physical abuse or other traumatic event may suffer from it. The good news is that with professional help, PTSD is treatable. But the first steps to receiving help are learning the risk factors, recognizing the symptoms and understanding the treatment options.  

Did you knowthisabout PTSD? 

In 2010, the United States Congress declaredJune 27th PTSD Awareness Dayto bring attention to this serious disorder. The National Center for PTSD uses the entire month of June to educate people and help connect those in need with proper treatment.  

Additional Resources:  

When it comes to PTSD, there are many resources available. Each VA Medical Center has a Mental Health Department. However, they are not the resource available through the VA. The Vet Centers are another resource available to veterans who served in combat zones, were victims of Military Sexual Trauma, provided mortuary services, or were part of unmanned aerial vehicle crews supporting combat operation. These community-based resource centers provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. To find your closest Vet Center, visit: https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/index.asp.  

Don’t have access to mental health care? Give an Hour is a national network of licensed mental health providers. Give an Hour offers mental health care to Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve, veterans and their loved ones. Give an Hour’s services complement Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs healthcare delivery by serving veterans and military families seeking care outside the current system, those no longer eligible for healthcare provided by DoD or the VA, and non-eligible siblings, parents, partners, and other loved ones. For more information CLICK HERE.