Wide Reaching Effects
No one individual exists in a vacuum. As more research goes into studying and treating PTSD, there have been growing cases where the spouses and children of service members are also experiencing PTSD, a child experiencing the reality of a seriously wounded parent, for example.
Dr. Herrera-Yee reflects, “This has been a really tough year. We have lost several service members in Afghanistan, we have lost some through accidents and still others from suicide; we’ve lost spouses and family members, faced the horrors of a terrorist group bent on harming our citizens and threatening to continue to terrorize and threaten us. When we open a newspaper, turn on the TV or read online news and social media we just want to make it all STOP.
“For many of us, the news is unwelcome and we choose to tune out all of the negativity. Others will research topics, read everything there is to know about ISIL and suicide, war and coalition building…and try to make sense of it all. Still others will struggle with their emotions, to the point where it may start affecting their day-to-day life.”
Ashley recalls, “After my husband came back from his deployment and got out of the military, it became clear that he suffered from PTSD, among his other injuries. In the last couple years, I have been more focused on getting him better than paying attention to my own issues. A lot of the PTSD symptoms my husband exhibits, like hyper vigilance, inability to deal with crowds, I seem to have inherited, though I am able to control my PTSD better than he is. I know I need to get back into therapy – probably get my medication adjusted but my husband’s care always takes priority. It seems sometimes that I am destined to always struggle – for me, for my husband. I wouldn’t do my life any differently but I yearn for the ability to not to have to choose who to devote attention and care to – myself or my husband. I yearn for balance.”
