Iraq

War Veterans and PTSD

June 18, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Most soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan war have high rates of depression, PTSD, difficulties in controlling their anger, and alcohol use. Other than this, war veterans also suffer from many health conditions. The traumatic experience is connected with numerous physical health conditions and also create many unhealthy behaviors such as drinking and smoking. Soldiers who have been deployed from the war zone are more likely to develop stress, PTSD, and other health problems.

Also, soldiers in the war zone also get affected with many physical health problems such as physical injury and exposure to

Image via Wikipedia

contaminants. Intense studies are made to study the factors that trigger PTSD and other health problems in the war veterans. According to the soldiers report, they health problems were highly linked with chemical exposure, combat events, smoking, drinking, and most importantly PTSD symptoms.

Soldiers report also indicated that they were exposed to many different chemical exposure and it includes anthrax immunization, depleted uranium, diesel fuel, and malaria immunization. Among all other symptoms, soldiers were severely affected with PTSD symptoms more than their health problems.

War Veterans with PTSD also indicated many aggressive actions such as destroying property, physical fight with someone, and creating physical violence. War veterans anger and aggressive behavior is a method of releasing or expressing their tension connected with PTSD and uncontrolled emotions.

Anger might seem to be uncontrollable, but the war veterans can control it through different therapies and there are also anger management skills to deal with the aggressive behavior.

How You Can Help Troops Overseas

May 19, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Being a soldier who sees combat is one of the most stressful jobs in existence. Auto racers, ski jumpers, rock climbers, ski mountaineers, pilots, and sky divers all see a lot of stressful activity and fearful episodes, but individuals in these professions are not doing the one thing that intensifies the soldier’s stressful experience tremendously. No one is actively trying to kill participants in these other careers! By definition, a soldier is placed in the line of fire, which is historically a very dangerous and stressful place to be.

To help reduce stress for a soldier is a wonderful thing, and towards that end, you can make useful contributions by writing correspondence, or even sending small gifts, to soldiers in war-torn areas such as Iraq. By showing interest in their lives and daily complications, you create a sense of care and concern that may be otherwise lacking in a soldier’s existence. Your support is a tremendous benefit. You don’t have to have a bachelor degree in English to write a meaningful letter. Anything you send, from cards to words of appreciation and encouragement will be appreciated by soldiers.

By showing yourself knowledgeable of the trials that soldiers face, your written voice will ring loud and clear to those serving in the armed forces. You don’t need to know everything about soldier life to show appreciation. But if you demonstrate how clued in you are to the everyday stress of bombs and bullets, you will probably manage to grow a small fan club among a set of soldiers – the one you’re writing to regularly, and his group of buddies!

Filed Under: Veteran Resources Tagged With: Iraq, Soldier, United States

Relationship of Nightmares and PTSD

March 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

There are a lot of symptoms and problems that can occur when someone is suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. One of the most common types of symptoms that those that suffer from posttraumatic disorder have is known as nightmares.

Nightmares are dreams that depict a scary or stressful situation to the person. The body will usually react to this situation as if it were placed directly in the situation. Sometimes the nightmares will include the actual situation that is causing the trauma, other times it will only show a situation that is very similar to the trauma. In fact, research shows that half of the dreams that are from posttraumatic stress disorder were not related directly to the event but depicted a situation that was similar in many ways.

Nightmares at first glance are common and everyone will suffer from a nightmare at some point in their lives. However, those that suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder report that they experience nightmares or flashback nightmares more than the average civilian.

When surveyed only 5% of the average population report that they suffer from reoccurring nightmares. When soldiers who experienced signs and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were polled they reported that 52% of them experienced nightmares that were related to the traumatic events that they suffered from.

In another survey that looked at those that returned from Iraq and were reporting signs of posttraumatic stress disorder showed that over 71-95% of them suffered from nightmares. In this study it looked at a link between what could cause the nightmares in some people and what might prevent them. It showed that those that had a mental disorder or anxiety disorder were twice as likely to have nightmares than those that did not have one.

Filed Under: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Tagged With: Iraq, Mental health, Posttraumatic stress disorder

Women in Iraq Can Be Victims of Liberation

December 23, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Certainly many American soldiers have encountered many lovely Iraqi women. Although the romantic notion of sweeping one of these beauties off her feet is a nice fantasy, it can be a dangerous situation for the woman. Women in Iraq can be brutal victims of liberation.

Although the country is free of Saddam Hussein, it is still a dangerous place for women. The more fundamental sects of Islam are not afraid to torture and kill a woman who does not adhere to their strict laws. There are many reports of women being brutally murdered in front of their children. These so-called offenses she committed may be as harmless as wearing make-up.

Although it may be difficult for an American soldier to accept that he cannot befriend or romance an Iraqi girl, it is very important for her well being that he exercise control and honor.

One of the other terrible realities of the war in Iraq is sexual assault. Rapes are not uncommon. This is not just an offense committed by Iraqi men, but by peace keepers and soldiers. By committing such a crime, a soldier not only dishonors his country, himself and the woman, but he also put the woman at risk of being punished again by extremists.

Most of these crimes against women go unreported. There are very few Iraqi women who are brave enough to speak out and try to reduce the violence against their fellow citizens. Although Iraqi police are trying to get a handle on the crimes committed by secretive fundamentalist groups, it’s virtually impossible to solve these crimes.

The situation creates unhealthy stress on the people of Iraq, and on the peace keeping forces who help protect these victims. If a soldier witnesses a brutal murder scene, and he begins to feel the trauma of such a situation, it is important that he seek the proper support to keep himself healthy and effective as a protector of the innocent.

Filed Under: Veteran Resources Tagged With: Iraq, Iraq War, Islam, Middle East, Saddam Hussein, Shia Islam, Women in Iraq

How Soldiers in Iraq Handle the Heat

December 20, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

If you’re from somewhere cool, the heat in Iraq will astound you. Early in the Iraqi conflict, many soldiers were hospitalized for heat exhaustion. Some even died. It took a few years, but the military commanders have figured out how to help their soldiers survive the heat in Iraq.

One of the first things a good commander has to do is be observant. If he notices a soldier acting confused or woozy, this is a sign of heat related problems. The soldier is treated for heat exhaustion. Another integral part of heat survival is drinking plenty of water. Military commanders will tell you that waiting until you’re thirsty to drink water is too late. Soldiers must continually hydrate.

Summer temperatures in Iraq can be as high at 117 degrees Fahrenheit. Within a few years of the Iraqi invasion, the military began to launch maneuvers at dawn and dusk when the temperatures were more manageable. Troops can trek through the heat loaded with gear such as 100 rounds of ammo, M-16 rifles, ceramic plates on front and back, kevlar helmets, long sleeve uniforms and boots. This can weigh an extra 40 pounds.

In such conditions, good health is key to survival. The commander can be ready to react when the heat exhaustion happens, but it’s up the soldier to take preventative measures to avoid injury. The soldier needs to stay in good physical condition, and he needs to eat as healthily as possible. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Don’t slack when the deployment is over. Make the healthy routine a lifestyle.

If the heat is becoming a problem, let your commander know you’re feeling the effects. Check stations now have A/C and refrigeration units. The commanders can rotate soldiers in and out of the cooled monitoring station and the guard checkpoint to help relieve heat stress.

Before, deploying to Iraq, start acclimating. You’ll be glad you did.

Filed Under: Veteran Resources Tagged With: Baghdad, Health, Heat illness, Iraq, Iraqi Army, Soldier, United States armed forces

Improve Your Health to Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

December 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

It doesn’t matter if couples live in the United States, Iraq, India, or Australia, they can have problems getting pregnant. Research shows that half the time, there’s a physical problem with the male partner, and the other half of cases involve physical problems with the female. While some infertility problems will require intense therapies and intervention, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

First, make sure that you’re physically fit. Being fit doesn’t mean being skinny. It does mean improving your diet and exercising regularly. By doing these things, you’ll lose those extra 10, 15, or 20 pounds that have been hanging around your waist since college. Second, avoid tobacco products entirely and alcohol during and after ovulation. Both can negatively impact your reproductive system. Try to reduce your stress. This can be very difficult to do, but be intentional about setting aside time to unwind, clear your head, and relax your body. Many people find acupuncture and massage therapy to be excellent ways to make the stress melt away.

Women, specifically, should visit their doctor for a check-up before trying to get pregnant. This will help you identify any underlying health issues that need to be addressed to ensure that you can get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy. Moms-to-be should also begin taking a vitamin that’s specially designed for pregnant women. Be sure to choose a product that has the minimum amount of folic acid, about 400 micrograms.

If you’ve already tackled all of these health issues and are still struggling to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor after six to nine months. Since most couples achieve a pregnancy within a year, there may not be any medical concerns. However, if it’s been a year or more, it’s definitely time to discuss with your doctor what could be preventing you from getting pregnant.

Filed Under: Medical Resources Tagged With: Folic acid, Health, India, Iraq, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Reproductive Health, United States

How to Help Your Soldier Readjust to Civilian Life After Returning from the Iraq War

October 2, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

If you have a spouse that was serving in the war in Iraq and is now coming home, you likely have mixed emotions. While, obviously you are ecstatic to have them out of the war zone and back at home with you but a concern regarding how the readjustment will go is likely growing in the back of your mind. Welcoming the soldier back into the home can take some major readjustments from both you and the spouse. Here are a few tips on how you can make this process go as smoothly as possible and hopefully not have any major problems during the readjustment phase.

Be Willing to Compromise

When your spouse returns from war, they will likely be eager to pick back up their former duties around the household. However, since you became accustomed to completing these duties while they were away, you may not think twice about just completing them by yourself. However, you should take some time to think about how your actions are affecting the soldier because they may see this as a sign that they aren’t needed or that you don’t want their help.

Therefore, although you know that you are quite able to complete certain tasks without their help, you should still compromise and ask for assistance. This will help the soldier feel like they are part of the family and can help give them a sense of purpose during the adjustment phase.

Provide Encouragement

The soldier will likely have some time off after returning from war before they will need to return to their former civilian job, if they were just a part time military person before going to war. If this is the case, then you should encourage them to take all of the available time off to readjust and start a few new hobbies. Trying a new hobby can be a wonderful way for the soldier to better adjust to civilian life and can give them something to focus on during this trying time.

Filed Under: Veteran Resources Tagged With: History, Iraq, Iraq War, Soldier, Twentieth Century, United States, Warfare and Conflict, Wars and Conflicts

How you can Assist in Iraq Humanitarian Efforts

October 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

As the war in Iraq is winding down and the country is being returned to its people, those citizens that are left behind have a large task on their hands. Not only will they have to deal with rebuilding their country after the damaging effects of war, but they also need to re-evaluate who they are as a nation and how the country will be structured moving forward to encourage peace and cooperation.

These changes are not small tasks and will likely require much more skill than most average Iraqi citizens possess especially when they will still be dealing with the emotions of war and the loss of friends and family members from the conflict. Therefore, the country will need humanitarian efforts for many years to come to ensure that the transition from war to peace is carried out successfully. The following are a few ways you can assist in Iraqi humanitarian efforts as well as the main benefits of those efforts.

Extending Help

The top few ways that most people become involved in humanitarian efforts is by either donating their time or their money. Since Iraq is still struggling with conflict and is an unstable location, you may not feel safe traveling there with humanitarian groups to provide assistance. As such, you may best be able to help by donating funds to the humanitarian effort of your choosing. Even a small donation can make a major difference for those in need.

Benefits of Efforts

The top benefit of humanitarian efforts is that they help the people in Iraq feel as if those in the rest of the world have a concern for their well-being. These citizens are dealing with hardships that many people in the world don’t understand. However, by extending a helping hand, Iraqis will at least feel like others are trying to understand what they are going through and want to help.

Filed Under: Veteran Resources Tagged With: Humanitarian aid, Iraq, Iraq War, Iraqi people, Middle East, Sanctions, United States, Warfare and Conflict

Helping Soldiers Reintegrate into Civilian Life After the Iraq War

September 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Many soldiers have spent one or more tours fighting in the Iraq war despite criticism from countless sources on the legitimacy of that war. Now these soldiers are returning home to a public that, in large part, doesn’t understand why the war is being fought and therefore, can’t possibly understand the hardships the soldiers faced in battle. The result of this gap in understanding and communication is an increased rate of post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans and the inability to readjust to civilian life. However, the public has a duty to help these soldiers reintegrate into the civilian world because the soldiers upheld the promise they made when joining the military to serve their country and they must be shown that their service is appreciated.

Even the smallest gesture can make a large difference in the ability of a veteran to readjust to civilian life upon returning from the Iraq war. If you know that a soldier served in the war, thank them for their selflessness and the time they spent at war. You don’t have to agree with the war or the reasons why the war was started – that is irrelevant in this case. What you are doing is thanking the soldier for maintaining the promise they made to their country and for the sacrifices they made.

If you are an employer, you should do everything possible to help your veteran employees readjust to the workplace environment. Keep in mind that many veterans have just returned from extremely stressful situations. Offer your support to these workers and let them know you are available to establish a special working plan for a while to help them get used to the workplace again.

The families of veterans are often the main people that need more information on how to help their soldiers return home. This is often includes giving the soldier back some of the household duties they had given up during the tour and just letting the soldier know how much they were missed during the war.

Filed Under: Veteran Resources Tagged With: Employment, History, Iraq, Iraq War, Military, Posttraumatic stress disorder, United States, Veteran

How to Help Iraq Veterans Seek Help for PTSD

September 5, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

The soldiers coming home from the war in Iraq are used to high stress combat situations and of always being on alert to possible dangers. As such, it can take some time to readjust to normal life. However, some soldiers have more difficulties adjusting to the changes in their environment and, as such, begin experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. There are still mixed feeling about the diagnosis of PTSD in the military world and some soldiers are resistant of getting treatment for their symptoms because they fear they will be viewed as being weak. However, receiving treatment is extremely important because the soldier will never be able to completely readjust to civilian without first understanding why they are experiencing the symptoms and how to deal with them.

If you have a family member that is coming home from the war in Iraq, you should monitor them closely for signs of PTSD. If you notice that they are no longer interested in the things they used to or begin talking about suicide, even in a joking manner, you should encourage them to seek assistance for the emotions they are dealing with. You must approach this manner delicately because, again, most soldiers view receiving counseling as a sign of weakness. However, treatment is imperative because you don’t want them to harm themselves or to suffer any longer from the things that they experienced in war.

Soldiers need to understand that PTSD is a natural side effect of being in high stress situations and is not a negative reflection of their strength as a person or as a soldier. By receiving the information they need on this issue and by being given the tools to deal with it, they can successfully readjust to civilian life and begin living the happy life that they deserve for spending time at war.

Filed Under: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Tagged With: Anxiety, Disorders, Health, Iraq, Mental health, Military, Post-traumatic Stress, Posttraumatic stress disorder