June is PTSD Awareness Month. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps)

Since 2010, every June 27 has marked PTSD Awareness Day, which works to end the stigmas surrounding post-traumatic stress disorder while encouraging those who suffer from PTSD to seek treatment. June is also PTSD Awareness Month.

PTSD Has Gone by Many Names

PTSD is not a new issue affecting American veterans. 

Civil War veterans called it “Soldier’s Heart.” World War I veterans called it “shell shock.” World War II and Korean War veterans called it “battle fatigue.” In these eras, relief was limited because the underlying problems were not well understood. 

The Vietnam War and the era that followed changed this outlook by bringing a sharper medical focus to the issue and today, PTSD treatments are widely accessible for veterans. Unfortunately, many stigmas persist and too many of those affected go without treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that around 8 million people in the United States, many of whom are veterans, suffer from PTSD. 

Combating PTSD starts with recognizing the signs, which include:

• Reliving traumatic events through flashbacks and nightmares.
• Similarly avoiding people, places, or things that serve as triggers.
• Hyperarousal, or always feeling on edge.
• An increase in intrusive, negative thoughts or feelings.
• Losing interest in things that previously brought joy. 
• Feelings of detachment.
• An inability to consistently sleep or function.

For many, PTSD symptoms vary over time.

A PTSD diagnosis is not a sign of weakness and fighting PTSD alone is an uphill battle. PTSD treatments exist and work. Trauma-focused psychotherapy has been proven to be effective while new treatments are constantly being researched. 

The American Legion offers free help connecting veterans with their benefits, including treatment for PTSD.

Readers can learn about more important veterans dates here.

Author: Christian Southards

Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.