Multiple Tours of Duty and the Development of PTSD

It is well known that the number of veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder has been steadily increasing over the years.  Is it because the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have been going on so long?  Is the combat more difficult and bloody than those we have seen in the past?  Are our soldiers being trained correctly and provided the treatment they need when they come home?  Perhaps all of these play a role in why the numbers have increased, but there may be an even stronger influence.  Recent studies have shown that veterans serving multiple deployments into these combat arenas are much more likely to develop post traumatic stress disorder.  The numbers continue to grow in association with how many tours a person has served in.

According to MSNBC, with the conflict in Afghanistan in its ninth year and the one in Iraq in its eighth, more and more members of the military are being sent into combat zones on numerous occasions.  Moreover, of the roughly two million soldiers who have been deployed overseas, forty percent have served in at least two tours.  And, at least 300,000 soldiers have been involved in three, four, or even more deployments, according to MSNBC and military documents.  These multiple deployments into conflict have led to a surge in post traumatic stress disorder diagnoses.  The soldiers are under a great deal of combat stress, they see fellow service members and civilians getting killed, and they are often separated from their families for long stretches of time.  The more exposure they get to combat and the less time they spend with their families add to the problem.

According to military surveys taken in the field, Army troops in Afghanistan reported a thirty-one percent increase in psychological problems after serving three tours.  In Iraq, the rate for post traumatic stress syndrome was roughly two and a half times as likely for a veteran serving two tours when compared to serving one.  These diagnoses often lead to heavy alcohol abuse, nightmares, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and violence.  Compounding the problem is the fact that some of these soldiers cannot identify exactly what is wrong and find it difficult to admit there may be something mentally problematic going on.  It is still very difficult for many of these service members to seek and get the help they so desperately need.

One thing all of these veterans agree with is that once you come to terms with the fact that you have post traumatic stress disorder and get counseling, you can learn to live with the disability.  They know that the disorder will never completely go away and they have to learn to recognize the symptoms and make the necessary changes in their lives.  Although many will be unable to work and may have to file for social security disability, they can still be of service to their fellow veterans by sharing their experiences and providing support for others who suffer from the PTSD disability.