Being involved in war changes a soldier’s life forever. A soldier experiences gruesome realities of war that may haunt them for the rest of their life. Once out of the war it is, in many cases, very difficult for a soldier to transition into living an ordinary life. Because of the events of war that these soldiers have endured, it makes the simplest things in life a difficult task. But why is it so hard for soldiers to transition from warfare to ordinary life? Soldiers are so conditioned to be prepared for enemy attacks that this fear and stress causes some soldiers to view everyone around them as an enemy. It is disturbing to know that these young men enter war in order to protect this country but if they are lucky enough to be alive after the war they may never be the same. It is as if they become dehumanized.
As we read in The Things They Carried, Norman Bowker could not find a meaning for himself outside of fighting in combat. He didn’t know how to function in society which resulted in him committing suicide. According to News21, "Veterans are killing themselves at more than double the rate of the civilian population with about 49,000 taking their own lives between 2005 and 2011. Nearly one in every five suicides nationally is a veteran — 18 to 20 percent annually — compared with Census data that shows veterans make up about 10 percent of the U.S. adult population." Another big problem that veterans face besides suicide is a disorder known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a disease in which people experience flashbacks, bad dreams, or frightening thoughts. PTSD is caused by a traumatic or terrifying event. "At least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD and/or Depression." According to RAND, “among those who do seek help for PTSD or major depression, only about half receive treatment that researchers consider ‘minimally adequate’ for their illnesses."
Soldiers experience the terrifying events of war for our freedom and they are not even given the proper treatment for this terrible disorder. This is a problem that needs to be solved. If you want to help Soldiers with PTSD, go to the website Soldiersbestfriend.org. Soldiers fight for our freedom, so it is right for us to help them out when they are in need.
