Illinois Veterans and PTSD

Since 2001, many Illinois veterans have returned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I shall explore, how, in many ways, this is a very serious problem. Firstly, the disorder is extremely prevalent; the numbers of Illinois veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder are huge. Secondly, this widespread disorder can produce devastating symptoms. Finally, the methods for treating post-traumatic stress disorder is simply not sufficient. As the issues surrounding post-traumatic stress syndrome among Illinois veterans are so complex, there is no solution that will be simple or perhaps even wholly successful. However, I will argue that the best solution would entail the following three ideas: encouraging veterans to seek help by fighting the stigma surrounding post-traumatic stress syndrome, increasing government services, and finally, increasing the number of community support groups in Illinois.

The great numbers of Illinois veterans affected with post-traumatic stress disorder reveal the gravity of this issue. Reports vary in their statistics, suggesting that PTSD “afflicts between 4 – 17%” of veterans (Richardson, Frueh, and Acierno 5). However, generally speaking, most experts tend to agree that the disorder affects around one in five veterans who fought in the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Applying this statistic to Illinois reveals how great an issue it is for the state. More than 25,600 troops from Illinois have been deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As there were 246 fatalities among Illinois soldiers, this brings the number of returning Illinois veterans to around 25,354. Going by the above statistic, this means that, in Illinois, approximately 5,070 veterans suffer from the disorder. (In fact, in McHenry county alone, there are roughly 70).

These statistics, revealing the prevalence of PTSD, make it is easy to see that it is a serious problem for Illinois veterans. However, it is, of course, not simply the numbers that make this issue very grave; it is also the extremely damaging symptoms of the disorder. Crippling anxiety and fear are commonly experienced. In fact, even long after they have returned home from deployment, many of the Illinois veterans suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder will be flooded with the same anxiety that they felt during their most traumatic war-time experiences. These strong and overwhelming emotions can prompt very destructive behavior. For instance, in his book on post-traumatic stress disorder, David Foy states that veterans affected with PTSD may ‘find it impossible to reconnect with a family who does not know what it is to live with fear, danger, and death” (Foy 11). Many sufferers also end up turning to abusive levels of drugs and alcohol, spousal and child abuse and even suicide. In fact, statistics show that there is currently one veteran suicide approximately every eighty minutes.

These symptoms, endured by thousands of Illinois veterans, become an even greater issue when we consider the fact that they are exponential; they create a domino effect of different problems, which ultimately expand into the wider community. For instance, alcohol and drug abuse increase chances of unemployment and homelessness, which can strain the resources of a community. Meanwhile, these symptoms do not only pain the sufferer, but also his or her relationships. The difficulties of dealing with extreme anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, a waning emotional connection and unemployment can put great strain on marriages and families and can ultimately act to break them up. Of course, while spouse and child abuse also contribute to breaking relationships, they also spread emotional trauma. Moreover, suicide clearly has huge emotional consequences on families, loved ones and even whole communities.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is most definitely a very serious issue for Illinois veterans. The symptoms affect the individual critically and can perpetuate traumas that afflict others and put stress on the wider community, such as unemployment, homelessness and broken marriages and families. There are two specific incidents, which occurred in Illinois, that strikingly convey these hugely damaging effects specifically within the state. Firstly, there is the story of Courtney Rush, a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, originally from Aledo, Illinois. On January 3, 2012, after her second deployment, twenty-seven-year-old Rush shot and killed herself. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD was assumed to be largely responsible. Meanwhile, local Illinois newspaper, Peoria’s Journal Star, related the death of twenty-six-year-old Zachary L. Crawford. Crawford, who died “after jumping from a moving vehicle on Illinois Route 29 was an Iraq War veteran who was being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder arising from combat duty” (Smith).

Clearly, the problem of PTSD for Illinois veterans is great and must be addressed. While the severity and prevalence of the disorder are outlined above, one of the biggest problems associated with the disorder is the fact that Illinois veterans are not always receiving ample treatment. There are many reasons for this. For one thing, there are several factors at play, which keep the numbers of veterans who even seek treatment very low. Military ideology is one of these. By placing great emphasis upon personal strength and self-sufficiency, the military environment does not encourage veterans to seek treatment. Many veterans believe that if they sought help, they would be considered weak. This likely plays a significant role behind the fact that only about half of those who suffer from the disorder will seek treatment. Likewise, the Federal Government also contributes to the low numbers of veterans seeking treatment for PTSD. This is because the information they provide on treatment services is often very limited. An example of this is the following statement by Illinois’s Norwest Herald: it reports that roughly “37 percent [of consulted veterans] had never received any information about the Army’s disability evaluation system or had to seek the information out on their own” (Johnson).

The low numbers of veterans seeking care for their PTSD is one aspect of the serious problems associated with the disorder. Another aspect is the fact that even when veterans do seek treatment, the systems are poorly organized, and the help is often inadequate. The waiting times to receive treatment, for instance, are often hugely long. At times “returning soldiers wait an average of 313 days” (Glantz). Furthermore, even after a veteran has jumped the hurdles of seeking information and the long delays, often the help they receive is simply not adequate. Aaron Glantz provides an example of this in his article, when he details the experiences of veteran Mr. Rodriguez. He writes that the $389 a month paid to Mr. Rodriguez “is not generous enough to allow him to take time off from work to attend counseling and group therapy sessions that the V.A. offers during business hours” (Glantz).

Post-traumatic stress disorder thus poses many problems for Illinois veterans. For one thing, the disorder is widespread, affecting thousands of veterans in the state. Meanwhile, as Courtney Rush and Zachary Crawford attest to, it can be extremely debilitating and have hugely devastating effects. On top of this, treatment is often not encouraged and ultimately insufficient. Sadly, there is really no clear-cut solution for all of these problems. For as long as people are sent to war, there will always be those who will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. However, despite the fact that there is no simple solution, we can attempt to tackle the situation by improving treatment for those afflicted with the disorder. In order to do this, the problems with current treatment at the level of the Federal Government and the military level must be considered, as well as the role of individual communities.

As stated, only about half of the Illinois veterans suffering from PTSD will even seek care. In order to increase these numbers, the military must promote the idea that it is positive to seek treatment. It must better educate veterans about the severity of the disorder and encourage them to seek help. The Federal Government must also play its role by greatly increasing the budget for treatment. In doing this, the Government will be able to better educate Illinois veterans on their options concerning treatment, shorten their waiting times and provide overall more sufficient services.

Individual communities in Illinois can also play an important role in dealing with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Illinois’s Daily Herald conveys the potential success of community outreach, by exploring one such program where veterans suffering from the disorder come together to engage in the arts. Lonnie Givens, who helped start the program several years ago, “cites veterans who came to the sessions withdrawn and disturbed and now are blossoming as writers, musicians and artists, as well as graduating from college and getting jobs” (Baltz). If more Illinois communities start groups like this, Illinois veterans can reap the positive benefits.

To conclude, PTSD is a serious problem for Illinois veterans. It is prevalent and damaging and treatment services are insufficient. There is no one solution. However, if the Federal Government, the military and individual communities all play their role, this would surely help to improve the serious problem in Illinois of veterans returning home, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Works Cited

Daily Herald [Arlington Heights] 8 Nov. 1012: n. pag. http://www.dailyherald.com/. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

Foy, David W., "Introduction and Description of the Disorder." Treating PTSD: cognitive-behavioral strategies. New York: Guilford Press, 1992. 1-12. Print.

Glantz, Aaron. "Paperwork Buries Veterans’ Disability Claims ." International New York Times 14 Apr. 2012: n. pag. http://international.nytimes.com. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

Johnson, Gene. "Report Details Flaws in Army’s Handling of PTSD ." Northwest Herald [Crystal Lake] 9 Mar. 2013: n. pag. http://www.nwherald.com. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

Richardson, Lisa K., B. Christopher Frueh, and Ronald Acierno. "Prevalence Estimates of Combat-Related PTSD: A Critical Review." The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry 44.1 (2010): 4-19. Print.

Smith, Gary L. "Chillicothe Man Dies in Jump from Vehicle ." Journal Star [Peoria] 6 Aug. 2013: n. pag. http://www.pjstar.com. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.