War Trauma Leaves A Physical Mark

BBC NEWS | Health | War trauma 'leaves physical mark':
"Soldiers suffering psychological traumas years after serving in a war also experience poorer physical health, a series of studies suggest."

Not surprisingly, studies continue to show that veterans suffering from war trauma are more likely to develop debilitating and deadly physical symptoms if the stress is untreated. Further, the research also supports the contention that PTSD is an umbrella, under which other diagnoses should be recognized and treated accordingly.

"The men with PTSD, whether because of their combat service or not, were far more likely to die from accidents, drugs or suicide."

This strongly suggests that diagnoses and treatment for depression, drug addiction (including alcohol), and more are symptoms of PTSD, not singular diagnoses.

We need to stop disqualifying veterans for benefits based on diagnoses that are symptoms of the greater problem and support programs that address the underlying cause: war trauma PTSD.

Combat Trauma In The Civil War

USATODAY.com - Study: Combat trauma seen in Civil War:
"Warring soldiers have carried home psychological scars for centuries. In American wars, the phenomenon has been called shell shock, combat fatigue and post-Vietnam syndrome. Medical authorities first accepted PTSD as a distinct psychiatric condition in 1980 at the urging of Vietnam veterans and their doctors."

Although some reasonably question the accuracy of the scientific research, this article shows that war trauma has been a problem much longer than just the past few wars. Of all the wars in American history, the Civil War was very possibly not only the most costly in terms of lives lost, but also in terms of lives destroyed.

Does the Military Send Sick Soldiers to War?

AlterNet: War on Iraq: Does the Military Send Sick Soldiers to War?:

This is a truly horrifying account of a soldier's treatment by his superiors and the military mental health system. Even though this soldier's problems were significant enough for a psychiatrist to recommend that his weapon should be "removed from him as he is a threat to himself and others," he remained on duty ... without his weapon.

As his Sargeant comments: "If every soldier that showed signs of stress was taken off the battle roster, there would be nobody left to fight."

From the article: "The DOD admits they are sending mentally unfit soldiers into combat in Iraq," said Steve Robinson of Veterans for America. "This is not supposed to happen; the military should not have deployed this veteran to the war; what were they thinking and what does it say about the overstretched military?"

And it doesn't end. Now honorably discharged and living a marginal life stateside, he recently received an order from the Department of the Army, which appears to be an activation order.

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