Where can I get help for PTSD? Back to the top

If you are in crisis, please call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) (Spanish/Español 1-888-628-9454).

Veterans, press "1" after you call -- or go to Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline to chat live with a crisis counselor at any time of day or night. Veterans, press "1" after you call -- or go to Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline to chat live with a crisis counselor at any time of day or night.

Self Screening Back to the top

Military life, especially deployments or mobilizations, can present challenges to service members and their families that are both unique and difficult. Some are manageable, some are not. Many times we can successfully deal with them on our own. In some instances matters get worse and one problem can trigger other more serious issues. At such times it is wise to check things out and see what is really happening. That’s the purpose of these totally anonymous and voluntary self-assessments.

These questions are designed so you can review your situation with regard to some of the more common mental health issues. The screening will not provide a diagnosis – for that you need to see a professional. But, it will tell you whether or not you have symptoms that are consistent with a condition or concern that would benefit from further evaluation or treatment. It will also give you guidance as to where you might seek assistance.

Please note: There is an opportunity for feedback at the end of this screening. Take an anonymous screening.

Health Care Eligibility Back to the top

Enroll for health care at any VA Medical Center or clinic for 5 years following your military separation date. When you enroll, you may start receiving your health care at the VA right away, or not - the choice is yours! Once you enroll, the VA will be available to help serve your health care needs for years to come - but you must enroll within 5 years from separation!

State and Web-based Resources

There are numerous sites and organization state-wide that provide resources and services to military personnel, veterans, and their families suffering from PTSD including:

• Vet Centers
• Grace After Fire
• Give an Hour

For more resources click here.

What is PTSD? Back to the top

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.

Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening event can develop PTSD. These events can include:

• Combat or military exposure,
• Child, sexual or physical abuse,
• Terrorist attacks,
• Sexual or physical assault,
• Serious accidents, such as a car wreck, and
• Natural disasters, such as afire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake.

After the event, you may feel scared, confused, or angry. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may have PTSD. These symptoms may disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities.

What are PTSD symptoms? Back to the top

Symptoms of PTSD fall into three main categories:

1. Repeated "reliving" of the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity
   • Flashback episodes, where the event seems to be happening again and again
   • Recurrent distressing memories of the event
   • Repeated dreams of the event
   • Physical reactions to situations that remind you of the traumatic event
2. Avoidance
   • Emotional "numbing", or feeling as though you don’t care about anything
   • Feelings of detachment
   • Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
   • Lack of interest in normal activities
   • Less expression of moods
   • Staying away from places, people, or objects that remind you of the event
   • Sense of having no future
3. Arousal
   • Difficulty concentrating
   • Exaggerated response to things that startle you
   • Excess awareness (hypervigilance)
   • Irritability or outbursts of anger
   • Sleeping difficulties

You also might feel a sense of guilt about the event (including "survivor guilt"), and the following symptoms, which are typical of anxiety, stress, and tension:

• Agitation, or excitability
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Feeling your heart beat in your chest (palpitations)
• Fever
• Headache
• Paleness

Can Children have PTSD? Back to the top

Children can have PTSD too. They may have the symptoms described above or other symptoms depending on how old they are. As children get older their symptoms are more like those of adults.

• Young children may become upset if their parents are not close by, have trouble sleeping, or suddenly have trouble with toilet training or going to the bathroom
• Children who are in the first few years of elementary school (ages 6 to 9) may act out the trauma through play, drawings, or stories. They may complain of physical problems or become more irritable or aggressive. They also may develop fears and anxiety that don't seem to be caused by the traumatic event.

What treatments are available?

Today, there are good treatments available for PTSD. When you have PTSD dealing with the past can be hard. Instead of telling others how you feel, you may keep your feelings bottled up. But talking with a therapist can help you get better.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of counseling. It appears to be the most effective type of counseling for PTSD. There are different types of cognitive behavioral therapies such as cognitive therapy and exposure therapy. There is also a similar kind of therapy called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) that is used for PTSD. Medications have also been shown to be effective. A type of drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is also used for depression, is effective for PTSD.

For more information on treatment options, click here.

How can I help a friend or relative who has PTSD? Back to the top

If you know someone who has PTSD, it affects you too. The first and most important thing you can do to help a friend or relative is to help him or her get the right diagnosis and treatment. You may need to make an appointment for your friend or relative and go with him or her to see the doctor. Encourage him or her to stay in treatment, or to seek different treatment if his or her symptoms don’t get better after 6 to 8 weeks.

To help a friend or relative, you can:

• Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement.
• Learn about PTSD so you can understand what your friend or relative is experiencing. Talk to your friend or relative, and listen carefully.
• Listen to feelings your friend or relative expresses and be understanding of situations that may trigger PTSD symptoms.
• Invite your friend or relative out for positive distractions such as walks, outings, and other activities.
• Remind your friend or relative that, with time and treatment, he or she can get better.

Never ignore comments about your friend or relative harming him or herself, and report such comments to your friend’s or relative’s therapist or doctor.