Healing Heroes Network - Life After Deployment
Around 1 in 6 brave soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Many of the 2.4 million American veterans returning from war also suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). While PTSD and TBI are the most common injuries that returning soldiers suffer from there are a variety of other conditions that they can be suffering from when they return home to their loved ones. For a lot of these wounded heroes, many don’t seek treatment or cannot get treatment, and their lives begin to spiral out of control. There are numerous suicides everyday by US veterans, and others find themselves homeless as they don’t know how to cope with life once they are no longer in the military. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is quite common in soldiers returning from war, as they have witnessed many sufferings and been in many life-threatening events. Symptoms can include depression, nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety. It’s very common for those who are suffering from PTSD to become angry as they don’t know how to deal with what they have witnessed and this can cause problems at home and with employment. Many don’t seek treatment, which is dangerous and can lead to serious depression, drug abuse, or self-harming. There are two types of treatment that are most effective for this disorder, medication and counseling. After just a few months of treatment veterans can see a vast improvement in their condition. Traumatic Brain Injury
Head injuries can cause Traumatic Brain Injury and occurs frequently in military returning from action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Symptoms can include physical changes, like problems with walking, and mental changes like problems with thinking and memory, and changes in behavior. Treatments are medication and rehabilitation therapies. There are also many other injuries that soldiers can suffer from like spinal cord injury and even traumatic amputation. Veteran Affairs The United States Department of Veteran Affairs normally deals with injured veterans and provides them with medical care and treatment. However, they cannot help everyone in need and many injured military personnel are put on waiting lists or find that the treatment they need is not available. In 2014, it became public that the department were having major problems with scheduling appropriate and timely access to medical care, and as a result of this, many injured members of the armed forces were suffering. Organizations That Help Organizations such as Healing Heroes Network are at hand to help these veterans in need of help. Founded in 2008, Healing Heroes network provides medical and financial assistance for injured soldiers returning from war, supporting them in finding the right treatment they need and directing them on the right path to recovery, bringing positivity and improving general quality of life. Healing Heroes Network aim to bring awareness of these often untreated illnesses, and encourage sufferers to seek help. Any soldier that was injured in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001 can qualify for help from Healing Heroes, who will serve and support them. Based in Florida, the network has medical professionals all over the US, providing financial assistance and treatments for injured militaries, as well as therapies and services that are needed to help them and their families to return to a normal life.