The document discusses the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on veterans, noting its prevalence among combat veterans and the common symptoms such as flashbacks, avoidance, and emotional numbness. It highlights the importance of developing coping skills and seeking help to overcome PTSD, as well as the negative effects it can have on relationships and family dynamics. The author shares a personal connection to the topic, emphasizing the challenges faced by those living with PTSD and their families.

1. Running head: TREATMENT PLAN
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TREATMENT PLAN
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Treatment plan
Student’s Name
University Affiliation
Treatment plan
(a)
After experiencing a traumatic event or experience, it is normal
and natural to feel anxious, sad, frightened and disconnected.
But if this upset does not fade and the affected person feels
stuck with a constant sense of painful memories and danger,
then they may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). It may look like one will never get over what they
experienced and go back to their normal self again. But through
developing new coping skills, reaching out for help and seeking
treatment, one can overcome this condition and move on with
their life. Most veterans have a hard time readjusting back to
their lives. They are always on the edge, at all times on the
verge of exploding or panicking or on the flip side and feeling
disconnected from their loved ones and emotionally numb. Most
veterans think that they will never feel normal again. These are
the lingering symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. It is
very hard to live with PTSD that is untreated and with
prolonged V.A wait times; it is easy to be discouraged (National
center for PTSD, 2009). But it is possible to feel better and it
only start with you even when waiting for professional
treatment. There are things that one can do to themselves to
overcome PTSD and come out of the other side even stronger

2. than before.
(b)
After experiencing a life threatening event or a severe trauma,
many veterans build up symptoms of post traumatic stress
disorder. Almost 30 percent of the veterans treated in most
clinics and hospitals have been diagnosed with post traumatic
stress disorder. For the veterans who saw combat, the numbers
are even higher with one pew research centre study showing a
rate of 49 percent of post traumatic stress disorder. But however
emotionally cut off or isolated from others you may feel, it is
important to know that you are not alone. The reason why some
veterans develop this disorder while others do not is not known,
but it is known that the number goes up with the number of trips
gone and the amount of combat one has experienced. This is not
astonishing, bearing in mind that many symptoms of post
traumatic stress disorder such as adrenaline quick reflexes,
hyperawareness and hyper vigilance helped the veterans survive
when they were deployed. It’s only that now these individuals
are back home and these responses are no longer suitable or
applicable.
Post traumatic stress disorder develops diversely in different
people and differs from one person to another. However, there
are four clusters of symptoms that are common to all veterans
which include:
· Repeated, interfering reminders of the traumatic occurrence.
This includes distressing flashbacks, nightmares and thoughts
where the victim feels like the event is happening again.
Experiencing extreme physical and emotional reactions to these
reminders of the trauma like heart palpitations, uncontrollable
shaking and panic attacks just to mention but a few.
· Extremely avoiding things that remind the person of the
disturbing event. This includes avoiding people, places,
situations or thoughts that are associated with those bad

3. memories. Such veterans withdraw from their family and friends
especially those they worked with and they lose interest in their
everyday activities.
· Negative changes in moods and thoughts. Such veterans who
are experiencing this condition exaggerate negative beliefs
about themselves or the world and have persistent feelings of
shame, guilt and fear. They also have diminished ability to
experience constructive emotions and feel detached from other
people.
· Being emotionally reactive, jumpy and on guard all the time.
Victim veterans have the characteristics of extreme start
response, hyper vigilance, difficult concentrating, trouble
sleeping, reckless behavior, angry outbursts and irritability.
(c)
The reason why I have chosen this topic for my literature
review is because it is personal to me as I personally suffer
from post traumatic stress disorder and most of the people I
know suffer from the condition as well. Post traumatic stress
disorder has made me and most of the people I know suffering
from it hard to be with. Living with a person who is simply
startled, has nightmares, and frequently avoids social
circumstances can take a toll on majority of the caring friends
and family. Early study on post traumatic stress disorder has
shown the damaging impact of the condition on families. This
study showed that Veterans have more family violence and
matrimonial problem. Their associates have more anguish. Their
kids have more behavioral problems than they do those of
Veterans without the condition. Veterans with the most brutal
symptoms had relatives with the most horrible functioning
(American Psychiatric Association, 2000).
One may ask how post traumatic stress disorder manages to
have such a negative effects. It may be due to those suffering
with post traumatic stress disorder have a tough time sensing
emotions. They might feel disconnected from others. This has

4. caused troubles in my individual relationships, and even results
to behavioral problems in my kids. The avoidance and numbing
that happens with post traumatic stress disorder is linked with
little satisfaction in parenting.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th edition, text
revised. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Barlow, D. (2014). Clinical handbook of psychological
disorders: a step-by-step treatment manual. New York: The
Guilford Press.
Beers, H., & Robert, B.eds (1999). Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder. In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th
edition. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories.
Herman, J. (1997). Trauma and Recovery. 2nd ed., revised. New
York: Basic Books.
Laub, D. (1992). An Event without a Witness: Truth, Testimony
and Survival. In Testimony: Crises of Witnessing in Literature,
Psychoanalysis, and History, written by Dori Laub, M.D. and
Shoshana Felman. New York: Routledge.
National center for PTSD. (2009). PTSD research quarterly:
advancing science and promoting understanding of traumatic
stress. Retrieved from:
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-
quarterly/v20n3.pdf
NoAuthorFound. (2013). Returning home from Iraq and
Afghanistan: assessment of readjustment needs of veterans,
service members, and their families. Washington, D.C: The
National Academies Press.
Schaller, B. (2012). Veterans on trial: the coming court battles
over PTSD. Washington, D.C: Potomac Books.
Schroder, W. & Dawe, R. (2007). Soldier's heart: close-up today

5. with PTSD in Vietnam veterans. Westport, Conn: Praeger
Security International.
Sprague, D. (2013). A stranger in my bed: 8 steps to taking your
life back from the contagious effects of your veteran's post-
traumatic stress disorder. New York, New York: Morgan James
Publishing.