PTSD Awareness Month: Courage, Healing, and Hope for Veterans
By Andrew Thompson, Public Affairs Specialist
For many Veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life includes carrying memories of experiences that few people can fully understand.
While those experiences can leave lasting impacts, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month serves as an important reminder that healing is possible and that no Veteran has to face trauma alone.
Observed each June, PTSD Awareness Month seeks to educate the public, reduce stigma surrounding mental health care, and encourage those experiencing symptoms to seek treatment. Approximately 12 million Americans live with PTSD, including many Veterans whose military service exposed them to combat, dangerous missions, training accidents, military sexual trauma (MST), and other life-threatening events.
Research shows that Veterans are slightly more likely than civilians to experience PTSD. About 7 out of every 100 Veterans will experience PTSD during their lifetime. Rates are even higher among women Veterans, with approximately 13% experiencing PTSD compared to 6% of male Veterans.
Yet despite the prevalence of PTSD, many people never seek treatment.
At Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO), mental health professionals work every day to help Veterans understand their symptoms, process traumatic experiences, and reclaim the lives they deserve.
“A lot of our Veterans come to the PTSD Clinic overwhelmed and exhausted from trying to carry their pain and manage their symptoms, and many of them are afraid of what the treatment will involve,” said Tracy Nielson-Healey, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). “We get to create a safe space with them so they can be vulnerable and process the things that have happened to them. We get to help them build a new set of tools for navigating their lives with purpose and intention. We get to help them alchemize their pain into healing and wisdom. It’s so beautiful! Truly, what an honor it is to work alongside these courageous men and women as they reclaim their lives and their power.”
Understanding PTSD
PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While every person’s experience is unique, symptoms generally fall into four categories:
• Re-experiencing symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive memories.
• Avoidance behaviors, such as staying away from places, people, or conversations that remind someone of the trauma.
• Negative changes in thoughts and mood, including feelings of guilt, shame, numbness, or loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
• Hyperarousal symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, heightened alertness, or being easily startled.
While these symptoms can be overwhelming, they are treatable.
Effective Treatments That Work
One of the most important messages of PTSD Awareness Month is that treatment works.
Evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) have helped countless Veterans reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. Medications, including certain antidepressants, can also be effective, and many Veterans benefit from a combination of therapy and medication.
“It’s an honor to serve those who have served in the U.S. Military,” said Dr. Hilary Casner, Trauma Recovery Program Psychologist. “Helping Veterans recover from the invisible wounds of war, MST, and other traumas across the lifespan is incredibly rewarding. I see immense bravery every day in Veterans doing the hard work of addressing PTSD.”
For Veterans who have experienced justice involvement related to untreated trauma, programs such as Veterans Treatment Courts are helping connect participants to treatment, peer mentorship, and support services while reducing recidivism and suicide risk.
The Reward of Recovery
For VHSO’s Trauma Recovery Program team, the most rewarding part of their work is witnessing transformation.
“I have been a PTSD therapist in the Trauma Recovery Program for about 13 years,” said Katherine Wetzel, LCSW and Trauma Recovery Program Manager. “I only do one thing and that’s help people affected by trauma. I love my job. I get to see people feeling better, living their lives, improving relationships every day because of the work we do together.”
Those success stories are the reason PTSD Awareness Month matters. Every conversation helps reduce stigma. Every Veteran who reaches out for support creates an opportunity for healing. Every family member, friend, coworker, or fellow Veteran who offers understanding becomes part of the recovery journey.
A Message of Hope
After a traumatic event, it is normal for thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to change. For many people, those reactions improve over time. When symptoms persist, become distressing, or interfere with daily life, professional support can make a meaningful difference.
This June, VHSO encourages Veterans, families, caregivers, and community members to learn more about PTSD, recognize the signs, and help spread an important message:
Healing is possible. Recovery is real. No one should face trauma alone.
Veterans interested in learning more about PTSD treatment or available mental health services are encouraged to contact their VA health care team.