You don’t need to serve to develop PTSD, but our Airmen are often affected by the condition as a result of their experiences in the Air Force. The Airmen who struggle with this condition often deal with challenges in their life, such as keeping up with their responsibilities at work and maintaining their home.

With the right support and knowledge, it’s possible to overcome the challenges and symptoms associated with PTSD. Below, we’ll talk more about the condition, common symptoms to look out for, and how you can get the help you need.

What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD is a mental health condition that affects people after a traumatic event that’s physically and/or emotionally harmful. These events often have such an impact that they can negatively affect a person’s well-being and life for long periods.

PTSD is not to be confused with feelings of fear or anxiety right after a traumatic event. While these are normal feelings to feel, PTSD is something that lasts long after the event has passed. PTSD also doesn’t discriminate and can affect anyone, regardless of age, social status, gender, or location. Our troops are one of the most commonly affected groups since they’re often exposed to conditions when they’re deployed which can make them more likely to develop PTSD.

Common Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

While many people experience symptoms of PTSD shortly after a traumatic event, it can take months or years for these symptoms to develop. A person will need to experience the signs and symptoms of PTSD for at least a month before they can be officially diagnosed, and their symptoms will have to impact their life in some way. If you or someone you love is struggling with PTSD, some of the signs or symptoms to look out for include:

• Anxiousness, irritability, or frustration
• Experiencing nightmares or flashbacks related to the traumatic event
• Risk-taking behaviors or reckless behavior
• Experiencing emotions like fear, anger, shame, or guilt
• Having frequent thoughts that are negative or distressing
• Isolation from loved ones
• Losing interest in hobbies or other activities
• Avoiding anything to do with the traumatic event
• Angry outbursts or more common bouts of anger

Some people will find relief from their PTSD symptoms within a few months, but others can have symptoms that last longer or may have triggers that can trigger a PTSD episode. Without the proper treatment, PTSD can even become a chronic condition that lasts a lifetime.

Challenges Our Airmen Face With PTSD

Originally, PTSD was called “shell shock” during the First World War as a way to refer to the mental health condition our troops faced during and after the war. After more research into the condition, it started to be referred to as PTSD and was an official medical diagnosis by the 1980s. Since then, many Airmen have been diagnosed with the condition as a result of what they experienced during their service.

Our Airmen are prone to being diagnosed with PTSD because of what they’ve experienced during their service. The most common reason for being diagnosed with the condition is combat, but there are plenty of other reasons they might be diagnosed with the condition, including things that go on in their personal lives. When one of our Airmen is diagnosed with this condition, it can have a significant impact on their life in different ways, including:

• Difficulty in personal relationships
• Tension with loved ones
• Extreme physical and emotional reactions
• Trouble focusing at work
• Reckless decision-making and behaviors that interfere with life

Airmen with PTSD may experience difficulties in their careers as a result of their condition, particularly without the proper help. The good news is that there are ways to recover from PTSD and overcome challenging symptoms so our Airmen can still lead fulfilling lives and excel in their careers.

Tips for Dealing With PTSD During and After Your Service

If you’re an Airman dealing with PTSD, you don’t have to try to go through everything alone. You can take steps to improve your symptoms so you can live a fulfilling life. Below are some tips to help you deal with PTSD so you can get your life back on track.

1. Educate Yourself About PTSD

One of the first and most important things you can do when dealing with PTSD is to make yourself aware of the condition. The more you learn about PTSD, the easier it will be to recognize the signs and take action when you’re struggling. Learning more will also make it easier to feel less isolated since you’ll come to understand that many people struggle with the same thing you do.

During the learning process, it’s important to acknowledge that recovery from a condition like PTSD will take some time and it won’t happen overnight. Know that with support and the right amount of effort, you will start to heal. You may even experience fewer symptoms as you learn how to cope with your symptoms.

2. Find Support

If you bottle up what you’re feeling, you’ll only make the symptoms of PTSD worse. The people around you are meant to support you, but if you isolate yourself from your loved ones, it makes it hard to get the help you need. Your loved ones are there to listen to you and help you if you’re dealing with too much. While it may be difficult, making an effort to talk about what you’re experiencing and what you’ve gone through can make a significant difference in how you’re feeling. If your loved ones know you’re struggling, it makes it easier for them to accommodate you and get you the help you need.

You can even find support through more official means. There are many support groups for Airmen who are dealing with PTSD as a result of their service, giving you the chance to connect with others who are going through what you are and who have experienced something similar. As you get to know people in your support group, they can become a part of your personal support network to rely on when times get tough.

3. Find Ways to Relax

PTSD can cause a lot of anxiety and stress, so it’s important to find ways to relax in your day. It’s especially important to know how to relax when you feel like you’re about to be in the middle of a PTSD episode. What helps you relax may look different to someone else, but some common methods include:

• Breathing exercises and meditation
• Stretching, exercising, or yoga
• Spending time with nature
• Listening to relaxing music
• Journaling or art

Relaxation works, but keep in mind that you may feel slightly more distressed when you start using these techniques since you’ll have time to focus on what’s causing you distress in the first place. You can practice your relaxation techniques in small increments if it initially causes you distress.

4. Engage in Positive Activities

You want to avoid using negative coping mechanisms to deal with the symptoms of your PTSD, which includes drinking or using substances that mask what you’re feeling. Instead, it’s important to participate in positive activities that help clear your mind and bring you joy. Some of these activities can even be therapeutic and can help alleviate some of your symptoms over time by improving your mood. Art, reading, going out with friends, and travel are all excellent examples of positive activities you can enjoy.

While it’s important to engage in these activities, it’s important not to use these as a way to distract yourself from getting the help you need for long-term healing. Make sure to make an effort to treat the root of your PTSD and the underlying cause before it becomes too overwhelming to deal with.

5. Seek Professional Help

There’s nothing wrong with asking for professional help if you need it. A professional counselor or even your doctor can get you the treatment you need when you’re struggling with your symptoms. These individuals have access to high-level resources to get you the help you need and can address your treatment plan if something isn’t working. You may attend therapy or take medication to help with what you’re feeling. If you notice that your symptoms are getting worse, it may be time to talk to a professional about getting help.

AUSI Would Like to Offer Our Support to Our Airmen

At American Uniform Sales, we understand the struggle our service members face, including their struggles with conditions like PTSD. We do what we can to help our Airmen through their struggles, which includes maintaining a blog with helpful resources and insight for our Air Force troops and their families. We hope to be able to continue making this kind of content so our Airmen have resources to use to improve their lives and excel in their careers.