Disclaimer: This is a fictional narrative written to emulate what a typical case may look like, and is not meant to reflect any true events or people.
Written by: Muhammad Qureshi
Edited by: Amrutha Reddy
PTSD from being a veteran is nothing new for Jasmine, as she is still afflicted by the wars that she served through touring the Arab Gulf countries. For the last 10 years, her PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), also known as shell shock, can be described when a person experiences a life-threatening event or severe trauma. Although it is completely normal for your mind and body to be in shock after explosive events, this response becomes PTSD when your nervous system gets “stuck” in this mindset (“PTSD in Military Veterans”, 2023). After such a traumatic event, symptoms typically develop during the first month with common PTSD lasting long periods and progressively worsening (“Symptoms - Post-traumatic stress disorder”, 2022). Jasmine was first deployed in April of 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq. Suffering heavy casualties in her platoon, Jasmine frequently recalls the memories of hard knocks, bangs, explosions, flying shrapnel, and a multitude of bodies doused in pools of blood. Jasmine was left awake in the middle of the night with traumatic recurrences of scenes, imagery, and most importantly, the voices of the Iraqi families in distraught. Intrusive memories play a key role in Jasmine's PTSD, from recurrent distressing memories to reliving traumatic experiences, which are all symptoms of PTSD (“Post-traumatic stress disorder”, 2022). From waking up in the middle of the night hearing screams and shell bombings, to going about her day to listening or seeing triggers that may ignite PTSD once again, this has been an ongoing battle for Jasmine.
Jasmine frequently goes out with friends and family to social events and restaurants, regardless of how severe her PTSD is during that day. As a coping mechanism, the social interaction coupled with familiar faces and being surrounded by the ones she loves is something that Jasmine does not take for granted. One particular day, she and her family were going to a restaurant when an airplane came in close distance to make a landing at a nearby airport. Jasmine ducked and reached for cover behind her car as natural instincts kicked in based on five years plus brutal army training. She held her imaginary weapon in her hand, checking both flanks of the car to see if the coast was clear. In her head, she was back in Iraq, suited in army uniform, rubble beneath her feet and dust filling the air after the explosion. Multiple scenarios of past war scenes spur through her mind, remembering the jarring episodes of her time spent. Her family members tried consoling her and offered her help, but there was no avail. In complete shock, she then recognized familiar voices after some time and took into account what had just happened. For Jasmine, therapy time was imminent. Talking with a therapist about her memories from her time spent in Iraq helped Jasmine’s mental health. Certain psychotherapies such as cognitive-processing therapy helped Jasmine work through her trauma, by leading the therapist through certain exposure points so they may seem less daunting getting over them just by herself. Psychotherapies also aid in working through your trauma, which can be achieved through visualizing, talking, or thinking about the traumatic event until it becomes less upsetting (“PTSD: National Center for PTSD”). Psychotherapy also helps clients break down their traumatic events and understand them, enabling them to begin the healing process. Some therapists use practices that help change clients thoughts that come from their emotions, conditioning the person to think positively when dealing with negative thoughts (“Trauma-Focused Therapy Techniques”).
For Jasmine, changing her past was not something that could be achieved. Now that Jasmine has gone through effective psychotherapy programs that teach her how to deal with her stress, she has less severe symptoms that spike up throughout her life. Reliving traumatic memories is something that not a single person should have to go through, and for Jasmine, it was no different. From waking up in the middle of the night reliving traumatic experiences, to physically reenacting scenes, Jasmine is coming a long way to cope with her PTSD.
References:
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, December 13). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
Melinda Smith, M. A. (2023, March 30). PTSD in military veterans. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/ptsd-in-military-veterans.htm
Trauma-focused therapy techniques. Concept. (n.d.). https://concept.paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/trauma-focused-therapy-techniques#:~:text=Therapy%20can%20help%20clients%20integrate,on%20their%20healing%20journey%20effectively.
Va.gov: Veterans Affairs. PTSD Treatment Basics. (2018, August 8). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/tx_basics.asp#:~:text=In%20these%20talk%20therapies%2C%20you,last%20about%208%2D16%20sessions.
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