The Iraq War Increases Stress for All Veterans

War can be especially difficult for veterans who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD. The disorder is a psychological condition that can happen after someone is exposed to an intense threat of injury or death.

Symptoms of PTSD include distressing memories, physiological changes (example: quick breathing), nightmares, emotional numbing, isolation and avoidance of anything that can trigger reminders of the trauma, said Claire Garcia, social work executive at St. Cloud’s VA Medical Center. PTSD does not happen to everyone who experiences a horrific event, she said.

Many veterans can’t switch off the television because they are so focused on the war coverage. Ted Yates knows that feeling. The 52-year-old Mora man has suffered from PTSD. He comes to St. Cloud for counseling.

“I watch as much as I’ve got time for,” Yates said. “At first, I didn’t like it that they were showing everything, but then I thought if we’re taking out one of the ‘axis of evil,’ North Korea isn’t going to do anything once they see everything that’s going on in Baghdad.”