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Veterans With PTSD

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According to the study done by Allen, Rhoades, Stanley & Markman, typical outcomes of a spouse having PTSD include, divorce, marital unhappiness, and domestic violence. The symptoms PTSD including isolation, numbing and hyperarousal are correlated with the increase marital problems. Another marital stressor could be a veteran not feeling like their partners cannot understand their feelings of grief, anxiety and anger after experiencing a trauma. This in turn may make partners feel their efforts to help are often rejected. According to Sayers, “when a marriage is strained, the veteran lacks the social supports needed to overcome some of the problems e.g., depression, anxiety, etc. that are exacerbating the marital discord” (2009).
Families with a veteran who has PTSD also experience more family violence. As previously mentioned, anger and outbursts are one of the diagnostic criteria’s for PTSD. According to Taft and Niles, veterans with PTSD are at a higher risk for anger, hostility, aggression, general violence, and relationship violence then veterans without PTSD. Veterans with PTSD from combat …show more content…
This secondary stress is also referred to as secondary trauma, which can impact both spouses and children. Secondary trauma can directly impact children, causing behavioral, emotional, and psychological issues. Caregiver burden is another term associated with the difficulties related to caring for someone with PTSD. Caregivers may be faced with a number of stressors that go along with caring for a veteran with PTSD, including financial strain, managing the veterans symptoms, dealing with doctors appointments, caring for children, and the loss of intimacy within the relationship. Caring for an individual with PTSD can affect the mental health and life satisfaction of the individual caring for the

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