The Unexplained Pain of Battle

I have a sense that the veterans of today’s wars will be followed closely.  And while times have changed, in that there is more of a sensitivity on the part of the military in terms of suicide prevention protocols and the attempts at removing stigma from the seeking of mental health counseling, those who treat today’s veterans must also be vigilant for the new challenges which might arise from a veteran who must undergo repeated deployments to the combat environment.  Repeated exposure to traumatic events and the anticipation of those repeat deployments might very well result in heretofore unseen and more virulent psychiatric illness which will almost surely have somatic manifestations.

Take a moment to remember the Veteran this Holiday season.  There is a good chance he or she will still be fighting battles long after leaving the service.