Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Thousands of veterans call Imperial County home – about 7,578 of them, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Many of these men and women experienced traumatic events while serving their country, the aftermath of which can be devastating to themselves and their families. There is help through Imperial County Behavioral Health Services, which offers a variety of programs and therapy that can help veterans and their families navigate life after service.

“We have experienced clinicians who can help individuals who are veterans, and their family members,” said Mary Esquer, who manages Behavioral Health Services’ Anxiety and Depression Clinic in El Centro. Some may not recognize their symptoms as something that needs treatment, while others are reluctant to seek treatment because of the stigma attached to mental health, she said.

“Some veterans either don’t openly admit or understand, or are even aware, that things they’re going through are related to the stress and trauma they experienced during their service,” Esquer said. “Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, hypervigilance, not sleeping – these all can be experienced by the general public, not just veterans,” she said.

Recently, Behavioral Health contracted with the nonprofit Mindful Warrior Project, which held workshops teaching mindfulness to veterans and their families.

“They show military-connected individuals a way to manage stress related to military or veteran life,” Esquer said. Feedback was positive, she said, and another Mindful Warrior workshop for veteran providers is being planned for next February.

What is PTSD?

The National Institute of Mental Health defines PTSD as “a disorder that develops in some people who have seen or lived through a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. … Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD.”

Statistics on the Veterans Administration’s PTSD website reflect that about 7 or 8 out of every 100 people (or 7-8 percent of the general population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives. About 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year, and about 10 of every 100 (or 10 percent) of women develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared with about 4 of every 100 (or 4 percent) of men.

How is it treated?

Cognitive Processing Therapy, or CPT, is used by Imperial County Behavioral Health clinicians to treat PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms. CPT helps patients address the trauma and learn to alter how they think and react to it, with a more permanent resolution than they might obtain through other types of treatment. It is a structured, short-term treatment that helps those with PTSD understand their symptoms, explore how trauma has affected their lives, and learn about connections between traumarelated thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Veterans who go undiagnosed and/ or untreated for years often develop disorders on top of PTSD and can eventually withdraw from the world around them. Many seek solace in alcohol or other forms of substance abuse, which can increase the risk of homelessness.

Imperial County Behavioral Health clinicians are trained to help veterans and their families process symptoms involving PTSD, anxiety, depression, among others.

“There is treatment, and people can get better,” Esquer said.