The Effects of the Iraq War
The Effects of the Iraq War
Shelly Johnson
Research Writing/COM 220
August 20, 2010
Instructor Sharon Cronk-Raby
The Effects of the Iraq War The media and the military are focused on the positive effects of the Iraq War and how the soldiers have a job to defend the country, which is true. There are also many negative effects the war has had on the soldiers and their families. It is safe to assume that all soldiers are affected by their experiences in war. These soldiers are coming home to fight a whole new battle, their mental health. Although the military thinks they are ready to assist the soldiers coming home from the Iraq War, they have no comprehension of the psychological effects of this war. The Iraq War has taken a toll on soldiers and their families. Throughout history, there have been many accounts of nightmares and other emotional troubles associated with the effects of war. These nightmares and traumas are also known as PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When a soldier experiences PTSD, he replays the events of trauma as images, thoughts or frightening dreams, which causes intense psychological distress (Litz & Orsilla, 2007). Many recall seeing the murder of women and children, the smell of burning flesh, and the screaming children as they destroyed their homes, which haunts them every day (Welch, 2005). The consequences of combat can be particularly disturbing when these soldiers are handling the remains of civilians, enemy soldiers, and their own United States soldiers. These soldiers who return from war and have PTSD will have difficulty sleeping, become irritable and have angry outburst and have a hard time concentrating. They tend to have impairment in their social lives and work environments. Between 8.5% and 14% of soldiers returning from Iraq report serious functional impairment because of either post traumatic stress disorder or depression, according to a report in the Archives of General Psychiatry (“About one-tenth of
Shelly Johnson
Research Writing/COM 220
August 20, 2010
Instructor Sharon Cronk-Raby
The Effects of the Iraq War The media and the military are focused on the positive effects of the Iraq War and how the soldiers have a job to defend the country, which is true. There are also many negative effects the war has had on the soldiers and their families. It is safe to assume that all soldiers are affected by their experiences in war. These soldiers are coming home to fight a whole new battle, their mental health. Although the military thinks they are ready to assist the soldiers coming home from the Iraq War, they have no comprehension of the psychological effects of this war. The Iraq War has taken a toll on soldiers and their families. Throughout history, there have been many accounts of nightmares and other emotional troubles associated with the effects of war. These nightmares and traumas are also known as PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When a soldier experiences PTSD, he replays the events of trauma as images, thoughts or frightening dreams, which causes intense psychological distress (Litz & Orsilla, 2007). Many recall seeing the murder of women and children, the smell of burning flesh, and the screaming children as they destroyed their homes, which haunts them every day (Welch, 2005). The consequences of combat can be particularly disturbing when these soldiers are handling the remains of civilians, enemy soldiers, and their own United States soldiers. These soldiers who return from war and have PTSD will have difficulty sleeping, become irritable and have angry outburst and have a hard time concentrating. They tend to have impairment in their social lives and work environments. Between 8.5% and 14% of soldiers returning from Iraq report serious functional impairment because of either post traumatic stress disorder or depression, according to a report in the Archives of General Psychiatry (“About one-tenth of
References: About one-tenth of soldiers returning from Iraq may be impaired by mental health problems (2010, July 12). Mental Health Weekly Digest, p11. doi:A231246750 Army reports record number of suicides for June. (2010, July 18). USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-07-15-army-suicides_N.htm?csp=obinsite Litz, B. PhD. & Orsilla, S. M. PhD (2007). The Returning Veterans of the Iraq War. Ch.3 Iraq War Clinician Guide. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/vets-iraq-war-guidelines.asp Modell, D. (2009, September 3). The Times (London, England), p4. doi:CJ207093571 Pictures of our soldiers in Iraq that will never make the news. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.guavifo.com/iraq/pictures2.htm SFC J. Johnson (personal communication, July 23, 2010). Welch, W.M. (2005, February 28). Trauma of Iraq War haunting thousands returning home. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/Iraq/2005-02-28-cover-iraq-injuries_x.htm When soldiers deploy, family deploys. (2010, January 14). USA Today, p02A. doi:CJ216606595 Yen, H. (2007, July 24). Injured war veterans sue VA head. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/23/AR2007072300686.html?sub=AR