Adrian Gonzalez

November 12, 2010

Opinion Piece/Editorial

Should We Take “Invisible” Wounds Seriously?

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is defined as an anxiety disorder caused by exposure to

dangerous, stressful events in ones’ life. Symptoms include: trouble sleeping, increased arousal, paranoia,

depression, flashbacks and even thoughts of suicide. Even though there are a variety of victims, over the

centuries those who seem to be affected the most are soldiers returning from the horrors of war. Seeing as

we live in El Paso where there is a strong military presence (Fort Bliss) isn’t it only logical that we should

be concerned with this issue? The answer must be yes as one of the symptoms of PTSD is pondering

suicide therefore the lives of some of these troubled soldiers may be at risk.

The first step to help out the troubled soldiers of our region is to acknowledge that PTSD is

indeed a serious issue and to understand how it works. Surely in war not all injuries are physical and

visible. We must understand that men and woman witness atrocious things on the battle field may be

affected in some way. In the World War era soldiers with PTSD were sometimes seen as cowards and

weaklings. We cannot be ignorant to the reality that this is not cowardice or weakness but a real disorder

with real symptoms. Soldiers have actually committed suicide indicating the seriousness of the problem;

with that in mind, we should look for ways to help out these victims.

The second step we can take to try and resolve this issue is to urge our federal government to

expand its programs to treat these soldiers. We must let the government know that drugging these victims

isn’t the only way to treat the disorder. The federal government has the power to spring up more

psychological programs that will aid these soldiers mentally because this is the support they need. As

citizens we have the power to bring this issue to the federal government’s attention and urge it to take

action to reduce possible suicides. The government will not turn a blind eye to the statistics of soldiers

committing suicide due to PTSD. By getting involved in politics we can cause a policy change that will

aid troubled soldiers through more therapy and mental support.

 Adrian Gonzalez
November 12, 2010
Opinion Piece/Editorial

Finally, we must treat these soldiers with the respect, concern, and emotional support they

deserve. Yes, many people argue that soldiers with PTSD should not be cared for like physically injured

soldiers but the reality is that these soldiers are equally pained. Both types of soldiers have seen similar

things at war and both have suffered. Therefore we should identify those soldier or veterans with PTSD in

our communities and offer a helping hand when they need it. We cannot be ignorant to PTSD as many

have been in the past or ignore it as an important issue. These actions will surely show these victims that

we care and will have a positive impact on their lives.

In conclusion, no one deserves to be an outcast of society much less those who are diagnosed

with PTSD. Just because their wounds are not visible doesn’t mean that they do not have any. We must

come to their aid by acknowledging the issue of PTSD, urging our federal government to expand

programs helping troubled soldiers, and treating these soldiers with courtesy, respect and care. You never

know when one of these soldiers will attempt suicide so we must help them out before it is too late. It is

our duty as citizens to preserve life and help out our troubled soldiers.