Are We Telling Our Veterans They’re Broken?

One of the most important things I do, is work with veterans who have disabilities. So many of them suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, some severe, some not. Most veterans with PTSD are high functioning and can do any job necessary with proper counseling, coping skills, and training. But so often the Veterans Administration (VA) fails them by pushing psychotropic medications instead of counseling and training on how to enter the workforce with their PTSD properly managed. The VA offers counseling, but many veterans are re-traumatized by some of their methods, discouraging numerous veterans from seeking the treatment offered by the VA. Sean is one of those veterans who was let down by the VA. Sean is an intelligent, resourceful, and educated Army veteran with two tours in Iraq. Sean suffers from PTSD and refuses to utilize the VA to help control his PTSD. Sean had used the VA in the past and was given medication, which he now refuses to take. Sean’s PTSD is extreme, and he struggles daily just to attend his college classes. He continually question’s his ability to hold a job because of his PTSD and hopes college will help him gain the necessary confidence and skills to be successful. Part of what so many veterans, including Sean, must overcome are businesses fear of hiring veterans because they dread PTSD in the workplace. They don’t want to be responsible if someone “goes off” while at work.  

The VA is not helping because they're quick to give disability checks to those who have PTSD for the rest of their lives due to civilian pressure. Why should veterans work or find a job, when there’s no incentive to get better? The VA tells them they are broken because they are 100% disabled. In the VA’s defense, they do bring many veterans with PTSD back for re-evaluation every few years, but veterans have no reason to get better. After their PTSD diagnosis, many veterans are not required to complete therapy that can help them learn to manage their PTSD.

I understand this is quite controversial, everyone, including me, a 20-year combat veteran feel the VA needs to do their job and take care of our veterans. But what we know from so many of our WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans is, people with PTSD can live totally productive lives if they are not treated like they are broken and without purpose. Sean is one of those people who feels broken and without purpose. He believes he is going to struggle to get jobs because of his PTSD, he now has a defeatist, victim mentality.

What the VA needs to do is give effective personalized treatment for PTSD and continually monitor those who get disability checks for their PTSD. The VA is set up to reward veterans for maintaining their PTSD. The VA should educate veterans to find employment that will be better tolerated by vets with PTSD. Employers need to make a concerted effort to employ our veterans with good paying jobs and trust them, even those with managed PTSD. There are veterans who need to be 100% disabled because of their PTSD because they cannot function in society, but if a veteran can go to college and graduate, then they should be able to learn to manage their PTSD and re-enter the workforce, giving them back their sense of purpose.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at bo@afterdutyvets.com or visit our website at afterdutyvets.com.