06/01/2026
PTSD occurs by experiencing a traumatic stressor- such as major injury, threatened or near-death experiences, or a threat to one’s physical integrity or that of another individual- all of which can create helplessness and intense fear and horror; intrusive memories of the traumatic event; avoiding and numbing to not deal with or re-experience the trauma; and hyperarousal such as being easily startled by certain triggers, struggles in falling and staying asleep. PTSD also increased the risk of other conditions and/or substance abuse (U.S. Institute of Medicine).
According to the National Center for PTSD, 15% of veterans have reported PTSD symptoms within the past year and 29% report that they have experienced it within their lifetime among those who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. Regarding veterans across various eras, the lifetime prevalence stands at 27.3%. In comparison, about 6.9% of civilians report having PTSD within their lifetime.
This is not a small issue for our nation's veterans. They need physical, mental, and spiritual healing. If you or someone in your life is struggling with PTSD, reach out to someone. There are many great organizations, including us, that are here to walk with you on your healing journey.