How did the Vietnam War affect soldiers mentally?

Although most veterans were not permanently damaged by the war, some 15 to 25 percent of Vietnam veterans (between 500,000 and 700,000) suffered from a stress-related impairment known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychological disease brought on by acute combat experience.

What was so traumatic about the Vietnam War?

In fact, the VA has found 17 percent – or 510,000 – of the three million American service members who served in Vietnam went on to suffer from PTSD. Divorce, suicide, substance abuse and criminal conduct often became collateral damage. “That time in Vietnam is very much still there, it’s like yesterday,” he said.

What are the effects of PTSD for Vietnam War veterans?

They reported lower satisfaction with their marriage, sex life, and life in general. They also indicated having more parenting difficulties, higher divorce rates, lower happiness, and more physical health complaints, such as fatigue, aches, and colds. Veterans with chronic PTSD were also more likely to be smokers.

Why did Vietnam soldiers get PTSD?

Looking back, Roy thinks soldiers from the Vietnam era were particularly susceptible to PTSD because of feelings of isolation. “In earlier wars,” he says, “a group of men trained as a unit, were sent to fight as a unit, and returned home as a unit. That meant you had an instant support system.

What was the mental health of Vietnam Veterans?

Vietnam War Study Raises Concerns About Veterans’ Mental Health. A federally mandated study shows that almost 300,000 Vietnam veterans still struggle with daily health problems linked to the traumas they experienced more than 40 years ago during the war.

What are the psychological effects of the Vietnam War?

2Vietnam veterans who experience PTSD have a feeling of helplessness, worthlessness, dejection, anger, depression, insomnia, and a tendency to react to tense situations by using survival tactics.

Are there any veterans still suffering from Vietnam?

A federally mandated study shows that almost 300,000 Vietnam veterans still struggle with daily health problems linked to the traumas they experienced more than 40 years ago during the war. A new study of veterans from the Vietnam War has troubling implications for troops who have fought much more recently in Afghanistan and Iraq.

When did PTSD become an issue for Vietnam Veterans?

PTSD and Vietnam Veterans: A Lasting Issue 40 Years Later. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined as having flashbacks, upsetting memories, and anxiety following a traumatic event. It was first officially recognized as a mental health condition in 1980, only five years after the end of the Vietnam War.