If you’re a combat veteran, chances are good you may already be feeling a little edgy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s that time of year when well-intended Independence Day fireworks \u2014 often spilling out for days before and after July 4 \u2014 can cause heightened anxiety, flashbacks and other triggers of painful wartime memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s no shame in a perfectly normal reaction to the perfectly unnatural trauma of combat. But there are some things you can do about it, experts say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find a fireworks-free zone.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some communities are starting to designate certain areas as fireworks-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michigan, for example, has declared 12 state parks fireworks-free zones through the holiday weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“While fireworks are a traditional Fourth of July festivity, some veterans and others prefer a calmer celebration with a little less excitement,” said Michigan Parks and Recreation Division Chief Ron Olson in a statement announcing the plan. “We are pleased to honor our veterans and offer that opportunity in several of our beautiful state parks.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An online campaign using the hashtag #FireworksFree4th is helping spread the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jack in, make a plan.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you stay home, basements are good noise mufflers, while noise-canceling headphones or earbuds pumping your favorite playlist can be your best friend when things start to get loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you choose to go out, make a plan with friends or family should you start feeling squirrely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, think through where you want to sit, where the exits are, and how you’ll get to a better place if anxiety starts to spike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sign up.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many, it’s not the big planned fireworks shows that cause problems \u2014 it’s all those random blasters the neighbors set off at all hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s the unexpected fireworks that really hurt,” says Shawn Gourley, co-director of the nonprofit “Military with PTSD.” The group is distributing yard signs that read “Combat Veteran Lives Here; Please Be Courteous with Fireworks,” having sent out more than 2,500 signs in recent weeks, with another 3,500 on a waiting list as the group raises money to print and ship them around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from creating your own version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talk with neighbors<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The sign is really just one way to open up a conversation with neighbors,” Gourley says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If nothing else, veterans or their family members could just ask for a quick heads-up from neighbors before they start lighting fuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If veterans know the loud noises are coming, it can make all the difference in the world,” she says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It’s that time of year when well-intended Independence Day fireworks \u2014 often spilling for days before and after July Fourth \u2014 can cause heightened anxiety, flashbacks and other triggers of painful wartime memories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":101573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":13,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1000],"class_list":["post-69143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-off-duty"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"OSHZC5DKQFHM7GAXQ4E2VKCMOI","arc_canonical_url":"\/off-duty\/2015\/07\/02\/forth-of-july-fireworks-jitters-how-to-cope\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n