{"id":25070,"date":"2018-04-23T18:10:56","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T18:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/23\/kevlar-for-the-mind-ptsd-not-unique-to-modern-war-but-there-is-a-new-path-forward\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:37:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:37:26","slug":"kevlar-for-the-mind-ptsd-not-unique-to-modern-war-but-there-is-a-new-path-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2018\/04\/23\/kevlar-for-the-mind-ptsd-not-unique-to-modern-war-but-there-is-a-new-path-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevlar for the Mind: PTSD not unique to modern war, but there is a new path forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was 15 years ago that combat operations began in Iraq<\/a>. Today, relatively few troops remain in the country as part of security or training missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as one of our nation\u2019s most protracted wars, the psychological aftereffects of the conflict are still fresh. And our nation is still battling the consequences of sending its citizens overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been estimated that more than 500,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are dealing with some form of psychiatric disorder. The most notable is post-traumatic stress disorder<\/a>. PTSD is not unique to the recent conflicts in the Middle East. It has a long and sordid history with war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Civil War, doctors labelled it \u201cSoldier\u2019s Heart<\/a>\u201d because of the symptoms of shortness of breath and racing heart commonly seen in front-line soldiers. It was anxiety, not a heart problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of exhaustion and intense fear in World War II soldiers resulted in the label \u201cbattle fatigue.\u201d Unfortunately, many of these soldiers were called cowards and punished for their psychological reactions to combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\t