Today’s the anniversary of “a date which will live in infamy,” according to former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Seventy-five years ago today, the Japanese military attacked the military base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Following this attack, the United States officially entered World War II.
There are fewer and fewer people that can remember that day. There are even fewer veterans of World War II. We hear so much about the war, but sometimes, we seem to forget the real stories of the real people who fought it.
Even though the term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) wasn’t around then, it seems that a number of World War II veterans have suffered from it. Some refused to talk about their war experiences, and others came back changed people. Others experienced nightmares, and others struggled with alcoholism or drug addiction, presumably because they were trying to cope with their painful experiences during the war. Still other veterans struggled with external injuries they sustained during their military experiences.
These experiences sound a lot like what veterans of other wars have experienced. For these later veterans, though, there has been more understanding about the psychological toll of war. People of later generations seem more comfortable discussing psychological problems, substance use disorder, and related matters.
If someone is more comfortable discussing such matters, it seems likely that they will be more comfortable seeking help. The help of others can be so crucial in treating these matters. It is very difficult to treat mental illness and substance use disorder—even experienced professionals find such treatment challenging.
Trying to treat such conditions on your own is difficult at best and dangerous at worst. For example, detoxing (trying to remove toxins from your body) sounds like a pretty intense process, right? It is. It’s a medical procedure for a medical problem. Doctors, nurses, and therapists work to help veterans and others who struggle with substance use disorder and mental health conditions.
