The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs finds that one in five combat veterans is diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, either during or after combat. Therefore, a large amount of veterans must then suffer from chronic adult nightmares, since nightmares are one of the most common symptom associated with PTSD. While most believe that nightmares are mostly associated with childhood, many adults still suffer from occasional nightmares, and 2-8% of adults suffer from chronic nightmares. Veterans can easily fall into this small category of sufferers, which can cause them to feel even more alienated from society.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information describes how nightmares are unpleasant thoughts manifested by our minds during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. The NCBI also confirms how nightmares are "particularly prevalent" in those who suffering from PTSD. This is because nightmares are part of the three main categories of symptoms that define PTSD. While these categories are outlined by "re-experiencing symptoms," "avoidance symptoms," and "hyperarousal symptoms" by the National Institute for Mental Health, nightmares fall under "re-experiencing symptoms" due to their vivid nature. Veterans who suffer from nightmares can be quickly transported back to a particularly traumatic wartime event during sleep, and find themselves almost reliving the horrors over again.
SFC Randy Abrams, son of Roxann Abrams who founded a non-profit organization, Operation: I.V., in his memory, suffered from frequent nightmares from his tour in Iraq. Abrams would frequently dream of the innocent women and children who were killed in combat during his service, and the guilt surmounted silently inside of him. As it turned out, Abrams was suffering from undiagnosed PTSD, put took his own life before he could seek proper care. Abrams wanted permanent relief from the nightmares and the guilt and depression that accompanied them, and committed suicide. Unfortunately, Abrams is not alone, as 22 combat veterans take their own lives on a daily basis after returning from service. To them, death seems like a permanent relief from their tormenting thoughts while both awake and asleep, but this should not be the fate of our U.S. veterans.
People who suffer from chronic nightmares, especially veterans, should seek help from outside sources in order to either alleviate or eradicate their chronic nightmares. For veterans, the VA offers both psychiatric medication and talk-therapy, although studies released in 2012 by CNN and other media outlets found that medical professionals associated with the VA prescribed 259% more narcotics than in 2002, and that individualized therapy had fallen by the wayside. Therefore, ailing soldiers and veterans who suffer from insomnia might want to consider consulting outside organizations to rehabilitate their physical and mental health.
One of those organizations is Operation: I.V, a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2012 that helps combat veterans heal from both PTSD as well as traumatic brain injuries. Its founder, Roxann Abrams, is now a Gold Star Mother after her son's tragic death in 2009.
As a result, Operation: I.V. was founded so that combat veterans who served in either Iraq or Afghanistan have a place to receive treatment through a specialized “VIP”, or “Veteran Intervention Plan” program. “VIP” offers ten different rehabilitation programs, including hyperbolic oxygen therapy, service dogs, and anxiety reduction therapy. Additionally, veterans may also partake in programs such as job retraining, business mentoring, and educational assistance. Again, while there is no cure for PTSD, the programs provided by Operation: I.V. can drastically improve a veteran’s mental health and overall outlook on life.
Hopefully by treating the underlying cause for chronic nightmares, veterans can once again receive the restful sleep they deserve, and be assured both physically and mentally that they have retired from their service.
Abigail Fazelat is a contributing writer for Operation: I.V., a non-profit organization founded by Gold Star Mother Roxann Abrams who lost her son SFC Randy Abrams to PTSD. Randy took his own life after experiencing a wartime flashback- an experience not uncommon to any combat veteran. As a result, Abrams founded Operation: I.V. as an “intravenous of help” for other Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and contemplating suicide. Fazelat has worked for the organization since October 2013 under a pseudonym.