As Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) month comes to an end, The VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System wants to continue raising awareness about PTSD during the Fourth of July holiday.

Many Veterans living with PTSD are not fond of the “loud fanfare” that comes with the Independence Day celebrations.

Dr. Jim Sharpnack, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System’s Staff Psychologist and PTSD Clinical Team Program Manager says, “The auditory and visual triggers of fireworks can result in Veterans experiencing a temporary increase in some PTSD symptoms, and this situation is often further complicated by fireworks being used unexpectedly during an extended period of time around the 4th of July.”

VA Eastern Kansas Health care System has some recommendations for Verterans living with PTSD to help prepare for the holiday:

• for Veterans whom like to participate in Fourth of July activities–practice being  around loud noises prior to the holiday, to decrease the impact of the noises during celebrations
• wear noise-cancelling headphones as a way to eliminate the effects of sudden, loud noises during the holiday

Dr. Sharpnack says, “Although many Veterans want to spend time with their families, they often avoid this type of exposure and seek the isolation and safety of their own homes, which can often be misunderstood, as a lack of interest in family activities.”

Tips for community members that live near Veterans from the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System:

• wait until the 4th to set off fireworks
• don’t set off fireworks at odd hours or near homes
• reach out to neighbors and find out if they are Veterans and ask them how they feel about fireworks

VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System provided a list of some triggers for Veterans:

• Fireworks, firecrackers, and loud explosives (gun Fire), which can remind Veterans of combat firefights, etc
• crowds
• family gatherings with triggering and insensitive questions like “how many people did you kill?”

Tips to help support Veterans with PTSD from the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System:

• Ensure Veterans with PTSD know how to access treatment
• give some helpful pointers to Veterans on how to cope with triggers including:
  • use coping skills – planning ahead
  • being flexible
  • exercising good self care
  • dealing with problems early
  • thinking about consequences
  • slowing response down
  • reducing anxiety leveles so that the Veteran can choose how to respond, rather than reacting
  • seeking support from friends, family members and/or professionals, as needed

Warning signs for when your Veteran needs outside help from the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System:

• family and social relationship troubles – frequent and intense conflicts, poor communication, inability to meet responsibilities
• work, school, or community issues – frequent absences, conflicts, inability to meet deadlines, poor performance
• frequent or severe depressed or angry moods – especially if there is a possibility that they are going to hurt themselves or someone else
• being regularly hyper-alert or on guard, with frquent intrusive thoughts or images of war zone experiences

The National Center for PTSD has helpful information for Veterans and their family members:  https://www.ptsd.va.gov/