Jeff Turner experienced a life-changing traumatic event during a mortar attack in Iraq in 2004, resulting in physical injuries and the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the years following the attack, Turner grapples with persistent symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and an overwhelming sense of fear, which significantly affect his daily life. The article highlights the long-lasting effects of PTSD on veterans, emphasizing the importance of understanding its symptoms and seeking treatment to address the emotional and behavioral changes that can arise from trauma.
The mortar had ripped through the hall's canvas roof and sprayed shrapnel in every direction. Compared to others, Turner was lucky. He walked away from the attack with wounds deep in his leg and under the wristband of his watch.
Some of these symptoms persisted for years. A decade after the explosion, the flashbacks began. Vivid memories of war would flood his vision, freezing him in place.
Flashbacks, along with nightmares, sleeplessness, and a heightened sense of fear, are hallmark symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Without treatment, some people with PTSD begin to notice distortions in their behavior and mood. They feel like they are in constant danger, because the past keeps barging in on the present.
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