Mental disorders such as post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) are now known to be widespread among the Vietnam War veterans, however, the extent of these mental illnesses among the veterans was not known at the time with doctors assuming that the mental illnesses have been resolved during the war. Leading to numerous war veterans’ mental conditions being left undiagnosed for numerous years after the war, constantly affecting their quality of life for this time period.
Mental illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder observed after the Vietnam War were considered to stem from pre-existing conditions and hence military psychiatrists devoted little attention to post-war psychiatric issues such as PTSD. However, an epidemiological survey conducted 15 years after the United States of America withdrew from Vietnam suggested that 480 000 of 3.15 million Americans, 15 percent, who served in the Vietnam war were suffering from war-related PTSD. Although many research projects on treatment options for PTSD were initiated post this epidemiological survey, the veterans continued to suffer. A National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (NVVLS) completed in December 2013 was the first to measure the long-term impacts of the Vietnam war on veterans’ mental health. This survey confirmed that although the majority of Vietnam war veterans are both mentally and physically healthy, many of them have displayed symptoms of PTSD and continue to suffer from PTSD.
Jim was a Vietnam War veteran diagnose with PTSD, however, his condition was not diagnosed until 39 years after he left Vietnam. For 39 years, Jim suffered with night terrors where he would wake up in the middle of the night sweating and his heart would be racing, he says that sometimes he would just break down and start crying. The pride of serving for his country was replaced with fear and shame with public outrage regarding the war, Jim says “It got to the point where if anybody asked me if I was in Vietnam, I would just say no,” Jim says, “because I didn’t want to hear what was going to follow if I said yes.” These issues continued to plague Jim for 39 years due to the lack of attention given to the post traumatic disorder during the Vietnam War when these could have immediately been treated.