The impact of PTSD on physical and mental health

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY. FIVE ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THIS MORNING. THE IMPACT OF PTSD ON SOLDIERS AND THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH. EXPERTS SAY IT CAN TRIGGER BIG CHANGES, INCLUDING WEIGHT GAIN AND CHRONIC PAIN. JOINING US NOW IS DOCTOR SOFIA MATA, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES AT HOME BASE, WHICH IS A JOINT PROGRAM BY THE RED SOX FOUNDATION AND MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL. DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. OF COURSE, YOU TALK WITH SERVICE MEMBERS NEARLY EVERY DAY AT HOME BASE. CAN YOU ESTIMATE HOW MANY DO IN FACT STRUGGLE WITH PTSD? SURE. YOU KNOW, IT’S MORE COMMON THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE IN ABOUT 1 IN 5 POST NINE OVER 11 VETERANS EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD. AS YOU SAID, WE SEE SERVICE MEMBERS EVERY DAY CARRYING THESE INVISIBLE WOUNDS FROM COMBAT LOSS AND YEARS OF HIGH STRESS. BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PTSD IS NOT A WEAKNESS. IT’S ACTUALLY A HUMAN RESPONSE TO EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES. DOES PTSD AFFECT MEN DIFFERENTLY THAN IT AFFECTS WOMEN? YOU KNOW, THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION. MEN AND WOMEN CAN EXPERIENCE PTSD DIFFERENTLY. IN RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WOMEN HAVE HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OVERALL. BUT WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT IS THAT WOMEN ARE SERVING NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, AND THEY SHOW INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH. THE TREATMENT THAT WE PROVIDE IS EXTREMELY PERSONALIZED, AND EACH VETERAN’S EXPERIENCE AND TRAUMA IS UNIQUE. SO WE TRY TO TAILOR THE CARE TO EACH PERSON’S OWN HISTORY. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE? THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION. SO YOU KNOW, WE CARE FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALL AT NO COST. AND THEY COME TOGETHER AND THEY HEAL TOGETHER, WHICH BUILDS CONNECTION AND SUPPORT. AND HEALING MEANS NOT ONLY TREATING BOTH THE MIND BUT ALSO THE BODY. AND WE OFFER COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED TRAUMA CARE THAT INCLUDES PHYSICAL THERAPY, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, EXERCISE, FITNESS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY, NUTRITION, ALL LEADING TO IMPROVED RESILIENCE IN HELPING VETERANS AND FAMILIES MOVE FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING. IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR SO MANY FAMILIES. WHEN YOU TREAT THE INDIVIDUAL, THE ENTIRE FAMILY BENEFITS FOR THAT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SOFIA MATA, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES AT HOME BASE. WE APP