Countless veterans are no stranger to post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, around 11% of soldiers developed PTSD when they came from home from Iraq. Due to their conditions, it can be hard for many of them to maintain a stress-free existence.

For many, it can be a challenge to maintain employment, sleep well at night and look after their families. Sadly, this can make it difficult for veterans to care for themselves and their loved ones. Because of these circumstances, those close to them should look out for warning signs.

Signs a loved one may have PTSD

It’s not always easy to figure out if someone has PTSD. The stresses of everyday life can cause people stress, but if veterans start showing any of these red flags, it may be a cause for concern:

• They have intrusive memories that keep them up at night.
• They begin feeling emotionally detached from others.
• They have bouts of moodiness or anger.
• They begin to develop a destructive addiction.
• They have suicidal thoughts.
• They have intense physical reactions when they get reminded of their trauma.
• They experience intense distress or irritability.
• They have a strong sense of hypervigilance.

Getting the right support can help

While PTSD can create significant adversity for many veterans’ lives, there is assistance available for them. If veterans meet the specific criteria, they can receive benefits from the VA that can help them recover. Those benefits can include health care coverage, compensation payments and other forms of PTSD treatment.

Filling out these applications to get the desired results can be difficult. Veterans who have questions regarding VA benefits may want to seek legal counsel. An attorney can help address their concerns and help guide them through the complicated process.