Why are Vietnam vets so traumatized?

Risk Factors of PTSD in Vietnam Vets
Additionally, there was a lack of public support for the Vietnam War compared to previous wars, and many of the military personnel returning home were met with indifference or even hostile feelings from family members, friends, and neighbors.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hillandponton.com

Why do so many Vietnam vets have PTSD?

Those who served in the Vietnam war still frequently struggle with PTSD. PTSD can occur in Veterans who witnessed a traumatic events in service, such as a natural disaster, death, combat exposure, or sexual assault.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ptsdlawyers.com

Why were Vietnam vets treated badly?

Many Vietnam veterans claim that most people treated them with indifference and seemed uncomfortable listening to their stories from battle. Some people, however, saw returning soldiers as dangerous, violent symbols of an increasingly futile and terrible war—much like the individual Wowwk encountered.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on solutionsforchange.org

What do Vietnam vets suffer from?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined as having flashbacks, upsetting memories, and anxiety following a traumatic event. It was first officially recognized as a mental health condition in 1980, only five years after the end of the Vietnam War.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on publichealth.va.gov

What is the most common mental illness in Vietnam veterans?

Veterans who served in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos during the Vietnam War have a higher prevalence of mental health issues, particularly PTSD, compared with both other Vietnam-era Veterans and non-Veterans, according to an analysis of data from the Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study (VE-HEROeS).

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on research.va.gov

Many Vietnam veterans still struggle with PTSD

18 related questions found

What is the number 1 disease in Vietnam?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes strokes and ischemic heart disease, is responsible for 31% of deaths in Vietnam. Cancers of the lung and liver follow closely behind. Strokes cause the most deaths in the Vietnamese population with 200,000 new cases each year; half of them are fatal.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on med.stanford.edu

Why do so many Vietnam vets have hep C?

Veterans have a higher risk of developing a hepatitis C infection, especially if they served during the Vietnam era. This may be because military veterans may have more of the traditional risk factors for the condition, such as using injected drugs, along with having had transfusions or tattoos.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com

How old would Vietnam vets be today?

Nearly nine million Americans served during the Vietnam War Era, and as of the 2020 Census, they are the largest cohort of veterans in America, with an estimated 6.4 million living vets at a median age of 71.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on military.com

How old are most Vietnam vets now?

Today, Vietnam Veterans range in age from 61 to 103 years old.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on vcchc.com

Why was Australia feared in the Vietnam War?

Australians feared infiltration of unions and political parties by communists, as well as communist expansion in Asia. 3.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on alphahistory.com

How were Vietnam vets treated in Australia?

Rejected by fellow soldiers, ignored by the government

Vietnam veterans also endured a particularly painful form of ostracism — mistreatment by other military veterans. This manifested itself in exclusion from social clubs for veterans commonly known as RSL (Returned and Services League of Australia) clubs.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on historynet.com

What was the Vietnam War like for Australian soldiers?

Some 60,000 Australians had been involved in the war by then. Over 500 Australian personnel had lost their lives, including more than 200 national servicemen. Some 3000 Australians were wounded and became sick during their tour of duty.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on anzacportal.dva.gov.au

Why are Vietnam vets proud?

After returning to the United States, many veterans continued to support American military involvement in Vietnam. Even though they had not accomplished all of the U.S. goals, they still felt proud of their service to their country. They believed that they had done their duty and fought bravely for a good cause.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on encyclopedia.com

How many Vietnam veterans killed themselves?

[CBS 60 Minutes, Vietnam 101, 4 Oct 86] broadcast that more than 100,000 Vietnam veterans had committed suicide. In 1988, a network news anchor [CBS Reports: The Wall Within, 2 Jun 88] asserted that between 26,000 and 100,000 suicides had occurred among Vietnam veterans depending on which reputable source you believe."

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on deanza.edu

Why don t veterans talk about war?

Veterans also don't share combat details because they fear their family's reaction, specifically rejection or pity. “If they knew what I had to do, what I am capable of, they will think I'm a monster.” Families often share frustration that Veterans are more willing to talk to each other than them.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on deploymentpsych.org

Are you a Vietnam vet if you didn't go to Vietnam?

Vietnam era veterans are those who served during the time of the Vietnam war but didn't set foot in the country of Vietnam. The Vietnam vet is one who was assigned within the combat zone of the country and it's surrounding waters.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on statesidelegal.org

Who was the highest ranking officer killed in Vietnam?

"Keith Lincoln Ware, Major General, United States Army". Arlington National Cemetery.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org

Why are Asians so prone to hepatitis?

Most Asians acquire hepatitis B as a consequence of vertical transmission from their mothers during birth or later in life via child-to-child transmission.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on uclahealth.org

Why is there no vaccine against Hep C?

The main reason there is no vaccine for hepatitis C is because this virus has many strains, called genotypes, and many subtypes. To be effective, a vaccine must be able to protect against all or most of the genotypes and subtypes. Hepatitis C has at least 7 genotypes and more than 80 subtypes.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on drugs.com

How many of vets are alive from Vietnam?

As of 2020, there were approximately 6.3 million veterans of the United States military still alive who served during the period of the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1975.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on statista.com

Why do some soldiers not get PTSD?

The two biggest factors were childhood abuse prior to the war, and a pre-existing mental health issue other than PTSD. Age of exposure to trauma also made a difference. Younger soldiers exposed to combat were much more likely to develop lingering PTSD than older soldiers.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on recoveryways.com

What mental illness do soldiers have after war?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sometimes known as shell shock or combat stress, occurs after you experience severe trauma or a life-threatening event. It's normal for your mind and body to be in shock after such an event, but this normal response becomes PTSD when your nervous system gets “stuck.”

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on helpguide.org

What are the 17 symptoms of PTSD?

What Are the 17 Symptoms of PTSD?
  • Agitation. Agitation is a feeling of anxiety or nervous excitement. ...
  • Nervousness and anxiety. ...
  • Problems with concentration or thinking. ...
  • Problems with memory. ...
  • Headaches. ...
  • Depression and crying spells. ...
  • Suicidal thoughts or attempts. ...
  • Mood swings.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on stellacenter.com