Academic Writing Assignment About Veterans With PTSD (Essay Sample)

Veterans with PTSD
Student’s name
University affiliation
Veterans with post traumatic stress disorder ought to be treated as normal civilians. Research shows that individuals with PTSD ought to be treated different from other civilians due to the uncontrolled and shocking anxiety. According to Veterans Administration Andrew Brannan was declared partially disabled due to service-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
In a heterogeneous society people have different customs and beliefs. This in turn transits into having different opinions and world views. The same condition saw Brannan opting to withdraw from society and found refuge with other Vietnam War vets. Arguments in this paper seek to demonstrate the effects of PTSD among veterans as shown below:
PTSD leads to isolation from society. This is a result of uncontrolled feelings within the victim. It can also be as a result of total discrimination by the community. In some cases PTSD is usually considered an anxiety disorder CITATION Sta12 \l 1033 (Stannley Kripper, 2012) According to Brannan’s doctors, his decision to staying with fellow Vietnam War vets was as a result of finding refuge with the people they share the same experiences. Roberts argues out that PTSD veterans point to the lack of a welcoming family and society to their feelings of isolation CITATION Che12 \l 1033 (Roberts, 2012). The same can be related to the aged in society where most of them opt to reside in homes for the aged where they could be taken care for and understood with their colleagues rather than being neglected and mistreated.
Veterans with PTSD have to be exempted from death penalty. Judging people with PTSD based on the mistakes they have done calls for a sober mind that understands them better and a person who is familiar with the disorder. The condition can be treated and managed, but incase the victim is off his medication then the anxiety is aroused resulting into impaired judgment. According to Boyer, Andrew Brannan had been off his medication for days at the time of shooting. Medicated veterans with PTSD pose no threat to self or the community around. Action triggers reaction hence when unmedicated PTSD victims tend to be erratic and violent. The same way a lawyer would expect a civilian to champion for the rights of veterans with PTSD, s/he should be able to carefully internalize the outcome. Violence comes not only with the combat PTSD. It can also be as a result of civilian having different opinion on some issues.
Despite focusing on veterans as the only victims, there are a variety of PTSD all characterized with the same idea of anxiety. It can affect anyone but is mostly experienced with veterans who have been serving as military personnel. Today several films portray characters with PTSD manifesting symptoms that can be attributed to as anxiety disorder. According to Dan J… (Ad) PTSD is primarily termed as reactivity as opposed to an altered general state with its psychopathology mainly characterized during interaction with people. CITATION Dan11 \l 1033 (Dan J Stien, 2011). When called off duty veterans with PTSD need to be kept under close watch with both family members and psychiatrist. This will in turn reduce arousal of traumatic memories.
PTSD takes center stage within the legal paradigm. The whole idea of legal pluralism is seen when a veteran with PTSD is to face trial in a court of law, yet the same can be dealt with within traditional legal set up. The society can have its own emic and epic views regarding the decisions made by veterans with PTSD. The decisions and actions taken by civilians mostly do not favor combat veterans. This poses a challenge to the lawyers when defending their clients. The court’s decision ought to be fair enough to allow both sides get justice. The same is seen with Andrew Brannan’s case when he shot Boyer while off medication. The doctors and psychiatrist defended Andrew basing evidence on medical platform.
In a sovereign state both traditional laws and federal laws coexist with none being superior to the other. Even though PTSD is seen as a defense mechanism it stands test both from traditional law and federal law. After killing his girlfriend and her brother, John Darrell faced a death penalty. One can argue basing his ideas from the medical evidence to bail Darrell out. Argument from civilians proposing that Darrell should face death penalty remains relevant until they are made aware of what combat veterans have been through and what it means to have PTSD. An insight at how most mentally challenged person live reflects how some combat veterans react. They are not always a danger to themselves or the community around but when overwhelmed with emotions their reaction might be dangerous.
Different world views arise due to the idea of veterans with PTSD being exempted from death. Few might support the ideas since they know what it means to be a PTSD victim. Many will not be of the idea either because of religious beliefs, customs, traditions and personal experiences. Mostly the affected will tend to support the idea that veterans with PTSD should face death penalty. For instance, when a combat veteran threatens to kill his family members no one will stand up with him and understand that it is not his wish to do so. Legal measures will in turn be taken to ensure they are locked behind bars or face death penalty. But when made aware of what it means to be a PTSD victim some people might change their mind and support the combat veterans.
PTSD should be treated the same as mental illness within the legal framework. According to Giardino the ability of defense counsel and state laws to understand the background information of PTSD helps a lot in ensuring the victim gets a fair trial. When your partner or relative has PTSD, everything around suffers directly or indirectly. This is mostly achieved through emotions. Showing love to veterans with PTSD makes the relieved and appreciated. Taking medication and watching after them will reduce the erratic and violent behavior. Psychiatrist will not only administer medication but they will also study the effects and changes brought about by the drugs.
Veterans with PTSD need a favorable environment that will keep in check. External and internal cues such as bodily sensations, sights and sound may trigger memories for a combat veteran. Research shows that there is a difference between people who developed PTSD due to assault or accident and those who were assaulted but did not develop PTSD. The difference lies in the left hemisphere of...