b'PTSD in Veterans:A Spark of HopeBY ROBERT KAUFMANN, M.D.reactionstominorlifesituationscause these individuals to fear that they will be unable to control future behavior. This is manifestedasanxiety,whichcausesthe frequencyandseverityofsymptomsto increase even more. Military training en-couragesindividualstoignoreminoris-sues and pursue an intended goal. Howev-er, this does not work with PTSD. Research has shown that refusing to recognize ones PTSDactuallyworsens,notlessens,its symptoms and secondary effects.Understanding PTSDs Effects on the BodyRecentadvancesinsciencehaveal-lowed us to gain a better understanding of why PTSD takes such a devastating toll on those suffering from it and how to re-duce its impact. TounderstandPTSDbetter,animal models have been used, since animals will M anyveteranssufferfromWho Suffers from PTSDtheoften exhibit the behavioral characteristic of PTSD in humans. In these animal mod-els, pathological and physiological chang-post-traumaticstressdis- and Why? es occur in areas of the brain associated order(PTSD),aconditionIndividuals in the military are routinelywith anxiety and memory, areas that are characterizedbyintensesubjected to traumatic events. BesidesaffectedinPTSD.Thesechangesinclude and disturbing thoughts and feelings thatjob-related trauma, both male and femaledecreasingcannabinoidreceptor1(CB1), last long after a shocking, scary, or danger- veterans are subject to sexual trauma withincreasingsynaptophysin(themainpro-ous experience has ended. The symptoms ofover half of all veterans with military sexu- teinofsynapticvesicles),andincreasing the disorder include: flashbacks or dreams;al trauma being men. 1The U.S. Department5-HT1A(serotonin1A)receptors,allof frightening thoughts; avoidance of feelings,of Veterans Affairs estimates that PTSD af- which are integral to the human endocan-thoughts, places, or events; sleep disorders;fects up to 30% of Vietnam War veterans,nabinoid system (ECS). 2and intense anger or other strong feelings.12% of Desert Storm veterans, and 20% ofHumanpatientswithPTSD-likeemo-Minor issues can trigger these symptoms,veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom andtionalandpsychologicaldisorderscan causing the individual to overreact, result- Operation Enduring Freedom. 1 havemitochondrialdysfunction,which ing in disruption of their lives and the livesIn spite of this prevalence, many veter- changesneuralsynapticplasticityand of those surrounding them. But new studiesans with PTSD avoid getting help, becausecellularresilience,resultinginbrainat-on the effects of hemp-derived cannabidiolmemories of the associated event(s) are of- rophy. 3 Inaddition,biosyntheticchang-(CBD) offer a spark of hope for those suffer- ten distorted and associated with feelingses occur in the memory area of the brain ing from this condition. of chaos, helplessness, and/or guilt. Over- over time and repetition, resulting in so-24 H ealtHF reedomN ews /w iNter2020'