For the last 15 years, June has been recognized as national PTSD month, but for some veterans, it’s a daily reality. Lexington’s Veterans Affairs Healthcare System offers a wide range of services to vets dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Erin Johnson , a clinical psychologist with the Lexington VA’s PTSD clinical team, said their evidence-based treatment can improve patients’ quality of life.
“There's no magic wands. We can't, you know, wave things around and erase our past experiences. But we certainly have a lot of skilled providers here that really care and really want to help people get to a place where they can feel more present, more open.”
Johnson said while not every veterans’ PTSD is combat-related, some are triggered by fireworks on the 4th of July and the days leading up to Independence Day.
“For some people, they might find fireworks very enjoyable and pleasant, and, you know, celebratory of our nation and our freedom. And for others, their bodies may feel very, very different based on, again, what their past life experiences have been.”
Johnson said often, people don’t know when a friend or neighbor’s dealing with PTSD.
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