BASE on this essay draw a nine pages (nine differents images base on the topic of the essay The cost of the war attached ) zine project dont put any word just draw from your creativity like this exam
COELLO
Name: Danna Coello
Date: 05/14/2025
Course: SOC 32605
The Cost of War
When soldiers return from war, they often carry home invisible wounds that weigh heavily on their emotional well-being. These wounds aren’t just theirs—they ripple through the lives of their families. Trauma doesn’t fade the moment they leave the battlefield. For many veterans, the war continues internally, long after the uniforms are folded away. I’ve seen this in people I care about—how hard it is for them to reconnect, to talk, to smile like they used to. The battlefield may be behind them, but the emotional damage lingers, often isolating them from those they love most.
According to McLean Hospital, “When trauma survivors return home, they often struggle with emotional and psychological burdens that can impair their ability to connect with their families" (“Military Trauma,” McLean Hospital). The trauma changes them. They might withdraw, avoid eye contact, or suddenly react in ways that feel out of sync with the moment. For families, it's like loving someone who has become a stranger. You want to help, but you don’t know how. It’s heartbreaking to watch a parent hesitate to hug their child or a spouse avoid conversations because they don’t know what might trigger a painful memory.
The National Center for PTSD explains that "Children of parents with PTSD may struggle with emotional regulation, fear, and anxiety" (“When a Child's Parent has PTSD,” National Center for PTSD). A child might not understand what PTSD is, but they feel the emotional distance. I once babysat a child whose father had just returned from deployment. She would flinch when she heard loud noises and often asked me why her dad didn’t laugh anymore. That kind of confusion and sadness leaves lasting marks on young hearts.
The effects ripple through entire households. “A parent with PTSD may find it difficult to be present for their child emotionally, which can lead to feelings of isolation for both the parent and the child” (“When a Child's Parent has PTSD,” National Center for PTSD). That emotional absence creates silence in places where warmth and love should be. The child might feel rejected, and the parent might feel ashamed but unsure how to fix it.
Beyond the home, trauma impacts veterans in their communities. According to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, PTSD is strongly associated with difficulty maintaining employment, relationships, and social connections (Tsai & Rosenheck, 2020). That means not only do veterans suffer personally, but they often lose the structures that could support their healing. Isolation becomes a barrier to recovery.
Veterans Affairs also reports that suicide rates among veterans are significantly higher than among civilians—nearly twice as high (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2022). That’s not just a number—it’s a heartbreaking reflection of how overwhelmed some veterans feel, often silently. We must do more than just thank them for their service—we must show up for them when they come home.
Some grassroots efforts are trying to do just that. The organization Give an Hour offers free mental health services to military members and their families, based on the idea that community care is essential (“Give an Hour,” 2023). Programs like these are life-changing because they remind veterans that they are not alone and that healing is possible, even if it takes time.
Research published in the Journal of Family Psychology further supports the importance of community support and therapy, showing that veterans who participate in family-based PTSD treatment experience significantly better outcomes (Monson et al., 2012). Healing isn’t just about individual resilience—it’s about relational support, empathy, and the tools to rebuild connection.
Additionally, the RAND Corporation highlights the challenges veterans face in accessing care, noting that “less than half of returning service members who need mental health treatment receive it, often due to stigma or lack of access” (RAND Corporation, 2021). That means we’re still failing many who need help the most. Addressing that gap is essential not only for the veteran’s well-being but for the survival and strength of their families.
It’s clear that treating veterans’ mental health is not just about helping the individual—it’s about supporting the entire family and creating a culture of empathy and understanding. As someone who has seen firsthand how trauma transforms even the most loving families, I believe we owe it to our veterans to offer more than sympathy. They need resources, support systems, and above all, patience. Healing may take years, but with compassion, community, and clinical support, recovery is possible.
References
Give an Hour. (2023). Free mental health support for those who serve and their families. https://giveanhour.org
McLean Hospital. (n.d.). Military trauma. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/military-trauma
Monson, C. M., Fredman, S. J., Macdonald, A., Pukay-Martin, N. D., Resick, P. A., & Schnurr, P. P. (2012). Cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD: Application to Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom veterans. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(4), 560–570. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029345
National Center for PTSD. (n.d.). When a child’s parent has PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/family/effects_children.asp
RAND Corporation. (2021). Invisible wounds of war: Addressing psychological and cognitive injuries in military service members. https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG720.html
Tsai, J., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2020). PTSD and social functioning: Findings from a national sample of U.S. veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33(5), 616–625. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22572
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). 2022 National veteran suicide prevention annual report. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp
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