War is Hell. War zone contractors are exposed to the same stressors as soldiers. And in modern war, there is no shortage of stressors. IEDs, RPGs, gun fire, threats of violence, mortars, air raid sirens, suicide bombers, green-on-blue attacks…the list goes on and on.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has become more willing to accept the fact that military personnel may return from the war zone with psychological problems. Unfortunately, insurance companies still dispute whether certain contractors actually have a psychological disability. When the insurance company disputes a psychological claim, it may deny benefits, including medical treatment that the injured contractor desperately needs.
How Do You Know If You Have a Psychological Problem?
Sometimes, a contractor returns home a changed person. Their time in the war zone made them unrecognizable to their family, maybe even unrecognizable to themselves. They are angry, irritable, withdrawn. They can’t sleep. And when they can sleep, they have nightmares.
The American Psychiatric Association has developed criteria to determine if you have a psychological injury and what treatment you may require. If you are having psychological problems, then you should visit a mental health professional immediately and get the help that you deserve. The professional will likely ask about the traumatic events that you experienced. They will also ask about your symptoms, which might include:
- Aggressiveness
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Avoidance
- Concentration Problems
- Depression
- Exaggerated Startle Response
- Fear
- Flashbacks
- Hopelessness
- Hypervigilance
- Irritability
- Loss of Interest
- Jumpiness
- Nightmares
- Recklessness
- Self-Destructive Behavior
- Sleep Disturbance
- Suicidal Ideation
- Survivor’s Guilt
Don’t be ashamed of having a psychological problem. Don’t wait to seek help. The longer you wait for treatment, the longer your problem will last. And if you are having thoughts or feelings of suicide, then immediately contact your doctor.
How Do You File a Psychological Injury Claim?
If you or a loved one is having psychological problems relating to their employment overseas, please contact Jon Robinson at Strongpoint Law Firm immediately. You may be entitled to Defense Base Act benefits.
Jon can be reached at (985) 246-3194, or you can fill out the contact form and let Jon contact you for a free case evaluation.
