July 4th when your husband is a Combat Veteran who suffers from PTSD

You are going to be hearing a lot of loud, concussive noises over the next few days, whether or not fireworks are legal where you live. For most of us, these explosions may be an occasional annoyance, but overall are part of the fun and spirit of Independence Day celebrations. For some veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, though, they can be a nightmare.

My husband spent 27 years defending our great Country as an Infantry soldier, Bradley fighting vehicle commander, Master gunner, and was deployed 9 different times to combat, to places including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Desert Storm Veteran Iraq (OIF), Afghanistan (OEF), Kosovo and a proud graduate of the United States Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA), yet he suffers from PTSD, so the 4th of July,  it's not so fun for him.  The fireworks trigger severe agitation, anger, fright, fear, anxiety, frustration and panic attacks in those veterans suffering from PTSD, causing flashbacks to times of war, the US Department of Veteran Affairs said in a news release.

My husband who does not purposely try to avoid spending time on these holidays with our children is actually sad and depressed over it.  We want our kids to experience the beauty of fireworks displays and the reason our country celebrates the 4th of July. As a result, we stay inside or most often travel to visit family or celebrate America’s day of independence in a quiet area.

In all honesty, the most significant problem is the smaller fireworks that may be set off before or after July 4 when my husband least expects them. The smaller, random fireworks that start getting used weeks ahead of July 4th and continue getting used for weeks after the holiday sometimes. Nobody knows when one of these little loud blasts is going to occur. My husband has had flashbacks when kids threw M80s into the creek behind our house or rockets in their backyard, or when somebody lights off a string of firecrackers in their mailbox.

The sound of firecrackers, fireworks or other loud noises may remind veterans of wartime explosions, attacks and gunshots, triggering episodes in which they re-experience their trauma – especially when the fireworks come at an unexpected time. 
It isn't any great mystery why, given how frequently extremely loud noises accompany traumatic combat experience.

"Even with my recovery, and treatment through the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, the fireworks will annoy me this week. The [fireworks] stands are all open, I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life," he said.

This is doubly sad, of course, given that July 4th is partly about celebrating veterans — and that there isn't much that affected veterans can do but try to get away from those celebrations until they can cope with the stress and anxiety, and most of all memories.

God bless those of you who are able to celebrate and enjoy the festivities.  Stay Safe!