Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem that may develop following a person's exposure to a traumatic event. Triggered by such distressing events, the disorder has been associated to sexual dysfunction.
A research on the relationship between United States soldiers and PTSD was conducted in 2013 and was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Results showed that about one out of five U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan had PTSD.
It was also revealed that soldiers who are 40 years old or lower, who are at the peak of their sexual lives, have 81 percent higher risk of developing sexual dysfunctions as compared to those without PTSD.
University of Carolina Researcher Dr. Benjamin Breyes suggested that the potential for sexual dysfunction after a traumatic event should be explained to the person, as per Reuters. He said that for the treatment become more effective, patient education and removal of stigmas are essential.
Among the PTSD sufferers is U.S. Army Specialist John Radell, who has noticed some changes in his personality since he came back from Iraq, as per Men's Health.
Radell said it began when he killed a 12-year-old Iraqi soldier. For him, he felt disgust with himself as well as shame when someone thanks him for his service.
Back to his home in California, Radell tried to adhere to his military identity. This was manifested by buying several firearms with 2,500 rounds of bullets each, gearing his property with dummy explosive devices and trip flares, and sleeping with a full .45 gun under his pillow and a sword beneath the mattress.
The army specialist also disclosed that his sexual relationship with his wife has been adversely affected by the war. Sometimes, he could not become erect at all. There are times that he could, but it gave him a flashback to the child soldier. He would see himself shooting his wife as he was to have his climax.
Doctor of Psychology Michael Sapiro said that it can be common for soldiers to become erect in the combat zone. He has trained as a neurocognitive rehabilitation specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sapiro said that the authority of shooting and killing someone in war, along with the intense atmosphere on the battle field does not provide pleasure, but invigoration. Randell's experience reflects a portion of the male consciousness where aggression and sex unify.
Treatments for PTSD help the affected person cope in many cases. Psychotherapy or counseling and medications are the types of treatment for the disorder. Dealing with the past can be challenging, but the coping skills that can be learned in the treatment can work.