Why the 4th of July is “Hell Week” for many veterans

Last year prior to the 4th of July holiday I wrote this piece titled “Fireworks and gunshots are a real danger to combat veterans”

It struck a chord, and this year this often-unspoken message is going viral again. Many veterans thought they were alone in their struggles in dealing with PTSD triggers during Independence Day. The relief they shared in knowing they weren’t crazy, weren’t alone, and had answers to a very real problem resulted in many messages of thanks and gratitude for speaking about the topic no one really wants to talk about.

I articulated a few points in that blog post.

1. We don’t begrudge anyone for wanting to celebrate our freedoms. We’d love nothing more than to be celebrating with you. BUT there is a time and a place for such celebrations.
2. Leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Let’s face it: Fireworks are nothing more than simulated combat.

I went on to explain what happens to combat veterans when the 4th of July rolls around:

In short, most people don’t realize that it’s not a temporary “startle” but a full-blown PTSD trigger that can last for days or weeks.  My husband happens to be one of them.

Any sudden and unexpected noise will put a combat veteran’s mind straight into the battlefield.  It could be something as simple as dropping a glass in the kitchen, a car backfiring down the street, distant gunshots, or random fireworks found in neighborhoods across the country.  Just the smell of the gunpowder can trigger a PTSD episode.

Their brains cannot logically understand there is no threat.  Add in more issues like a traumatic brain injury (such as the case of my husband) and the brain will “misfire” the information even more.

This year-old blog post has resulted in thousands of views in the last week alone. And, just like last year, the resounding sigh of relief is palpable in every combat veteran’s home across the nation.

“You mean I am not alone?”

I’d like to give you some examples of how this holiday becomes “Hell Week” for many veterans and their caregivers. Facebook is inundated with messages much like this one, from a wounded warrior’s wife, Sara:

I loathe this week every year. For most Americans the 4th of July is all about a good time, bbq’s, and whatever else is tradition for them. For us, It is all about hiding out in the house until It’s all over and done. It is a week (yes a week because people start fireworks before and after the 4th) of little sleep as I try to calm him and protect him from the impossible. The very freedom’s most families are enjoying, are the very ones we have given up. Yes, I say WE because the whole family is effected. So, as you are enjoying this time of year, please remember that most combat Veterans are anxiously awaiting for it to be over so that they are not subjected to the startles, nightmares,and flashbacks of war that it brings.

Lisa, another wounded warrior’s wife shared this:

Last night was really tough for my hubby since our neighbors were lighting fireworks. I have spoken to many other military families who are going through the same thing. It’s a tough situation since fireworks are so much a part of our 4th of July celebrations in this country. Had Ev not been hurt in the wars I would probably never have realized the impact fireworks have on those who have been in combat. I’m posting this blog by my friend Torrey Shannon a second time as a reminder. Maybe it is a good idea out of respect for those who protect us to leave the fireworks to the professionals-

And this one message in particular really has a lot of impact. Jerry is a Vietnam-era veteran who speaks so honestly and eloquently about this issue. He says:

Thank you, Torrey Shannon, for writing this.

I am a Vietnam Vet. I love fireworks – when I know when they’re going to happen and where they’re going to happen. Then I can watch and enjoy them. But when the explosions, or even small pops, go off unexpectedly they can trigger a panic attack, especially if there are several of them and they come from behind. I can realize that it’s only fireworks, but once that panic begins to set in it’s really hard to stop it.

At times I have felt like maybe my wife and I are the only ones who are particularly bothered by the fireworks (my wife also has PTSD). Seemed like other vets had no issues. The VFW post where I live sells fireworks for the 4th. The vets manning the booth seem to have no problems. Of course, they’re only selling “safe and sane” fireworks, which cause me the biggest problems of all.

Seems like almost everybody in the neighborhood uses these “safe and sane” fireworks. They have them in their yards, but most of it ends up in the streets. So moving through the streets, walking or driving, it begins feeling like being in a battlefield and when the bangs go off in the air it seems like the battle is still going on. And the panic attacks begin.

Thanks to recent articles and blogs such as this I am discovering that I’m not so alone after all. Other vets feel the same way but don’t speak up about it like I used to not speak of it.

Any vets ever mention any problems with balloons?

Mark Getty sent a message to a mutual friend of ours asking her to share this photo with me. To honor him for his generosity to share, I am reposting it here:

Make no mistake…our community does not begrudge a celebration of our nation’s freedom. Our loved ones sacrificed for those freedoms. We’d love nothing more than to participate in every fireworks celebration across this great nation.

But many of them can’t.

We really, really, really need your help in bringing awareness that fireworks are best left to the professionals. Please do not try these at home.

As a side note, if you still want to blow off some fireworks in your neighborhoods and assume there are no veterans that you’d be impacting, think about the fire hazards. I live not too far from the Waldo Canyon Fire that took more than 350 homes and burned thousands and thousands of acres…and is still burning.

This adds a whole new meaning to the word “FIRE WORKS”, doesn’t it? Is it really worth it?

Our community has put a ban on fireworks for a good reason. If yours has banned fireworks, please remember that no one is trying to ruin your ‘fun’ or keep you from your ‘right to celebrate our freedoms’.

It’s really just a matter of common courtesy. And, quite honestly…our survival.

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