Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (OEF/OIF) have been found to be at high risk for the development of a number of mental health problems. Of those problems, anger in veterans of these wars has been frequently observed. In addition, it appears as though veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be particularly at risk for developing anger problems. A recent study examined potential risk factors for anger problems among OEF/OIF veterans. You can read more about this study here.

Anger can be a very difficult emotion to deal with. However, you can do a number of things to better manage anger. First, addressing symptoms of PTSD through therapy may also help reduce feelings of anger. Many treatments for PTSD even incorporate anger management skills. Even if you don't have PTSD, these skills can be helpful in your everyday life.

Many people with a PTSD are not very compassionate towards themselves. The symptoms of PTSD can be very intense and can disrupt many areas of a person's life. As a result, people with PTSD may start to experience feelings of guilt or shame, have negative thoughts about themselves, or feel worthless or like a failure. They may feel as though they aren't trying hard enough or that there is something wrong with who they are as a person because they can't "get over" their PTSD symptoms.

Thoughts such as these are a sign of low self-compassion, and low self-compassion can have a huge impact on recovery from PTSD. It can decrease motivation to continue through those difficult moments in treatment. It may increase feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A lack of self-compassion can also bring about strong feelings of shame and guilt, which can make emotions even more difficult to manage. Finally, low self-compassion may lead to self-destructive behaviors. For example, a person might begin to engage in deliberate self-harm as a form of self-punishment.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to improve your self-compassion. This article presents some important strategies that you should try out if you notice that you have low self-compassion.

There are a number of treatments for PTSD that are supported by research. That is, studies have shown that they are successful in reducing PTSD symptoms by a significant amount. Most of these treatments (such as prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy) are delivered one-on-one. However, some places may offer these treatments in a group format. So, is this something that you should pursue?

Well, the answer depends on what you want to get out of treatment, as well as what else is available to you. A study examining the success of group therapy for PTSD found that compared to no treatment at all, group treatment results in a reduction in PTSD symptoms. However, group therapy for PTSD did not appear to be any better in reducing symptoms than groups that didn't really focus on PTSD symptoms, but instead focused on just providing support. In addition, group therapy didn't appear to be as effective in reducing PTSD symptoms than individual treatments for PTSD.

That said, there are some benefits to group therapy that individual therapy does not provide. Group therapy can provide social support and help reduce isolation. In addition, in group therapy, you can receive validation from other group members and can learn from their experiences in managing their PTSD symptoms. You also can help others, which can have a positive effect on your self-esteem.

When it comes time to seek out therapy for your PTSD, it is important to think about what you would like to achieve in therapy. It is also important to think about what setting (individual versus group) is going to be best for you to get your needs met. In some cases, both group and individual therapy are used together. As with seeking out a therapist for individual therapy, it is important to be a consumer and do as much research as possible. This way, you can ensure that you will find the best fit for your needs and goals.

It has been estimated that approximately 21% of adults in the United States (about 45 million people) currently smoke, and cigarette smoking is considered the leading preventable cause of death and disability in the United States. Approximately a third of all deaths from cancer in the United States each year (about 160,390) are the direct result of tobacco use. Without a doubt, smoking is a major health problem.

It is not surprising then that a common resolution in the New Year is quitting smoking. This may be a particularly good resolution for someone with PTSD. PTSD and smoking commonly co-occur, and many people with PTSD may use smoking as a way of managing their PTSD symptoms and associated stress and anxiety. While smoking may bring about an initial state of relief, it can actually cause PTSD symptoms and anxiety in general to get worse. It can also increase risk for a number of physical health problems that people with PTSD are already at high risk for.

Have you quit smoking successfully? Share your story with other readers here.