Fourth of July Fireworks Can Trigger Veteran PTSD

As the country approaches the Fourth of July, the fireworks that mark the holiday can be difficult for veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder. The celebratory observance is a useful reminder of how mental health treatment can help. PTSD is a behavioral health condition that can develop after a traumatic event such as combat, and it can leave the nervous system on high alert.

“People with PTSD often have an increased startle response,” relayed Dr. Jacob Barack, a psychologist at Advocate Health Care. “It’s almost like their nervous system is an alarm that hasn’t quite been calibrated.”

PTSD is Common Among Veterans

While anyone can develop PTSD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates about 29% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have experienced it, along with 21% of those who served in Desert Storm. 

Sudden, loud and unpredictable noise, like fireworks in a neighborhood, can set off symptoms. Many veterans try to deal with PTSD through self-medication to calm themselves, but this approach rarely works.

The Mental Health & Addiction Connection

Indeed, PTSD rarely travels alone. Many people who live with trauma also face anxiety or substance use, and using alcohol or opioids to quiet symptoms of depression is common. When a mental health condition and a substance use disorder occur together, clinicians call it a co-occurring disorder, or dual diagnosis.

Dual diagnosis means treating both conditions at the same time rather than one after the other. Integrated care matters because untreated PTSD can fuel substance use, and untreated substance use can worsen trauma symptoms. Confidential behavioral health programs specially designed for veterans can address all these conditions while reducing stigmas.

Veterans Can Prepare and Cope

Dr. Barack recommends planning ahead. That can mean staying inside during peak hours, choosing a quieter setting, and using tools like noise-canceling headphones or earplugs, weighted blankets, or white noise or even music therapy to soften sudden sounds. He also suggests guided techniques in mental health apps, including the VA’s PTSD Coach and Mindfulness Coach. 

Neighbors can give advance notice before setting off fireworks, and leaving displays to professionals reduces repeated, sporadic noise.

Effective care for PTSD and co-occurring conditions includes evidence-based therapies such as behavior therapy and trauma-focused approaches, sometimes paired with medications for opioid use disorders. Care is available across residential and outpatient settings, depending on a person’s needs.

Treatment Options for Veterans and Beyond

If the holiday brings symptoms to the surface, it may be a sign to reach out. Look for mental health treatment centers and dual diagnosis programs anywhere in the country via our directory, and ask whether a facility treats PTSD alongside substance use. Also, feel free to dial 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) to speak to an expert. 

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Author

Nikki Wisher, BA

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Nikki Wisher is an Atlanta-based content writer who specializes in health and wellness. After earning her BA in English, she has been writing in the health and wellness space for over a decade, with credits ranging from addiction recovery to fitness to aesthetics and skin care. This includes her inclusive running blog forallrunners.com.

Editor

Peter Lee, PhD

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history during the Cold War. His primary focus is the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. He has published widely on how the public has used popular culture as a mechanism to address political and social shifts throughout time