How neighborhoods in Topeka can communicate with veterans before setting off fireworks

While Americans across the country enjoy some red, white and blue for Independence Day, veterans may take to their basements and avoid hearing blasts from the fireworks.

For many veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, fireworks can be a psychological trigger bringing back memories of service.

Rebecca Miller, a veteran and spokesperson for the National Center for PTSD, said fireworks reminds her of her 2003 Iraq tour.

"A lot of smells will take me back to Iraq," Miller said in a video for the national center. "Noises, Fourth of July especially, not normal fireworks like the small black cats or anything but any of the mortar-type fireworks that come out of tubes, they'll send me back to 2003."

How fireworks impact those with PTSD

Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center clinical psychologist Jim Sharpnack said he often sees fireworks trigger veterans with — and without — PTSD in a multitude of ways.

"That produces a ton of anxiety for them," Sharpnack said. "Specifically the kinds of physical anxiety symptoms that you can get from a panic attacks. Sorts of things where you have increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, maybe nausea, an increase in overall anxious mood. And that may be difficult to recover from because it may remind them of an experience that may be at the heart of their trauma."

This can happen from such stimuli as smell, sound or the sight of fireworks and isn't exclusive to Fourth of July.

"The tricky thing is that a lot of cities will allow fireworks to be shot off up to a week before Fourth of July and even a few days afterward," Sharpnack said. "So, it's not just the Fourth of July that's a problem. You're looking probably at like at a two-week time frame that can be very problematic for veterans this time of year with PTSD."

How can you help those affected?

Sharpnack said prevention and deescalation are important for avoiding a PTSD episode.

"I think finding a way to help somebody beforehand and prevention is certainly a key piece here," Sharpnack said.

He said finding ways to make veterans feel comfortable in the environment is important. Whether that be noise-canceling headphones or full-blown avoidance of fireworks.

"How can we help this person relax if they're starting to get worked up in an unhealthy way, right?" Sharpnack said. "Is there something we can do beforehand to kind of help this person de-escalate?"

Sharpnack also said he often sees veterans drink an excess of alcohol to try to numb or dampen the anxieties of the holiday. He said those situations can turn into more volatile PTSD episodes.

"So, people have to be very careful with that," Sharpnack said. "Have a good time, but one of the problems that we see with the activation of that fight-or-flight-or-freeze response is this escalation in people overindulging in alcohol, which can lead to other problems. So, we have to be very careful with something like that."

Some veterans also put signs out in their yards to tell neighbors they have PTSD. Sharpnack said neighbors should consider letting their neighbors know whether they plan to shoot off fireworks, so veterans can prepare ahead of time.

Does Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center help during Fourth of July?

While the VA doesn't have any specific protocols for Fourth of July, it does offer and encourage exposure therapy for some of those inflicted with PTSD to help desensitize veterans to the fireworks.

"With one of the treatment models that we use, we often talk about exposure to things that are uncomfortable," Sharpnack said. "If we can encourage veterans to try some exposure to fireworks, then that's sort of a step in their mental health recovery process."

Sharpnack said June marked PTSD Awareness Month, during which employees of the VA did outreach to give awareness to the community and encourage veterans to come get service.

The VA also offers psychiatric and therapeutic treatment for veterans.

"Maybe this is something that sparks a conversation with a family member that says, 'You know what, maybe I should go to the VA and get things checked out,'" Sharpnack said, "and we we highly encourage veterans to please do that take advantage of those benefits and services."

For veterans interested in pursuing either treatment or evaluation for PTSD, please call 785-350-3111, Ext. 52133 or Ext. 53456, to make an appointment.