NEW STUDIES of PTSD
Veteran Suicide has doubled since the pandemic, growing from 22 per day to 44 per day. Despite the existence of hundreds of thousands of veteran organizations across the country, nothing seems to be working. At the Center for Warriors Foundation, we are proposing new pathways. While the nation treats all PTSD the same with mental health and medication, as is obvious by the results, this method of treatment does not work for Spiritual Trauma, which accounts for a very high percentage PTSD. This is why we are creating two distinct separations within PTSD. Studies and responses show we are on the right path.
1) Injured Warrior Syndrome TM (IWS): IWS results from a physical or mental injury. IWS can be treated with mental health services and medication. We offer those mental health services. We also work closely with the medical staffing to ensure that the proper non-addictive medications are prescribed. Over medicating can also create harm to our veterans. IWS is a complex condition characterized by the cumulative physical, psychological, and social impacts experienced by military veterans exposed to repeated trauma, injuries, prolonged high-stress environments and physically demanding roles. It reflects a breakdown in identity, purpose, and well-being that transcends traditional diagnostic categories of PTSD.
2)
Broken Warrior Syndrome
TM
(BWS)
: BWS is an injury to the spirit and goes against all belief structures. It damages the soul. BWS is an emerging term used to describe the interconnected set of physical, psychological, and social injuries frequently observed in military veterans and first responders. These individuals have endured prolonged exposure to life-threatening situations, repeated traumatic events, and high-performance physical expectations. BWS encompasses, but is not limited to, elements of post-traumatic stress, identity disruption, moral conflict, chronic pain, and loss of social reintegration. BWS represents a more comprehensive understanding of the invisible wounds that many carry beyond active service. It is a condition where the body may be scarred, but the deeper wounds affect the mind, the heart, the soul and the sense of self. It's the weight of repeated trauma, moral conflict, and physical strain that accumulates and magnifies over time. For many veterans it’s not just what happened to them — it’s what they carry within them long after the uniform comes off.
Traditional mental health and pharmacological approaches have been largely ineffective/ long lasting prompting CFWF to mind more effective ways. It may help for a while, but research shows that in roughly 5-10 years the injury resurfaces with a vengeance. This is where Veteran Suicide emerges. BWS is a soul wound that must be healed through spiritual counseling and practices before attempting any resolution through mental health treatments. It is a deeper injury than IWS. Once the Spiritual Trauma has been healed, then mental health may be permitted, which then can provide treatment that is permanent.
Unlike Injured Warrior Syndrome TM (IWS), Broken Warrior Syndrome TM (BWS) addresses the cumulative and integrated impact of trauma — encompassing physical exhaustion, identity collapse, purpose loss, and long-term emotional disconnection. Our program will be designed to treat the whole person, not just the diagnosis, through a holistic reintegration model grounded in real-world experience and veteran-led care.
Injured Warrior Syndrome TM (IWS) and Broken Warrior Syndrome TM (BWS) are registered trademarks of The Center For Warriors Foundation. Logo's and Mark's may not be used without proper consent.
