Teen Children Of Vietnam Veterans Share The Challenges They Faced Growing Up In The 1980s

This was recorded back in ’s kind of a group therapy session in a church in Iowa City where the children of Vietnam veterans who were teenagers and young adults gathered to share the difficult experiences that they were having with their dads. It was hard to listen to them tell their experiences - emotionally hard to film. They were really suffering. I was passing through Iowa City that evening and walked past the room and then just turned around and walked in, asked for permission and started filming. If you are the child of a Vietnam veteran you are probably in your 60s or 70s now and you may remember the kinds of challenges that these young people were facing back then. They are, as you are, born at the very end of the baby boom – baby boomers. As my subscribers know, I have posted other Vietnam veterans stories and want to add to that by those experiences by sharing what these young people had to say as children of warriors. I thank them all for participating in this recording which was used back then to help other children and teenagers of Vietnam veterans. Research has suggested that children of war veterans, including those from the Vietnam War, may be at an increased risk for a variety of mental health issues and related problems, such as substance abuse. This is often tied to the concept of “intergenerational trauma,“ where the effects of a parent’s trauma are passed down to their children. For example, children of veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are sometimes found to be at a higher risk for substance use disorders. This can be related to the family environment, coping mechanisms, genetics, and learned behaviors. A study published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease in 2010 found that offspring of Vietnam veterans with PTSD were 3.2 times more likely to suffer from substance use disorders compared to those whose parents did not have PTSD. One of the primary concerns is the impact of Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant used extensively during the Vietnam War. Some studies suggest that exposure to this toxin can have generational impacts, leading to a range of physical health issues in the children of veterans, including birth defects and other health problems. A number of studies have explored the psychological impact on the children of Vietnam veterans, particularly those whose parents suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Research has found that these children may be at a higher risk of suffering from depression, anxiety, and have higher instances of drug abuse. They may also experience difficulties in their social and personal lives. This is sometimes referred to as “intergenerational trauma.“ The children of Vietnam veterans may also face social challenges. For instance, the public’s negative reaction to the Vietnam War and to veterans upon their return could have caused social and emotional stress for their families. Veterans with PTSD or physical injuries might not have been able to fully participate in family life, which could impact their children’s upbringing.