We’ve been discussing how airsoft is useful therapeutic tool for veterans suffering with PTSD, and we do have fellow airsofters attesting that they indeed, resort to airsoft to cope with such problem. With many veterans suffering as more are coming back from the overseas commitments of the US government, the more will vital support service in and outside of the US military will be need to help veterans.

There are many approaches to treating PTSD, from medications, to regular counseling and activities to get their stressed minds over harrowing experiences in the battlefield.  While there is no proven medical proof that airsoft can be a tool for therapy, it is best to promote airsoft as one way to help in the fight against PTSD, because it's the safest among some of the activities to veterans resort to.

I wrote this upon reading one of Time.com's feature stories about combating PTSD.  The story "Patriot Game: Groups Promote Hunting as Therapy for Veterans" have groups organizing hunting activities for veterans as these aid in "physical and emotional healing." Experts say that it can help, but their problem with hunting as a therapeutic tool for veterans with PTSD, is that it poses danger to them as they're still holding firearms. Other activity organized for veterans is having them at the shooting range but it also has its own deadly consequences.  Chris Kyle, America's renowned sniper, died at a shooting range while helping a fellow deal with PTSD.

With such activities still posing risks to both PTSD sufferers and people who are helping them, what I want to recommend for organizations and government agencies working with veteran s with PTSD is to put their attention to airsoft. A I have mentioned above, it is still the safest activity that veterans can be closest to firearms without putting themselves and others in danger. Perhaps research should be devoted more since airsoft can be both a training and therapeutic tool at the same time.

As for venues and organizations engaged airsoft, there are myriads of them all over the US, and allied countries too (though Australia is an exception to this). Many veterans are now engaged in airsoft nowadays that I would strongly encourage them to put up and airsoft forum, website, or Facebook Page to have it as a common meeting  or contact point for veterans discussing the benefits of airsoft in coping with PTSD. It's still best for veterans to talk to fellow veterans than airsoft players who didn't have the actual real combat experience telling them what to do.

Airsoft is not an end all cure to PTSD but it will help as some veterans find it therapeutic. But, it offers a better proposition to those PTSD support groups due to its being safe than other "combat/firearms therapy" activities. It's just a matter of formally recognizing airsoft as an option for activities, and recommended to veterans to try and find out if helps them.