Locals urged to reconsider how they celebrate Independence Day

Americans celebrate the nation’s independence by lighting fireworks and popping tiny explosive paper bags, but for those who fought for civilians’ rights, these celebratory displays can trigger flashbacks to trauma from military service.

Onlookers watch fireworks in celebration of America's independence. Photo by Emilio Guzman (2019).

Dr. Maria Moore is a clinician at the Everett Veterans Center, a mental health clinic for veterans who have experienced trauma during their time in service. She said the reason that combat veterans react to fireworks can be due to post traumatic stress disorder stemming from their experiences in the military.

In a combat zone, military members are on constant alert over the threat of enemy attack. This stress can train the brain to make long-lasting associations to triggers like loud noises.

Moore said when military members enter the civilian world, they can have trouble adjusting tosimilar stimuli that would, in a combat situation, elicit a fight, flight or freeze reaction. Stimuli like fireworks and gunfire can trigger veterans with PTSD to run for cover and hide under furniture.

The Mayo Clinic’s website calls this reaction “intrusive memories,” when stimuli cause someonewith PTSD to relive a traumatic event.

“They see the fireworks, they know logically what that is,” Moore said, “but their sympathetic nervous system is activated because they have made that association for survival.”

In the military, service members are often encouraged to embrace the hardships that come with the lifestyle. “Suck it up,” is how Moore described a mentality shared by military personnel.

“It makes sense in combat,” she said, “it doesn't make sense once you come back into a normal life.”

Moore said if a person suspects their trauma is affecting their daily life, they should get informed about their symptoms. PTSD isn’t the mystery it once was, she said survivors of trauma shouldn’t just accept the way it is.

“It doesn't have to be that way. There is help,” said Moore. She suggested anyone who’s dealing with PTSD seek counseling or look for a peer support group.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers short-term counseling services to all veterans and long-term counseling options for veterans who experience trauma during their service.

Veterans are encouraged to reach out to mental health professionals to overcome their past trauma. Photo by RODNAE Productions (2021).

While smaller, legal fireworks might not be loud enough for people to hear from inside their homes, larger, illegal fireworks can be a major trigger for veterans struggling with PTSD. Combat veterans aren’t the only people to consider before lighting off. Setting off illegal fireworks within a neighborhood can be trigger police officers and others with high-stress jobs.

“Just forgo the fireworks and go someplace where they have professional displays,” said Dr. Moore. In Everett, families are invited to Legion Memorial Park to watch a free firework display over the bay. Before lighting any kind of fireworks, Dr. Moore suggested polling the neighborhood to ensure no one has an issue with it. “It's just being neighborly,” she said, “being considerate of others.”

According to Washington State Patrol, Roman candles, cylindrical fountains, ground spinners, reloadable motors and an array of other small-scale fireworks that shower colorful sparks are legal in the state of Washington. Firecrackers, skyrockets, missiles and bottle rockets however are not.

Information provided by the WSP website regarding larger fireworks said, “These items are legal to purchase, possess, and discharge only at an Indian Reservation.” It is illegal to use or even possess these items off the reservation.

When it comes to celebrating America's independence this year, enjoy the fireworks that memorialize the fallen, but do so properly in consideration for the heroes that returned home.