PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: If You’ve Been THERE, You Got IT, So Let’s Deal with IT
Yes,
if you've been there, PTSD is effecting you in some way. And even if
you prefer not to get treatment for yourself, take a moment and think
about your family. While I refer to the VVA sites, the information is applicable to any era. Among other data, there is Journal of the American Medical Association Mental Health Problems, Use of Mental Health Services, and Attrition From Military Service After Returning From Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan (http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/search?fulltext=hoge&submit.x=5&submit.y=9); Note: The above link will take you to a login page
for the Journal of American Medicine. If you want to read the article,
you must register. The article is available, free of charge.
Information – A Start
The National Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) website has a host of information, a good place to start
http://vva.org/Committees/PTSD/index.html. They have a self- help Guide To PTSD at
http://vva.org/ptsd.html and a brochure entitled “PTSD Does Not Mean You're Crazy! PTSD is the
normal re-action of a normal person to abnormal circumstances”
http://vva.org/Committees/PTSD/2004PTSDBrochure.pdf.
The VA has its National Center for PTSD, which was created to
address the needs of veterans with military-related PTSD. Its mission:
To advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's veterans
through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis,
and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders. Its site is at:
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/.
There is even a PTSD WebRing created to compile resources for those
who suffer from PTSD, which was created in April 2004, has 23 active
sites, with a total of 7,032 total page views. The WebRing hub is found
at:
http://r.webring.com/hub?ring=posttrumaticstr1.
About The VVA Guide to PTSD
The purpose the guide is to assist you, the veteran, or your
survivor(s), in presenting your claim for benefits based on exposure to
psychologically traumatic events during military service that has
resulted in PTSD. Remember, it is always best to seek the assistance of
an experienced veterans service officer when presenting a claim to the
VA.
The guide describes the VA's current programs for providing
disability compensation to veterans who suffer from PTSD, as well as
for the survivors of such veterans. Under current VA regulations, you
can be paid compensation for PTSD if you currently have a clear medical
diagnosis of the disorder, evidence that a sufficiently traumatic event
(called a “stressor”) occurred during active military service and
medical evidence that the in-service stressor is causally related to
your PTSD. Once the VA determines that your PTSD is service-connected,
it will then decide how seriously your symptoms impair your social and
industrial abilities (i.e., your capacity to start and maintain
personal relationships and your ability to work). The guide does not
address treatment techniques, but does provide suggestions for
obtaining the appropriate care. Included in this guide is a short
description of what to do if the VA denies your claim or establishes an
un-just rating percentage.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a set of symptoms that surface after a very dangerous,
frightening, and uncontrollable traumatic event. PTSD has many causes.
As a veteran, it is most likely the result of the experience of war.
However, you may have been the victim of another traumatic event such
as a violent crime, accident, physical or sexual abuse, or a natural
disaster.
PTSD symptoms fall into four categories:
AVOIDANCE—amnesia, disassociation, numbing, hyper vigilance, controlling behavior, isolation
RELIVING—flashbacks, sleep disorders, overwhelming feelings, overreacting
VICTIMIZATION—distrust, abandonment, helplessness, fear of change, blaming others
SHAME—feeling guilty, feeling as if you’re crazy, feeling unworthy
If you recognize any of these symptoms, you are not alone and there is help.
The first step: Realize it’s not your fault.
The second step: Believe that you have the power and ability
to change and get well. It may be difficult, but take a healthy risk
and reach out for help. PTSD is not all in your head! The evidence is
mounting that PTSD, particularly chronic acute PTSD, significantly
changes the electrical and chemical reaction of the body on a permanent
basis. This causes increased chances of heart attack, strokes, and
other long-term health problems.
For Families…
Although there are many resources available to help veterans work
through the issues surrounding their war experiences, there is not much
help available to spouses and families of veterans. Living with someone
who suffers from PTSD can be traumatic. Some spouses report many years
of pent up anger and frustration dealing with their veterans, and they
feel alone. Some have totally lost themselves in their veterans’
problems and are unable to deal with their own. If you have a spouse or
family member with PTSD, learn all you can about the illness and its
treatment. Associates of Vietnam Veterans of American (AVVA) has
recently up-dated and reissued an excellent program for the spouses and
families of veterans suffering from PTSD entitled “Coping Skills for
Loving Your Vietnam Veteran.” For more information about this AVVA
program contact: AVVA; 8605 Cameron Street, Suite 400; Silver Spring,
MD 20910; (800) VVA-1316;
http://www.avva.org.
