Dealing with PTSD

The National Center for PTSD defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as:

[A] psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape.

Although PTSD isn't exclusive to combat exposure, it seems combat veterans are particularly vulnerable.

PTSD has subsequently been observed in all veteran populations that have been studied, including World War II, Korean conflict, and Persian Gulf populations, and in United Nations peacekeeping forces deployed to other war zones around the world. There are remarkably similar findings of PTSD in military veterans in other countries. For example, Australian Vietnam veterans experience many of the same symptoms that American Vietnam veterans experience.

Two days ago, someone sent me a link to a blog titled PTSD Soldier. The blog is written by a mother whose son is suffering from PTSD.

This mother's son was injured in combat. She describes PTSD as more difficult to deal with than physical wounds.

A perfectly normal, happy young man joined the US Army and went to war. The man we knew did not return. His physical wounds have healed... his invisible wounds are worse...

*****

I was thinking today that we could not have imagined how long a journey this would be when the Army called us so many months ago to tell us he had been wounded... How relieved we were when his injuries healed and he returned to his unit... We thought that the hard part was over. We could not have imagined that those were just the first steps in this nightmare of a very long journey.

I've heard from military wives who have stood by their spouses as they suffered from varying degrees of PTSD. Some have watched their spouses experience minor symptoms, others have had a more difficult time. It stands to reason that PTSD is a natural, though unfortunate, byproduct of war. There should be no stigma attached to PTSD, yet it seems there is. Many people are afraid, for various reasons, to openly discuss PTSD. This is unfortunate.

If you want to learn more about PTSD, or seek help, here are a few resources to get you started.

Comments

[Love My Tanker]

This is a very important topic. Thanks for addressing it Andi.

A few more related resources:

http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/topics/war.html

http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/topics/active_duty_military.html

http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx resources are listed under 'deployment'

[Elizabeth]

My husband is currently in afghanistan and is struggling with PTSD. Is there anything I can do to get him home and get him proper help. He has changes so much and I know he is is real depressed. He thinks he is going crazy and talks about things he would never talk about before. I wish I could help him but don't know what to say or do.

[Lisa]

My daughter is 13. At age 3 she was raped by a cousin who was nine. She is struggling immensely with ptsd. I am so saddened because I allowed her to go to this relatives' house. My daughter is on a psychiatric ward as we speak because the flashbacks are overtaking her. I can't even express the pain. Thanks for listening.

[Sherry]

My significant other has suffered from ptsd for years now and has undergone many years of therapy. Will this last forever?

[Robert]

As an alternative treatment Gabatrol can help with dealing with PTSD and they offer a military discount. Not a drug.

http://ptsd.gabatrol.com

[FamilyOfaVet]

Andi -

Thanks so much for posting this. Awareness about Combat PTSD and its effects on Veterans and their families is something that must increase. As the wife of an OIF Veteran struggling with PTSD and as an advocate for Veterans & loved ones, I know all to well the difficulties that so many are facing. My best advice - educated yourself, talk to your children, and get your whole family into counseling. PTSD doesn't go away... but your Veteran and your family can learn to cope and lead a happy, loving life together.

Thanks again for this!!

Sincerely,
Brannan Vines
Proud wife of an OIF Veteran;
Passionate advocate for Veterans & Their Families;
Founder of FamilyOfaVet.com - dedicated to helping Veterans & their loved ones survive & thrive after combat!

[Julie]

Please ask about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for PTSD. It doesn't have to last forever. If you are in the San Antonio area, I may be able to help (see ad in classifieds under ptsd) or check www.emdr.com for therapists worldwide.

[Jennifer]

I am looking for help for myself, well more like a support group. My husband was a scout for the Army for * years. he is out now and suffers from PTSD and a TBI. Our lives have changed dramatically, I am not going any were, I want to help him through this. I feel so alone though. He is getting help threw the VA but I am on my own trying to weather the storm and the battles by myself. I live in Indiana, where can I go.