ptsd Recovery, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, ptsd Help and Treatment

Mental Stress of Troops in Iraq No Bar to Duty, US Says

The Pentagon could extend combat tours in Iraq despite an official report showing that hundreds of thousands of US troops who have been involved in at least one war zone in Iraq or Afghanistan are experiencing serious psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the Pentagon’s own mental health taskforce, US troops have been undertaking higher levels of sustained combat duty than that experienced by soldiers during the war in Vietnam and in the second world war.

It found that 38% of soldiers, 31% of marines, 49% of national guard members and 43% of marine reservists showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological problems within three months of returning from active duty. Its report also noted inadequate mental healthcare and facilities, and prejudice over mental health problems.

The US has about 155,000 troops in Iraq, most of whom typically spend 15 months in combat zones with a guaranteed 12 months at home. But that is a breach of the Pentagon’s own rules saying equal time should be spent on and off duty.

This week, Peter Geren, acting army secretary, told Congress that extended stints of frontline duty could be ordered if President Bush opted to push the 30,000-strong troop surge in Iraq beyond September. The senate armed services committee heard that while no decisions had been made, plans had to be started.

Yesterday, Vice-Admiral Donald Arthur, co-chairman of the Pentagon’s mental health taskforce, said there was "no doubt" that more numerous and lengthier deployments were exacerbating mental health problems. "Not since Vietnam have we seen this level of combat," he said.

The taskforce’s report said symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury - the two "signature injuries" associated with service in Iraq and Afghanistan - included anger and substance abuse. And soldiers’ reticence meant the problem was probably greater than research indicated. The report also questioned the practice of returning troops to frontline duty while they were taking medication such as lithium or Prozac.

A cut in combat duties to lessen psychological stress was also urged by an army study based on research in Iraq last year. But that proposal was rejected this week by a senior aide to the ground forces commander in Iraq. Brigadier-General Joseph Anderson told USA Today: "We would never get the job done."

© Guardian News & Media 2008
Published: 6/20/2007

Prevention of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Study of PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is related to anxiety triggered by extreme trauma. PTSD is an affliction related to war veterans but can strike anyone at anytime.

Forever at War: Veterans’ Everyday Battles with Post-traumatic Stress …

Forever at War: Veterans’ Everyday Battles with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Homeless Veterans

Since the Vietnam War, rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been steadily increasing and PTSD rates from the Iraq Conflict are at an all-time high. PTSD is not new

PTSD and the Purple Heart

Just two weeks before the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the Pentagon announced that it would not award the Purple Heart to war veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress..

Military & Veterans: Politics for the deserving: Veterans …

.. especially as it relates to post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, will improve under the new leadership.

Technorati Tags: disorder, post, post traumatic stress disorder vietnam, stress, traumatic, vietnam, war, war post traumatic stress

I Will Not be Broken, The Effects of War

About the effects of war on soldiers as they return home…

Americans start to feel the ripple effects of war and violence.

The United States is at war, and the home front is hurting. One and a half million Americans have served in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 4,000 are dead. Nearly thirty thousand have been physically wounded. Over 300,000 now suffer from invisible psychological wounds. Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have been called the signature injuries of these conflicts. According to research at the Rand Corporation and Centers for Disease Control, there has been a significant increase in rates of suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, homelessness and domestic violence among returning service members. Making the transition from soldier to citizen is not simple or easy, but each of us can play a role to reach out with respect and empathy during this crucial time of transition.

There are ways to work through the effects of war: Rise above. Give back.

For many soldiers, war is their "peak experience." They have gone through an adrenaline rush of tests, physical, mental and psychological. Coming down from this level of intensity to engage in more prosaic day-to-day activities at home is a challenge. But normalization after demobilization is key to finding future happiness and health. It’s important not to let a war experience be the end of one’s growth. Living in the pastgetting "stuck" therecan lead to a victim mentality. And victimhood is an unhealthy trap for too many who feel they can’t quite move on from their battlefield experience. At Survivor Corps, we have developed a five-step program to help veterans and their families move forward positively. I learned these five steps after stepping on a landmine in Israel and then working with thousands of victims of war and violence worldwide.

FACE FACTS - We can’t keep a battle mindset forever. Baghdad may feel close, but it is a world away. What we saw or did in battle cannot be changed. There is no turning back the clock. Isolation, anger and resentment are common feelings. Many people will not understand what you went through. But many will. Our relatives and friends want to help but many don’t know exactly how.

CHOOSE LIFE - We all have inherent strengths and coping mechanisms. Think about what got you through your toughest times, and what you did well. Was it your faith? Your sense of humor? Your friendships? Recall your best intentions in serving your country. Then imagine a kick-ass future that is positive and purposeful.

REACH OUT - Traditional trauma and grief counseling doesn’t work for everyone. If it’s not for you or not enough, try reaching out to peers who seem to be getting along okay. Find individuals or groups who seem to be coping with their injuries well or have gone through something similar. Right now, Survivor Corps is creating online peer support for veterans to exchange experiences. It’s not psychotherapy, just a safe, supportive community of people who are overcoming the effects of violence and war, together.

GET MOVING - No one else can make us log on, reach out or get out of the house. We have to do our own survivor sit-ups to get in shape for future life. We can set specific achievable objectives to move forward, upward and onward. Yes, it takes effort, but you’ve already proven you can get through tough times. What the hell, it’s a new day, so get out and go workout, apply for that job, join others to serve or volunteer in your community.

GIVE BACK - No matter how bad it seems, there are others who have been there, or somewhere worse. When you feel ready, look for ways to help other veterans, National Guard, Reservists, and their families who may be struggling. This will not only help them, but help you by taking emphasis off your own pain and focusing energy on others. You might be surprised to find that the same service mentality that brought you overseas can ease pain at home, helping you feel accomplished and connected again.

We at Survivor Corps are building a movement of survivors helping each other overcome the effects of war and violence. Together, we rise above our injuries and give back to our communities. We aim to do more than survive tough times, we want to grow stronger and thrive.

Copyright 2008 Jerry White

Join us at www.survivorcorps.org and www.IWillNotBeBroken.com.

Author
Jerry White, author of I Will Not Be Broken, is a recognized leader of the historic International Campaign to Ban Landmines, co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace; as well as cofounder of Survivor Corps. He lives in Maryland and Malta with his with Kelly and four kids.

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 5/21/2008

Military Testing Program For Soldiers Returning From Iraq

The Pentagon says 1 in 5 service members who come home from Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress. Now, there are new programs to teach soldiers how to deal with the symptoms of PTSD

Veteran Filing a PTSD Claim? Here’s Help

Highly, highly recommend Infinity Publishing’s Military Veterans PTSD Reference Manual. It’s available online for free. Chapters 7-10 are especially important

Military & Veterans: Politics for the deserving: PTSD Abuses

The new VA policy with Iraq and Afghanistan War returnees seeking treatment and compensation for PTSD is to aggressively "challenge" patients with accusations of "faking."

Care tries to deal with vets’ PTSD and addictions

"The majority of people with PTSD don’t seek treatment," Dr. Mark McGovern of Dartmouth Medical School told a NIDA meeting this month.

Trauma & Attachment Therapy: NYT’s PTSD in Iraq Vets

Proper P.T.S.D. care can lead to complete remission in 30 percent to 50 percent of cases, studies show. Thorough screening of every soldier upon departure from the military, immediately

Technorati Tags: military, ptsd, ptsd military, ptsd war, war

Help For Gulf War Syndrome Sufferers By Retraining The Amygdala At Home

Gulf War Syndrome, the illness that has affected many soldiers who were on active duty during the conflict, is said to be a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It affects members of the Armed Forces involved in all conflicts - Vietnam, Kosova, and now Afghanistan and Iraq.

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is a surprisingly pervasive disorder suffered by hundreds of thousands of people. It can now be helped by a home self-help course.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD can be defined as the psychological and physical consequences of being exposed to extremely stressful and traumatic experiences. It is the condition that can develop as a result of being confronted with the threat of, or actual death of, themselves or others, for example witnessing or being involved in a car crash or a war. The main symptoms of PTSD are panic disorders and recurrent flash-backs or nightmares.

In the field of combat, symptoms of PTSD have been recognized since conflicts have been documented, in the first and second world wars the condition was known as ‘Shell Shock’. Post-traumatic stress syndrome is largely hidden from the general public’s view, but make no mistake — it is real, and it is affecting not only combat veterans, but also their families, not to mention health care providers, particularly med-evac pilots, medics, and battlefield nurses, doctors, and medical support staff.

PTSD is not an anxiety disorder symptom but a separate anxiety condition.
If you feel that PTSD may form a part of your own illness you can now do something about it. As with all anxiety disorders, it can be easily, quickly and permanently addressed and eliminated by ‘reprogramming’ the Amygdala Gland.

The amygdala gland belongs to the limbic system and plays an important part in the development of emotions and anxiety levels, amongst other functions. It was only recently (1989, New York Medical University) that scientists discovered the role of the amygdala gland in storing and releasing emotional trauma. A simple way to locate the amygdala gland is by placing your thumbs in your ears, and then place your middle fingers near the inside corners of your eyes. The amygdala gland is found about 1" into the forehead where your index fingers fall.

This is the one mechanism in each and every one of us that causes, creates, stores and activates the response which causes anxiety, panic attacks and phobias.

The Amygdala is like a switch. Under normal circumstances, it remains in the ‘off’ position, only becoming activated when appropriate anxiety is required, in times of appropriate danger or threat for example. A certain amount of stress or anxiety is necessary in order for us to actually deal with a difficult situation.

However, repeated activation of this ’switch’, during times of stress, sadness, grief or anger for example, can cause it to become ’stuck’ in the ‘on’ position. This allows acute anxiety disorders, panic attacks and phobias to develop.
This happens when the Amygdala learns new behaviour. Because it has been taught a new level of anxiety through your anxious behaviour, it incorrectly resets itself to the new ‘benchmark’ or ‘normal’ anxiety level for your body.
Even though you consciously know that it feels wrong, you are unable to consciously alter it once it has become set.

This process of learning is called Operant Conditioning. Scientists have known for many years that this is responsible for the production of all anxiety disorders, including panic attacks and phobias.

Under normal conditions, Operant Conditioning is used by the brain to acquire new knowledge, like learning to read, drive or play a musical instrument. Practicing (repeating) an action or group of actions causes us to improve the skill.

This same process happens in every single anxiety disorder sufferer. It is what causes anxiety, panic attacks and phobias. It is this and nothing else, which needs to be addressed and reversed in order to quickly and permanently eliminate anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, PTSD and agoraphobia.
All of these conditions, regardless of how severe they are or how long you have had them, are a result of the very same mechanism and therefore require the very same treatment.

Traditional methods, such as Psychology and Psychiatry, use ‘talking therapy’ to identify the cause of your anxiety or panic attacks, then analyze it over and over again, giving you exercises to follow or even diaries to fill in. The cause of anxiety disorders and panic attacks is not the ‘life event’ that created the stressful environment (abuse, bereavement, work stress etc.) The actual cause is the way the Amygdala responded to that event and continues to produce anxiety and panic attacks, long after the event (when the Amygdala ’switch’ gets stuck ‘on’.)

So by revisiting the perceived ’causes’ during therapy and analyzing your actions, you are actually reinforcing the anxiety, practicing it and making it habitual, because it is remains at the very forefront of your mind!
Medication is often prescribed by doctors who, through lack of alternative options (or even desperation in some cases), believe that anxiety disorders, agoraphobia, PTSD and OCD are simply chemical conditions which require a ‘magic pill’ to reverse the chemical imbalance.

Doctors currently believe that anxious patients fit very snugly into the ‘Mental Illness’ category. Unfortunately, this is only convenient for them and not very productive for you - the suffering patient.

However, you cannot eliminate anxiety, panic attacks or phobias with medication alone. These problems aren’t caused by chemical imbalances. Any Psycho physiologist (brain function specialist) will tell you that anxiety disorders and panic attacks are caused purely by behaviour reactions to circumstances and not chemical imbalances! Charles Linden was an anxiety sufferer for many years until he worked out a way to ‘retrain’ the Amygdala so that it switches on and off correctly again, thus allowing the person to go back to leading a normal life.

By: Brian Gold

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

The Amygdala gland can be easily re-programmed by the Linden Method (see www.worry.cjb.net) which very effectively cures all manner of anxiety, stress and panic attack problems. This also helps overweight people to diet easily and gain self-confidence. Find more details and benefits at www.worry.cjb.net.

PTSD, A Soldier’s Perspective

I am a Army veteran of the Gulf War, I was a driver of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. My unit fought the Iraqi Republican Guard in three campaigns and my vehicle was point for the brigade.

No Heart for PTSD Sufferers

After the first Gulf war, many suffer from “Gulf War Syndrome.” Where do you draw the line? Moreover, PTSD is a treatable disease.

Gulf War Syndrome is Real

From CNN Gulf War illness is real, new federal report says. Perhaps we should learn to listen to our Veterans when they tell us they are sick; when PTSD is tearing their lives apart.

California’s Landmark Combat PTSD Case

The visit comes two months after a different research advisory committee finally determined that Gulf War illness is real, not an imaginary condition.

Gulf War Syndrome in the news

Many of you may not remember how much fuss there was about a strange affliction that veterans of the first Gulf War reported soon after they returned from the Middle East.

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