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From my book on PTSD, written in 1988

Some people feel that personal experience is needed when dealing with PTSD cases, many others feel it is not a factor at all, just a situation. During my experience as a Veterans Service Officer, I have been told by an overwhelming majority of my PTSD clients that they relate better to a person who has actually experienced a stressor.
As a person who personally experienced a violent stressor, I have found it is easier for me to relate to a veteran who is under stress at the time. However, it has been my experience that the person who assists the claimant needs compassion and empathy as well.
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
The essential feature is the development of characteristic symptoms following a psychologically traumatic event that is generally considered to be outside the range of usual human experience.
The developed characteristic symptoms involve reexperiencing the traumatic event; numbing of responsiveness to, or reduced involvement with, the external world; and a variety of autonomic, dysphoric, or cognitive symptoms.
The stressor producing this syndrome would evoke significant symptoms of distress in most people, and is out of the range of such common conflict. The trauma may be experienced alone (rape or assault) or the company of groups of people (military combat). Stressors producing this disorder include natural disasters (floods, earthquakes), accidental man made disasters (car accidents with serious injuries, airplane crashes, large fires), or deliberate man made disasters (bombing, torture, death camps). Some stressors frequently produce the disorder (e.g. torture) and others only occasionally (e.g. car accident). Frequently there is a concomitant physical component to the trauma which may even involve direct damage to the central nervous system (e.g. malnutrition, head trauma). This disorder is apparently more severe and longer lasting when the stressor is of human design. The severity of the stressor should be recorded by professionals.
The traumatic event can be reexperienced in a variety of ways. Commonly the individual has recurrent painful, intrusive recollection of the event, or recurrent dreams or nightmares during which the event is reexperienced. In rare instances there are dissociative like states, lasting from a few minutes, to several hours, or even days, during which components of the event are relived and the individual behaves as though experiencing the event at that moment. Such states have been reported in combat veterans. Diminished responsiveness to the external world, referred to as psychic numbing or emotional anesthesia, usually begins after the traumatic event. A person may complain of feeling detached or estranged from other people, that he or she has lost the ability to become interested in previously enjoyed significant activities, or that the ability to feel emotions of most types, especially those associated with intimacy, tenderness, and sexuality, is markedly decreased.
After experiencing the stressor, many develop symptoms of hyper-alertness, exaggerated startle responses, and difficulty falling asleep. Recurrent nightmares in which the traumatic event is relived and which terminal sleep disturbance may be present. Some have impaired memory and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms are often intensified when activities resemble the actual trauma (e.g. cold snowy weather or uniformed guard for death camp survivors or hot humid weather for Vietnam veterans).
Associated features: symptoms of depression and anxiety are common, and in some instances may be so severe as to be diagnosed as an anxiety or depressive disorder. Increased irritability, unexpected explosions of aggressive behavior, with minimum or no provocation. Impulsive behavior also can create problems such as unexplained trips, unexplained changes in life styles. Symptoms may begin immediately or soon after the trauma. It is not unusual, however, for the symptoms to surface months or years later following the trauma.
Impairment may be mild or affect every aspect of life. Phobic avoidance of situations or activities that resemble the trauma are common and often create occupational or recreational impairment. Psychic numbing often interferes with interpersonal relationships, such as family life. It often leads to self defeating behavior sometimes including suicide. Substance disorders are common.
The appearance of apparent psychotic symptoms are interpreted by many professionals as psychosis; but, are actual symptoms of PTSD in a normal person.

Important note: although many PTSD patients are combat veterans, not all PTSD diagnosis are due to the same source.
Remember Stressors producing this disorder include assault, rape, natural disasters floods, earthquakes, accidental man made disasters car accidents with serious injuries, airplane crashes, large fires, or deliberate man made disasters bombing, torture, death camps.

This second post is from a thread I started to assist in claims, the following was gleaned.

Some pointers for discussion. Remember this is not a medical advice thread.
In filing a claim for PTSD you need a diagnosis from competent medical authority. That would be a psychologist, or psychiatrist. Your diagnosis must be linked to your verifiable stressor. The stressor must be an active duty situation described as a traumatic event out of the normal realm of human emotion. If your stressor does not meet the criteria establish the claim will not be well grounded.
The Diagnostic Criteria set forth in the DSM IV is: The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present: the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others and the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.
This to say is the bottom line required.
Legislation known as the Veterans Claims Assistance Act 2000 changed the well ground issue in the year 2000; however, we still need to properly present a claim. For service connected disability we need the following:
• a condition that manifested itself on active duty, or within the first year from separation
• the condition must currently exist and be diagnosed by competent medical authority
• a nexus, or link of the current condition and the condition from active duty.
What you need to do is to build support for your claim by never missing a doctors appointment. Always be on time and be extremely careful of what you say and/or don’t say. When you go to the doctor follow these simple rules: When you see a medical doctor or any nurse, you should respond to How are you today? by saying "my nightmares bother me, the flashbacks are nearly unbearable " then discuss what else bothers you.
This issue is first and foremost, then you can complain about other things that bother you. You always respond with your service connected issue first. Never say fine, never say OK.
In development VA will ask a veteran if they were treated on active duty. This is a suggested response to a VARO duty to assist (DTA) letter asking for treatment in service. “In regard to your DTA letter in regards to my service connected issue: PTSD. The VA treatment records will link my current condition to my service.
You ask for “proof of treatment in service of this condition.” That is not possible. First, the reason it is called post is due to the fact it appears later, or after the factual happening of the traumatic event. If it had appeared while I was in service it would have been acute, unless a long duration which would be in my service medical records in your possession. Second, PTSD was not recognized as a mental disorder, until DSM III was published in 1980. The condition was not recognized by the VA until a year later. This was after the information was released by the American Psychiatric Association and reviewed by the then Veterans Administration Administrator.
Today we find many current OEF and OIF veterans claims, show Failure in some VA offices. Recent reviews of claims files forwarded to the VSC Front Office for evaluation by the JSRRC Coordinator have exposed a trend, specifically a failure to comply with the procedures outlined in M21-1-1MR IV.ii.1.D.13j concerning the use of Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as evidence for corroboration of a claimed in-service stressor.
According to an article published by the U.S. Army Logistics Management College, "all logistics convoys on Iraq’s nonlinear battlefield of necessity are combat patrols. CLPs (combat logistic patrols) are susceptible to attack by improvised explosive devices, small arms fire and complex ambushes every time they leave their operating bases."
Motor Transport Operator, Wheeled Vehicle Repair, Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic, and Combat Engineer are all examples of MOS’s which we may expect to see listed on a DD214 or in a personnel file which would signify the claimant’s assignment to a logistics convoy.
As detailed in M21-1MR, Part IV, subpart ii, 1D. 13j, a veteran’s MOS as specified on his/her DD Form 214, or in the personnel folder, may be used as evidence that he or she engaged in combat or to otherwise corroborate a claimed in-service stressor. Therefore, consideration should be given to claims exhibiting the following characteristics:
Army or Marine Corps OEF/OIF veteran, whose DD214 or personnel file shows a logistics related MOS;
Veteran reports a specific combat-related stressor (including date/location) such as an attack by improvised explosive devices, small arms fire or ambush;
Personnel file confirms that he/she served in the immediate area and at the particular time in which the stressful event is alleged to have occurred.
If the three requirements outlined above are met, the veteran’s reported combat-related stressor(s) may be conceded and a VA examination may be ordered if a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has also been provided.
In absence of concise information concerning the veteran’s reported combat-related stressor (ex: missing date/location, or his/her personnel file does not confirm that he/she served in the immediate area and at the particular time in which the combat event is alleged to have occurred), development should continue.
Please note that in all cases requiring stressor verification, the VSR/RVSR should carefully and thoroughly follow the established procedures for researching PTSD Stressors
Ultimately, if all established procedures have been followed and efforts to verify the claimed stressor prove futile, the case should be forwarded for review by the JSRRC Coordinator.
Resources for Research of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Stressors
CFR 3.304(f)
38 C.F.R. 3.102
38 C.F.R. 4.3
38 U.S.C. 1154(b)
M21-1MR, Part IV, Subpart II, 1.D.13.j
“1st Infantry Division Movement Control Operations in Iraq” by Capt. Henry C. Brown (www.almc.army.mil)
Suozzi v. Brown, 10 Vet.App. 307 (1997)
Pentecost v. Principi, CAVC, No. 00-2083 (05/24/02)
Moran v. Principi, CAVC, No. 99-754 (06/20/03)
Sizemore v. Principi, No. CAVC, No. 02-1012, (09/03/2004)
VAOPGCPREC 12-99
http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/JulAug05/move_conrtol.html

What is the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Here is a description from the APA for your review:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as such, has been a part of organized psychiatry only since 1980. The concept of PTSD, however, has been well known for over a hundred years under a variety of different names. Certainly, Freud thought that traumatic events experienced as a child, had an effect on an the child's subsequent emotional development. Actually, however, it was his contemporary, Pierre Janet, who wrote most brilliantly and eloquently on traumatic stress. In fact, he was really the first person to describe the full syndrome (group of symptoms) of post-traumatic stress disorder.
During World War I, a similar state was called shell shock, and during WW II, it was referred to as combat fatigue. However PTSD is not shell shock, nor is it combat fatigue. After the Vietnam War, it was often mistakenly called the Post Vietnam Syndrome. Indeed, the understanding and effective treatment of PTSD were actually described in the psychiatric literature well before the Vietnam War. A psychiatrist from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Eric Lindemann at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, was the first to report on the systematic management of PTSD. He did this work after the Coconut Grove fire and tragedy in the 1940's.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined in terms of the trauma itself and the person's response to the trauma. Trauma occurs when a person has experienced, witnessed, or been confronted with a terrible event that is an actual occurrence. Alternatively, the person may have been threatened with a terrible event, perhaps injury (physical or psychological) or death to themselves or others. Then, the person's response to the event or to the threat involves intense fear, helplessness, and/or horror.
It is important to note, however, that having strong reactions to trauma is normal. What's more, there is a range (spectrum) of expected reactions depending on a person's prior exposure to trauma and even on hereditary (genetic) factors. Most importantly, you should understand that there are efficient and effective treatments for PTSD.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
In general, post-traumatic stress disorder can be seen as an overwhelming of the body's normal psychological defenses against stress. Thus, after the trauma, there is abnormal function (dysfunction) of the normal defense systems, which results in certain symptoms. The symptoms are produced in three different ways:
Re-experiencing the trauma
Persistent avoidance
Increased arousal
First, symptoms can be produced by re-experiencing the trauma, whereby the individual can have distressing recollections of the trauma. For example, the person may relive the experience as terrible dreams or nightmares or as daytime flashbacks of the event. Furthermore, external cues in the environment may remind the patient of the event. As a result, the psychological distress of the exposure to trauma is reactivated (brought back) by internal thoughts, memories, and even fantasies. Persons also can experience physical reactions to stress, such as sweating and rapid heart rate. (These reactions are similar to the "fight or flight" responses to emergencies described by Dr. Walter Cannon.) The patient's posttraumatic symptoms can be identical to those symptoms experienced when the actual trauma was occurring.
The second way that symptoms are produced is by persistent avoidance. The avoidance refers to the person's efforts to avoid trauma-related thoughts or feelings and activities or situations that may trigger memories of the trauma. This so-called psychogenic (emotionally caused) amnesia (loss of memory) for the event can lead to a variety of reactions. For example, the patient may develop a diminished interest in activities that used to give pleasure, detachment from other people, restricted range of feelings, and a sad affect that leads to the view that the future will be shortened.
The third way that symptoms are produced is by an increased state of arousal of the affected person. These arousal symptoms include sleep disturbances, irritability, outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, increased vigilance, and an exaggerated startle response when shocked.
How is the diagnosis made and what is the initial approach to PTSD?
Anyone can normally have any combination of the above-described symptoms during the first month after a significant trauma. If, however, the duration of these symptoms is more than one month and causes significant distress, or the symptoms impair the person's ability to function, then the diagnosis of PTSD can be made. In addition, if the duration of symptoms is more than three months, a diagnosis of chronic (long duration) PTSD is made. In some cases, oddly enough, the onset of symptoms is not until six months after the stressful events. This situation is referred to as delayed onset of PTSD, for which the outcome (prognosis) is often worse.
Research has shown that an immediate reduction of symptoms can be harmful in terms of the long-term outcome and persistent psychological illness. In other words, allowing an early peaking of the symptoms of depression and other PTSD problems is appropriate and preferable. Therefore, many of the treatments that psychiatrists have adopted are under the category (rubric) of what is referred to as stress debriefing (reviewing) of the critical incident (traumatic event). That is, we meet with the victims as soon as possible after the traumatic event. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss (debrief) the traumatic event in detail primarily with those most involved, and secondarily with those individuals who are involved at some distance. The specific goal is not to push the trauma away, but to get the people to talk about all aspects of the trauma and how it is affecting them.
Clinicians need to inquire very quickly about all aspects of the trauma and the person's response to it. This information will lead to a more rapid, specific diagnosis. We have found that with early management (intervention) techniques, we are able to reduce the number of patients who go on to develop full-blown acute (early) post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic (long duration) post-traumatic stress disorder. The question then is, once PTSD has been diagnosed, what are the most successful ways to treat it?
What are the tools to treat PTSD?
The basic tools for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder are:
Individual psychotherapy that is targeted at symptom clusters;
Peer group support, especially for chronic PTSD ;
Medication.
Various clinicians and clinics have their own methods for treating PTSD. A survey of PTSD experts, however, seems to conclude that for milder acute (early) PTSD, stress debriefing and early individual psychotherapy are especially important. For more severe acute PTSD, medication, critical incident stress debriefing, and group and individual psychotherapy should be started in combination. For mild, chronic PTSD in children, adolescents, and geriatric (senior) patients, the treatment is psychotherapy. For milder, chronic PTSD in adults, combination treatment is again used with stress debriefing, medications, and group and individual psychotherapy.
What are the types of psychotherapy for PTSD?
The next question is, what kind of psychotherapy should be used for PTSD? An example would be a person with a history of previous severe trauma as a child, such as sexual or physical abuse. People that have had these experiences may be particularly sensitive (vulnerable) if they are re-traumatized by the therapy itself. That is to say, with review and discussion of the traumatic event, they may develop a more severe and perhaps chronic (long duration) variant of PTSD. So, for these patients, longer-term psychodynamic psychotherapy is usually indicated. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, there is a focus on past traumas and how they are rekindled by the present experiences. For most suffers of PTSD, however, a combination of cognitive and behavioral strategies (psychotherapy) that focus on the symptoms would usually be recommended.
For example, intrusive (unwelcome) thoughts, flashbacks, panic, and avoidance (actions to avoid emotional pain) are best treated by exposure therapy, anxiety management, and cognitive therapy (see below). Exposure therapy consists of education about common reactions to trauma, breathing retraining, (such as breath counting and deep breathing), and repeated exposure to the past trauma in graduated doses. As a result of exposure therapy, the traumatic issue or event can be remembered without the anxiety or panic resulting.
Cognitive therapy involves separating the intrusive thoughts from the associated anxiety that they produce. Additionally, it involves changing the sequence of thought patterns that occurs whenever the patient is exposed to the traumatic stimulus. Cognitive therapy also helps patients that have avoidance because with this therapy, these patients no longer need to avoid situations or places that may be reminders of the trauma. You see, cognitive therapy seriously diminishes the power of these reminders to cause severe reactions. What is more, patients can work on these issues outside of the doctor's office by using audiotapes and/or videotapes and by keeping a journal.
In addition, stress inoculation training, a variant of exposure therapy, can be used for the management of anxiety. This therapy includes relaxation. It also involves carefully monitoring the patient's thoughts that follow from thinking about the traumatic event. Then, when thoughts of the trauma do occur, the patient uses a script that was created in therapy to attempt to change their thoughts that follow thinking about the trauma. At first, the patients may even need to imagine themselves as someone else (role playing) to bring about this change in their thought pattern. But then, the role-playing gradually becomes the reality.
Other types of therapy that are useful for anxiety are visualization techniques and confidence builders, such as positive self-talk and social skills training. In visualization techniques, patients train themselves to recall and visualize a particularly peaceful or pleasant place or situation whenever thoughts of the trauma occur.
Other avoidance symptoms, referred to as numbing, include emotional unresponsiveness, detachment from others, and loss of interest in life's pleasures. For the treatment of numbing, most experts recommend the cognitive therapies, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and peer group support. In fact, numbing symptoms are among the most difficult symptoms to treat. For these symptoms, peer group support is extremely important.
What are the results of treatment and the follow-up of PTSD?
Most people suffering from a posttraumatic syndrome should expect a good response to treatment within 3 months, as long as they do not have another severe psychiatric illness, substance abuse, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder (manic depressive), or other maladaptive personality disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder.
After the initial 3 months of treatment, acute PTSD can be treated with group or individual psychotherapy booster sessions every 2 to 4 weeks. Chronic PTSD patients should be seen regularly for at least six months with booster sessions. However, a small percentage of patients with PTSD, especially those with another associated psychiatric disorder, remain quite symptomatic for longer periods of time. For acute PTSD, the duration for continuing medication before considering tapering is 6 to 12 months. For chronic PTSD with a good response, we can consider tapering medication at 1 to 2 years. However, patients with chronic PTSD with residual symptoms need to continue treatment for at least 2 years.
-Equally important to remember-
MST Military Sexual Trauma!
The essential feature is the development of characteristic symptoms following a psychologically traumatic event that is generally considered to be outside the range of usual human experience. Sexual trauma is outside the range of usual human experience.
The developed characteristic symptoms involve reexperiencing the traumatic event; numbing of responsiveness to, or reduced involvement with, the external world; and a variety of autonomic, dysphoric, or cognitive symptoms. The stressor producing this syndrome would evoke significant symptoms of distress in most people, and is out of the range of such common conflict.
Some stressors frequently produce the disorder (e.g. torture) and others only occasionally (e.g. car accident). Frequently there is a concomitant physical component to the trauma which may even involve direct damage to the central nervous system (e.g. malnutrition, head trauma). This disorder is apparently more severe and longer lasting when the stressor is of human design. The severity of the stressor should be recorded by professionals.
The traumatic event can be re experienced in a variety of ways. Commonly the individual has recurrent painful, intrusive recollection of the event, or recurrent dreams or nightmares during which the event is re experienced. In rare instances there are dissociative like states, lasting from a few minutes, to several hours, or even days, during which components of the event are relived and the individual behaves as though experiencing the event at that moment. Such states have been reported in persons exposed to the criteria found in DSM IV 309.81 Posttraumatic Stress A Disorder. Diminished responsiveness to the external world, referred to as psychic numbing or emotional anesthesia, usually begins after the traumatic event. A person may complain of feeling detached or estranged from other people, that he or she has lost the ability to become interested in previously enjoyed significant activities, or that the ability to feel emotions of most types, especially those associated with intimacy, tenderness, and sexuality, is markedly decreased.
After experiencing the stressor, many develop symptoms of hyper-alertness, exaggerated startle responses, and difficulty falling asleep. Recurrent nightmares in which the traumatic event is relived and which terminal sleep disturbance may be present. Some have impaired memory and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms are often intensified when activities resemble the actual trauma.
Associated features: symptoms of depression and anxiety are common, and in some instances may be so severe as to be diagnosed as an anxiety or depressive disorder. Increased irritability, unexpected explosions of aggressive behavior, with minimum or no provocation. Impulsive behavior also can create problems such as unexplained trips, unexplained changes in life styles. Symptoms may begin immediately or soon after the trauma. It is not unusual, however, for the symptoms to surface months or years later following the trauma. Impairment may be mild or affect every aspect of life. Phobic avoidance of situations or activities that resemble the trauma are common and often create occupational or recreational impairment. Psychic numbing often interferes with interpersonal relationships, such as family life. It often leads to self defeating behavior sometimes including suicide. Substance disorders are common .
The appearance of apparent psychotic symptoms are interpreted by many professionals as psychosis; but, are actual symptoms of PTSD in a normal person.

Thank you Dave Barker, some very excellent information.

Grover

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION IT GIVES ME PIECE OF MIND. WHERE I AM AT VERY FEW IF ANY PEOPLE KNOW WHAT PTSD IS AND FEWER KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. FINDING SOME ONE TO TALK TO ABOUT IT THAT KNOWS WHAT IT IS, IS THE BEST THING I CAN DO FOR MYSELF.

THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NIGHT TERRORS, NOT BEING SAFE UNLESS MY BACK IS TO THE WALL WHERE I CAN KEEP AN EYE ON ALL ENTRANCES AND EXITS IN A ROOM, HAVING A BUFFER ZONE (PERSONAL SPACE). KNOWING WHAT SMELLS AND SOUNDS ARE TRIGGERS FOR A WHILE I WAS WONDERING IF I WAS ALIVE OR DEAD - THE EXPLANATION OF WATCHING YOURSELF - FOR ME THAT IS THE RELIVING OF THE TRAUMAS THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO. THE HARDEST PART FOR ME IS WHEN MY EYES ARE OPEN AND I CAN'T GET THE PICTURES - MEMORIES OUT OF MY MIND. I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REMEMBER, WRITE IT DOWN AND BE ABLE TO SAY IT OUT LOUD AND THEN AT THIS POINT I CAN PHYSICALLY WORK ON DEALING WITH IT(THE MEMORY). AS I REMEMBER MORE OF EACH MOMENT I WRITE IT DOWN THEN PUT IT IN AN ORDER - EITHER BY DATE,TIME - SOMETHING CHRONILOGICAL(TIME LINE). SOMETIMES IT'S A BIT DIFFICULT BECAUSE I REMEMBER IN PICTURES AND COLOR. SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE A MOVIE PLAYING. IT'S BEEN ALMOST SIXTEEN MONTHS SINCE MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND CAME TO GET ME - SHE TOLD ME I LOOK LIKE I WAS A SURVIVOR FROM A CONCENTRATION CAMP WHEN SHE FIRST SAW ME BACK IN 2007,WHEN I GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE DISHWASHER AND THE CABINETS WE BOTH LAUGHED BECAUSE THAT MEANT I HAD ACTUALLY GAINED WEIGHT. IT HAS TAKEN ME THAT MUCH TIME TO PUT ON TWENTY POUNDS - WHEN I GET STRESSED I CAN'T EAT MY THROAT MUSCLES START TO CONSTRICT AND I CAN'T SWALLOW. ENOUGH FOR NOW - HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

Welcome home Jo.
Feel free to post and ask questions. You are in a safe zone, so no one will give you any problems here on this topic.
I strongly urge you to go to your doctor appointments. Writing down your thoughts are very important. Memory problems are common, so if you think about it, write about it. Take your notes with you on all doctor, nurse or other provider appointments.
Places to visit are the Vet Center and VA Medical Center. Discuss your issues.

quote:

THE1MARINE

You will find friends and brother here who will welcome you with open arms and a kind heart because we've been there and done that.

Blessing, to you and your love ones and may all of your tomorrows be filled with peace, joy and a better day each and everyday,

Bruce
Proud member, Derelict Veterans Group.

THANK YOU FOR THE WELCOME, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT, IT'S A RELIEF KNOWING THAT I AM NOT ALONE, THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND. AS FOR SEEING THE DOCTOR SHE TOLD ME SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS SEEING HER BECAUSE TO HER I WAS HANDLING EVERYTHING FINE, AND THE OFFICE/GROUP SHE WORKS FOR SPECIALIZES IN TRAUMA.

quote:

Originally posted by THE1MARINE:
THANK YOU FOR THE WELCOME, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT, IT'S A RELIEF KNOWING THAT I AM NOT ALONE, THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND. AS FOR SEEING THE DOCTOR SHE TOLD ME SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS SEEING HER BECAUSE TO HER I WAS HANDLING EVERYTHING FINE, AND THE OFFICE/GROUP SHE WORKS FOR SPECIALIZES IN TRAUMA.

You are not alone and that is for sure.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OldAFcop,

This topic is for your use. Please feel free to post in total safety. If questions are asked, answers will be given as appropriate responses are critical.

This looks like MY kind of thread.

I am sick and tired of getting that very worn out, stupid comment from people that goes something like..."What's the matter whimp, you chicken"? People who make those kinds of comments have no clue what combat or even being in a combat zone is like. They DON"T belong here.

I will be here often and want to talk about my experiences with the VA, hypocrits and getting to this point in my life.

Seabee Vet, Only a person with a weak personality would make those type of comments to a PTSD combat Vet outside the combat zone.
I have heard about similiar comments made about me behind my back out here in the outside world and when these same people were face to face with me , they couldn't even make eye contact and would mutter something like: "I wish I went to Nam." or.."I was there but didn't see action."....So who is really the 'wimpy chicken?
These guys are jealous and resentful because a combat PTSD rating is solid proof that you were in combat.

Lest we forget; Audie Murphy was the most decorated soldier for bravery of WWII and "He publicly called for the United States government to give more consideration and study to the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental health problems of returning war vets./ Always an advocate for the needs of veterans, he broke the taboo about discussing war related mental problems after this experience. In a effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, Audie Murphy spoke-out candidly about his personal problems with PTSD, then known as "Battle Fatigue".


>http://www.americans-working-together.com/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_ptsd/id15.html<

quote:

Audie Murphy spoke-out candidly about his personal problems with PTSD,

Well said. I did a report on him some years ago and discovered he spent a small fortune on promoting the recognition of the PTSD problem he had so suffered with. He did not want the Korean and Vietnam veterans to be ignored. He fought for them until his death.

I certainly didn't mean to imply those that didn't go to Vietnam or those that weren't combatants there are 'whimpy chickens'.
I was refering to a few individuals(some were family) that I knew personally that put me down for having PTSD....
Flash

quote:

"I wish I went to Nam." or.."I was there but didn't see action."....

Flash, its good to hear from you again, been awhile.

My last C & P interview (for IU) the interviewer almost laughed when I told him I'm terrified of helicopters. Twice, once in 'Nam and once in RI, choppers were hovering 1 - 2 feet above my back trying to power-up to fly.

Now when I hear one I automatically look up to find it and try to find something to get under. The VA thinks that's a stupid and childish reaction. I do understand that 99% of the VA's employees do not know what W-A-R means.