14 replies to this topic

[Brianwl]

Looks like the Senate is getting involved, finally. Its about time someone made the DoD stand up and explain just what "we take care of our own" really means.

Sen Murray on the Hunt

[RV]

Brian, thanks for the article. Glad to see that some representatives get it.

[right stuff]

I'm a 2 tour Viet Nam Vet. I was diagnosed with PTSD about 13 years ago. That's a little late for the diagnosis considering that I was discharged in 1970 and showed signs of PTSD back then. My hope is that more politicians take this Senator's lead because the earlier a vet gets diagnosed and treated, the less damage to his or her life. This is a serious issue for all those young guys returning to civilian life because PTSD not only affects the returning vet, it affects everyone around them.

[Paul Stough]

Kinda of a side note, but how is PTSD treated?

Paul

[imadtchmn]

Paul, here is a link for information on PTSD from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

[Paul Stough]

Paul, here is a link for information on PTSD from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Thank you!

Paul

[Cyberdave]

I still remember the instant stigma attached to someone using mental services. Almost like a scarlet letter on your next APR. You gave the mental clinic a wide berth if you were at the hospital. There is a nice new mental clinic here on DM. Away from the hospital in a quiet area of the base.. Parking lot empty except for staff parking spots. Yet, DM has a good number of troops rotating in and out of the sandbox.

[Brianwl]

Mental disorders while on active duty have always been a death bell to your career, sadly. If you had any kind of security clearance or a job which required you to be armed, you step into the mental health clinic and you no longer have the clearance for either. Supposedly the military is changing in that regard but not being active duty and only dealing with Vets on my site, I can't honestly say if the attitude has changed.

PTSD as a diagnosis/term is new since the Viet Nam war. However the malady has been around as long as there has been conflict. Prior the Nam Vets complaining about their problems and being very vocal about it, the disorder was called "shell shock" and various other things. Sadly the military likes to use the term "adjustment disorder" but the reasoning for that can get political rather quickly and I'll not get into that here. If you'd like to know more on that subject, please come to my Veterans board/forum by clicking the link in my sig.

As far as treatment for PTSD goes there are many forms of treatment and the sooner one is treated they better chance they have for a decent quality of life. Some "professionals" say it is curable. In my 30+ years of dealing with it personally, I've never known anyone to actually be "cured" of PTSD. Its more of learning the skills to recognize it when it shows up and how to deal with it so it does not overwhelm your life.

PTSD is NOT only from combat, it is from any form of trauma. Its just that the military/VA is more apt to see it being caused by combat conditions. Civilians get it too. Things like car accidents, house fires, tornadoes, or just anything that devastates your life can cause PTSD.

Nam Vets have always had to show they were in combat in order to get a rating from the VA for PTSD. That is because Nam supposedly had "safe" areas. Whereas the Vets of the current conflicts have no "safe" areas. As a result, many are being diagnosed with PTSD simply by being in country. Personally I think this is a good thing although I'm sure there are some that take advantage of the system. Its human nature to do something like that.

[RV]

I'd be cautious about the combat test as PTSD happens every day to police officers, Fire Fighters who witness a death or loses a save attempt on a child and sees it. Getting mugged or wounded in a robbery or being in an airplane crash. Carjackings, home invasions, rapes, you name it. And yes I agree that the mental health clinic is not a place many active duty will go. So it isn't restricted to the military or combat.

[JBT]

Interesting, I was looking thru my MEB/PEB info yesterday, trying to locate some information for the VA, (Again!) noticed that I had been diagnosed with "Anxiety Disorder" when I was discharged at Madigan Army Hospital in 2008. Since I was diagnosed with PTSD shortly after leaving the Army, and am still undergoing treatment, might just give my congressmen a call! There is a phone number to call in one of the articles I have read, also going to call them.
I also want to say thanks, it's rare that I can discuss publicly my diagnosis given all the "shame" that was heaped on the Vietnam Vet generation for their PTSD issues. Every little bit of treatment helps me deal with my issues, and seeing others discuss it publicly helps me.

Thanks
John

[Brianwl]

Interesting, I was looking thru my MEB/PEB info yesterday, trying to locate some information for the VA, (Again!) noticed that I had been diagnosed with "Anxiety Disorder" when I was discharged at Madigan Army Hospital in 2008. Since I was diagnosed with PTSD shortly after leaving the Army, and am still undergoing treatment, might just give my congressmen a call! There is a phone number to call in one of the articles I have read, also going to call them.
I also want to say thanks, it's rare that I can discuss publicly my diagnosis given all the "shame" that was heaped on the Vietnam Vet generation for their PTSD issues. Every little bit of treatment helps me deal with my issues, and seeing others discuss it publicly helps me.

Thanks
John

John,

You are a prime example of what this whole thing is about and why I posted it.

Check out the link in my sig, you and all Vets would be welcome there.

[JBT]

John,

You are a prime example of what this whole thing is about and why I posted it.

Check out the link in my sig, you and all Vets would be welcome there.

Brian, been to your site several times, really appreciate the info there, and the time and effort you have spent.
John

[RV]

I don't have PTSD John and I am grateful for Brian's site too.

[JBT]

I hope I'm able to attach this article, it's the NEW Army policy on PTSD. I know that "Command Policies" get filtered by local Commanders, be interesting to see how this one holds up. Damn, says file to big to upload, I'll attach a link to the NBC article, there is a link to the policy in about the 20th paragraph, "guidelines"
Thanks
John

http://usnews.msnbc....-diagnosis?lite

[Brianwl]

Here's the meat of the part about the Army.

In addition to the review, the Army announced in April new guidelines for diagnosing and treating PTSD, advising clinicians that fraudulent or exaggerated claims are "rare" and "unlikely." The guidelines also cautioned against attributing current symptoms associated with PTSD to certain diagnoses like personality disorder and adjustment disorder.