I have been on at least a dozen sites posting long and hard about this. I don't know where the psychiatric profession has been on this; they weren't on summer vacation the WHOLE time.
Anyone who knows about, works with or is in a relationship with a PTSD could tell you .. nearly a half of PTSD sufferers who do not get help are going to really make bonafide suicide attempts. It is a condition that is too bloody much. In these times of mass genocide, I cannot even begin to imagine what blows through the soul of today's veteran.
If you have read some the 1000+ posts on this blog, you would know that I suffer from PTSD. It is no picnic. I have gradually gotten better, but losing my home and all my belongings last year set it off again - this time with agoraphobia complexing the already compounded PTSD. This is similar to a vet who is suffering the disorder and then finds himself homeless in the US after a nice, loooooooooong stint at war. A war that isn't at home! A war that is illegal! A war that shouldn't have started in the first place!
I know alot about PTSD, in fact, I write a blog piece about it every week, so it is always fresh mind. I am an "expert" patient, so to speak. I've read all the literature my hands would allow me to read; sometimes they get so overwhelming I cannot handle reading them at all.
The entire children of alcoholics grew out of the Veteran Administration's inability to cope with the constant need of Vietnam vets. Thus, group therapy began to be studied and shown to be actually MORE effective. However, the groups need to be monitored. The suicide threats need to be taken seriously. Perhaps this is another reason the VA chose to reject help seekers. It simply does not want to hear the damage that is being done.
The gross neglect and incompetance that has been shown when processing claims is a topic for a whole other blog item. For shame! For shame!
These men and women, although probably sadly mislead when recruited, should not have to suffer endlessly due to "congressional oversight". Or because the past Secretary of Defense was too busy playing with war toys. As for BUSH, the commander in chief, who is so busy PLAYING Commander in Chief, this mistreatment of "his" troops is paralyzingly appaling and insensitive.
The article below mentions many many side topics -- including the questionable and baffling response of commanders to the mental (and emotional) problems of these troops - both before and after service. On the websites I have insisted that more literature concerning PTSD be made available to EVERYONE.
The poor publicity that the VA has had as a result of the Jeans Cruz case, has certainly started "motivating" some action. He had given up his appeals case. And with good reaon: he was feel more hopeless and helpless than ever. These two "feelings" are exactly what sets PTSD apart from other "mental" "illnesses". It is a wonder Jeans Cruz was still alive. They are bloody lucky they've seen fit to keep him alive.
New intiatives go into effect on August 1, requiring those who ask for mental health or substance abuse care to be evaluated within 24 hours. Hell, if a person needs detox they need it when it is evident. I suggested a 24/7 hotline in all my postings about the internet. It is the LEAST they could do. The addictions really kick in when you are not getting help. Self medication is a very dangerous business.
At this juncture, ONLY 200 psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers have been added to America's effort to help shell shocked, war wearied, messed up ex-soldiers. It ain't enough and it ain't bloody enough.
We won't stop screaming about this until there is enough in place.
This affects/afflicts my family, too. My son was on mainstream media begging them to help the veterans with PTSD and addictions. I am SO proud. I just wish our whole family could finally rest assured that there will be enough care to get us all through the terrible mess ...
I read also about the two new Defense Department centers to be set up to study mental health. My God! Don't they read! It was so predictable it is frightening to think that they are that bloody thick. Their own PR department must be having a very bad day as this all looks horrible on them.
One last cranky observation - the only DRUG that Big Pharma has on offer besides their ineffective and overprescription of atypical antipsychotics is beta blockers. Yes, beta blockers. The ones that are on time release are best, but they are expensive if living on a veteran's pension. The only known "cure" for this all too human soul affliction is LOVE. Yup, you read that right. LOVE. Time that the DOD morphed into something it really does not intend to be - concerned and caring about the future of America's next LEADERS.
Military Psychiatric-Care Overhaul
Technorati Tags: US policy, PTSD, soldiers, Walter Reed, Afghanistan, Iraq, perpetual wa, atypical antipsychotics, beta blockers, LOVE, suld affiction
Anyone who knows about, works with or is in a relationship with a PTSD could tell you .. nearly a half of PTSD sufferers who do not get help are going to really make bonafide suicide attempts. It is a condition that is too bloody much. In these times of mass genocide, I cannot even begin to imagine what blows through the soul of today's veteran.
If you have read some the 1000+ posts on this blog, you would know that I suffer from PTSD. It is no picnic. I have gradually gotten better, but losing my home and all my belongings last year set it off again - this time with agoraphobia complexing the already compounded PTSD. This is similar to a vet who is suffering the disorder and then finds himself homeless in the US after a nice, loooooooooong stint at war. A war that isn't at home! A war that is illegal! A war that shouldn't have started in the first place!
I know alot about PTSD, in fact, I write a blog piece about it every week, so it is always fresh mind. I am an "expert" patient, so to speak. I've read all the literature my hands would allow me to read; sometimes they get so overwhelming I cannot handle reading them at all.
The entire children of alcoholics grew out of the Veteran Administration's inability to cope with the constant need of Vietnam vets. Thus, group therapy began to be studied and shown to be actually MORE effective. However, the groups need to be monitored. The suicide threats need to be taken seriously. Perhaps this is another reason the VA chose to reject help seekers. It simply does not want to hear the damage that is being done.
The gross neglect and incompetance that has been shown when processing claims is a topic for a whole other blog item. For shame! For shame!
These men and women, although probably sadly mislead when recruited, should not have to suffer endlessly due to "congressional oversight". Or because the past Secretary of Defense was too busy playing with war toys. As for BUSH, the commander in chief, who is so busy PLAYING Commander in Chief, this mistreatment of "his" troops is paralyzingly appaling and insensitive.
The article below mentions many many side topics -- including the questionable and baffling response of commanders to the mental (and emotional) problems of these troops - both before and after service. On the websites I have insisted that more literature concerning PTSD be made available to EVERYONE.
The poor publicity that the VA has had as a result of the Jeans Cruz case, has certainly started "motivating" some action. He had given up his appeals case. And with good reaon: he was feel more hopeless and helpless than ever. These two "feelings" are exactly what sets PTSD apart from other "mental" "illnesses". It is a wonder Jeans Cruz was still alive. They are bloody lucky they've seen fit to keep him alive.
New intiatives go into effect on August 1, requiring those who ask for mental health or substance abuse care to be evaluated within 24 hours. Hell, if a person needs detox they need it when it is evident. I suggested a 24/7 hotline in all my postings about the internet. It is the LEAST they could do. The addictions really kick in when you are not getting help. Self medication is a very dangerous business.
At this juncture, ONLY 200 psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers have been added to America's effort to help shell shocked, war wearied, messed up ex-soldiers. It ain't enough and it ain't bloody enough.
We won't stop screaming about this until there is enough in place.
This affects/afflicts my family, too. My son was on mainstream media begging them to help the veterans with PTSD and addictions. I am SO proud. I just wish our whole family could finally rest assured that there will be enough care to get us all through the terrible mess ...
I read also about the two new Defense Department centers to be set up to study mental health. My God! Don't they read! It was so predictable it is frightening to think that they are that bloody thick. Their own PR department must be having a very bad day as this all looks horrible on them.
One last cranky observation - the only DRUG that Big Pharma has on offer besides their ineffective and overprescription of atypical antipsychotics is beta blockers. Yes, beta blockers. The ones that are on time release are best, but they are expensive if living on a veteran's pension. The only known "cure" for this all too human soul affliction is LOVE. Yup, you read that right. LOVE. Time that the DOD morphed into something it really does not intend to be - concerned and caring about the future of America's next LEADERS.
Military Psychiatric-Care Overhaul
Urged
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, June 19, 2007; Page A07
Top officials in the Bush administration and on Capitol Hill said yesterday that the federal government must move quickly to revamp the nation's system for identifying and caring for military personnel with the invisible wounds of mental illness.
Acting Army Secretary Pete Geren visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center yesterday and discussed mental-health issues, including treatment for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on Ward 53, according to an Army spokesman.
| |
been going about fixing it," said Col. Dan Baggio, noting that the Army has conducted four mental-health surveys of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
More ...
Technorati Tags: US policy, PTSD, soldiers, Walter Reed, Afghanistan, Iraq, perpetual wa, atypical antipsychotics, beta blockers, LOVE, suld affiction
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