submitted to Newsday (Long Island's new
the face of PTSD
spaper) / Op-Ed & Letters to the Editor
First, let’s get one thing very clear. Not everyone suffering from PTSD
is a homicidal, psychotic, ticking time bomb. So, I implore the Media, and the
Country, to cease and desist in their blanket insinuations that Service members
with PTSD are all an imminent danger to Society.
The most recent tragedy at Ft. Hood, Texas, lends further evidence to the
premise that the U. S. Armed Forces still have not gotten a grip on the
affliction of and personnel struggles with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder) [1]. The latest shooting spree in Texas hi-lights the
inability of our Armed Forces structure when it comes to dealing with the
psychological devastation of this most common malady during and after periods
of war.
In this respect, alone, the Veterans Administration Medical System is
light years ahead of the Services creating this mess. The United States has
been fighting wars, large and small, since its inception. One might rationally
deduce that, by now, we would have properly addressed this malady. Our Armed
Forces clearly know that PTSD, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and other mental
and psychological illnesses caused by War are very quickly diagnosed and
treatable. Although there is no “cure” for the likes of PTSD, there are a
number of effective treatment protocols used to lessen the effects and allow our Soldiers to live with it.
This latest shooting at Ft. Hood should never have happened. There exists
a very concise set of criteria that determines whether one has PTSD, or not.
There is a set of questions that, over the years, has proven to be an accurate
test for a clinical diagnosis of PTSD, and this young Soldier should have been
diagnosed in the fifteen, or twenty, minutes it takes to run down a set of
fifteen questions [2]. The blood of the dead and wounded in Texas is
on the hands of our Army and its Medical Corps. for not handling this Soldier
in the correct manner.
HUTCH
DUBOSQUE, Vice President
PTSD
Veterans Association of Northport, Inc.
PO
Box 194, Northport, NY 11768
also,
10
Woolsey St., Huntington, New York 11743
Definition[1]
Post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying
event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well
as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Many people who go through traumatic events
have difficulty adjusting and coping for a while. But with time and taking care
of yourself, such traumatic reactions usually get better. In some cases,
though, the symptoms can get worse or last for months or even years. Sometimes
they may completely shake up your life. In a case such as this, you may have
post-traumatic stress disorder.
Getting treatment as soon as possible after
post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms develop may prevent long-term
post-traumatic stress disorder.
Symptoms[2]
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
typically start within three months of a traumatic event. In a small number of
cases, though, PTSD symptoms may not appear until years after the event.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are
generally grouped into three types: intrusive memories, avoidance and numbing,
and increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyper arousal).
Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:
·
Flashbacks, or
reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time
·
Upsetting dreams about
the traumatic event
Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing
may include:
·
Trying to avoid
thinking or talking about the traumatic event
·
Feeling emotionally
numb
·
Avoiding activities
you once enjoyed
·
Hopelessness about the
future
·
Memory problems
·
Trouble concentrating
·
Difficulty maintaining
close relationships
Symptoms of anxiety and increased emotional
arousal may include:
·
Irritability or anger
·
Overwhelming guilt or
shame
·
Self-destructive
behavior, such as drinking too much
·
Trouble sleeping
·
Being easily startled
or frightened
·
Hearing or seeing
things that aren't there
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can
come and go. You may have more post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms when
things are stressful in general, or when you run into reminders of what you
went through. You may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences, for
instance. Or you may see a report on the news about a rape and feel overcome by
memories of your own assault.
[1]
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/definition/con-20022540
[2]
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20022540
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