tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post8749784349580147483..comments2024-03-26T06:17:49.527-07:00Comments on Had Enough Therapy?: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Was It Made in America?Stuart Schneidermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12784043736879991769noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-24625035045607954142012-09-04T01:09:21.862-07:002012-09-04T01:09:21.862-07:00I saw a great deal of helpful information above!I saw a great deal of helpful information above!Paulinehttp://www.tullahomatn.gov/exit/d/www.spookyva.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-7085433675815982232011-05-30T06:22:25.469-07:002011-05-30T06:22:25.469-07:00http://news.healingwell.com/index.php?p=news1&...http://news.healingwell.com/index.php?p=news1&id=534437<br /><br />This link is for a study which seems to break the PTSD numbers down more realistically.<br /><br />PTSD is real. The way it is perceived from culture to culture may vary - I would not be surprised, but service in combat does change your mind and body. I have friends who have PTSD, and I myself like many Iraq Veterans have one or two persistent symptoms - an occasionally extreme temper and a physical reaction to fireworks and loud blasts. I was not a combat soldier, these reactions came about simply from the large number of mortar and rocket attacks on our camp. PTSD is not the way Hollywood portrays it - your average PTSDer is not a broken human being, unable to do anything or have any relationships, suffering from hallucinations, a heartbeat away from snapping and killing someone. They are just normal people who have some problems with hypervigilance and anger, but most adjust or compensate for those issues and do okay in life.<br /><br />I think it is important to cut the wheat from the chaff. I just read Stolen Valor and I'm not surprised that many people walking around claiming to be Veterans are not. I AM surprised that for so many years the VA did not corroborate these people's stories, and that a fair number never left the U.S. or if they did, served in secured areas. The fact that the VA would believe 30% to be a believable rate of PTSD doesn't pass the common sense test. <br /><br />Iraq and Afghanistan will present its own problems. It is normal for Veterans to have served two tours there (sometimes more) and there aren't nearly as many "secure" areas so more troops were probably exposed to combat situations, but at the same time, the enemy preferred to do its work from a distance via IEDs or mortar attacks. The long term rate of PTSD will probably be similar to the rate discovered in the study I linked to, with maybe a slightly higher number of us NOT fond of fireworks (please keep us in mind when you are considering firing them off in your yard for the heck of it.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-7152562224149544482011-04-30T05:15:01.954-07:002011-04-30T05:15:01.954-07:00"Stolen Valor" by B.G. Burkett; discusse..."Stolen Valor" by B.G. Burkett; discusses the origin of PTSD as well as many other misconceptions about the Vietnam War.<br /> There also seems to be a higher incident of PTSD in those with a history of excessive alcohol or drug use, disciplinary problems and personality disorders. Often many diagnosed with PTSD have marital conflicts as well. <br />There also may be some secondary gain by having a disorder that rates disability compensation based upon subjective symptoms.JacksonvillePathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02103484661511212496noreply@blogger.com