Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
By James W. Ralph, M.D.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become a major problem among veterans. In fact, it has been a problem
for many years, but fully appreciated until after Vietnam. In the past, PTSD has been called by such names as Shell
Shock, Survivor Guilt Syndrome, Forgotten Warrior Syndrome, and similar terms. As a former DAV National
Commander described it, PTSD includes: "Bitterness, anger and anxiety... depression, loneliness and alienation...
sleeplessness... flashbacks to combat and suicidal feelings... drug and alcohol dependence... and so much more."
The VA National Center for PTSD describes PTSD as: "...a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the
experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious
accidents, or violent personal assaults..." It has been reported that about 30% of Vietnam veterans have suffered some
degree of PTSD, and a similar percentage of those exposed to combat in Afghanistan and Iraq have also suffered from
PTSD. The signs and symptoms of PTSD should never be taken lightly!
PTSD presents in many forms, but often is not recognized until many years after the exposure to personal risks
occurred. This is particularly true in senior officers and senior NCOs who refuse to admit to themselves, or anyone else,
that they have problems, because they fear it could interfere with their military careers. This is also happens in
physicians, because we feel that we aren't subject to such problems, only our patients have it. I know this personally,
being a physician and retired senior medical officer who held in my own PTSD symptoms for almost 40 years. I served
two tours in Vietnam, as well as in Desert Storm. During my first tour in Vietnam, I was shot down and suffered serious
back, neck and shoulder injuries. Two weeks later I received a bullet wound to the scalp. I was a Flight Surgeon, but I
could not allow the pilots in my units to know I was developing a fear of flying, so I held it in and tried to ignore that I
had a problem. I ended up flying approximately 1,000 missions with my units, mostly with "Dustoff" MedEvac. I finally
had to admit that I had PTSD problems and I am now a PTSD outpatient with the VA medical system.
Why does PTSD happen to some, but not others who witness the same terrifying situations? There is no simple
answer to that. Some people have pre-existing personality disorders, such as dependency, obsessive-compulsive
behavior, paranoia, and so on, that become aggravated under stress. Others have no problems prior to experiencing
traumatic events, such as combat, only to subconsciously hold on to the horrifying experience. And this is not limited to
military veterans. Research has indicated at about 8% of all Americans suffer from some degree of PTSD, but I shall
concentrate on the PTSD of combat veterans.
What are some of the more common signs of PTSD? I will go over many of them, but for more compel information, I
suggest all concerned veterans obtain a copy of Veterans and Families Guide to Recovering from PTSD, which is an
excellent book available from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Treatment of PTSD can consist of individual one-on-one therapy with a psychotherapist, group therapy with other
veterans, or even spending several; months in a group home (at or near a VA hospital) for daily interaction other
veterans, and occasional classes to explain PTSD and how to deal with it.
Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD, with the veteran warring excessively over what others would
find to be minor problems. Anxiety is often related to flashbacks and nightmares of personal danger experienced in
combat. It may also add to other medical problems, such as increased blood pressure and rapid or irregular pulse.
Becoming easily frustrated and difficulty controlling anger are also high on the list. One may become easily
exasperated, feel displeasure and even hostility toward others. The tendency to strike out must be controlled, as doing
so will only worsen the situation. This is a sure sign that one needs professional help, before things get out of hand.
Chronic pain from combat injuries is often a very irritating reminder of horrifying situations in one's past. One must
take care to not become overly dependent on prescription pain medications, and definitely must avoid even "sampling"
illegal drugs. Drug dependency has serious, and often strict legal consequences.
Compulsive behavior, recurrent confusion, difficulties with sleeping, abnormal fear and delusions are often signs of
PTSD. Feeling depressed, lonely, or becoming overly dependent on others also suggests that PTSD may be the
underlying cause such symptoms. It is not at all unusual for victims of PTSD to be suspicious of employers, government
agencies (including the VA), or even friends a family members. Such feelings can lead to suicidal, or even homicidal,
thoughts. Holding in such feelings is counterproductive, but these feelings of paranoia can usually be treated with
proper therapy, if recognized and dealt with promptly. Trying to hide such feelings or to hold them in will only make
matters worse, possibly with tragic results. It is therefore very important to seek immediate help if such feelings occur.
I hope that the information provided in this article will help explain the signs and symptoms that many of us veterans
feel. If you recognize any of these thoughts or feelings in yourself, or in friends or family, please seek professional help
without delay.
Additional information of PTSD can be found at this VA web site: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/general/fs_what_is_ptsd.html
-------------------------
Dr. Ralph is a retired Colonel, U.S. Army Medical Corps. He is an Army Master Flight Surgeon and Naval Flight Surgeon (having served 4 years as a Marine Corps Reserve Battalion Surgeon). He is also Special Forces qualified. His combat decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star/V, and Purple Heart.
By James W. Ralph, M.D.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become a major problem among veterans. In fact, it has been a problem
for many years, but fully appreciated until after Vietnam. In the past, PTSD has been called by such names as Shell
Shock, Survivor Guilt Syndrome, Forgotten Warrior Syndrome, and similar terms. As a former DAV National
Commander described it, PTSD includes: "Bitterness, anger and anxiety... depression, loneliness and alienation...
sleeplessness... flashbacks to combat and suicidal feelings... drug and alcohol dependence... and so much more."
The VA National Center for PTSD describes PTSD as: "...a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the
experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious
accidents, or violent personal assaults..." It has been reported that about 30% of Vietnam veterans have suffered some
degree of PTSD, and a similar percentage of those exposed to combat in Afghanistan and Iraq have also suffered from
PTSD. The signs and symptoms of PTSD should never be taken lightly!
PTSD presents in many forms, but often is not recognized until many years after the exposure to personal risks
occurred. This is particularly true in senior officers and senior NCOs who refuse to admit to themselves, or anyone else,
that they have problems, because they fear it could interfere with their military careers. This is also happens in
physicians, because we feel that we aren't subject to such problems, only our patients have it. I know this personally,
being a physician and retired senior medical officer who held in my own PTSD symptoms for almost 40 years. I served
two tours in Vietnam, as well as in Desert Storm. During my first tour in Vietnam, I was shot down and suffered serious
back, neck and shoulder injuries. Two weeks later I received a bullet wound to the scalp. I was a Flight Surgeon, but I
could not allow the pilots in my units to know I was developing a fear of flying, so I held it in and tried to ignore that I
had a problem. I ended up flying approximately 1,000 missions with my units, mostly with "Dustoff" MedEvac. I finally
had to admit that I had PTSD problems and I am now a PTSD outpatient with the VA medical system.
Why does PTSD happen to some, but not others who witness the same terrifying situations? There is no simple
answer to that. Some people have pre-existing personality disorders, such as dependency, obsessive-compulsive
behavior, paranoia, and so on, that become aggravated under stress. Others have no problems prior to experiencing
traumatic events, such as combat, only to subconsciously hold on to the horrifying experience. And this is not limited to
military veterans. Research has indicated at about 8% of all Americans suffer from some degree of PTSD, but I shall
concentrate on the PTSD of combat veterans.
What are some of the more common signs of PTSD? I will go over many of them, but for more compel information, I
suggest all concerned veterans obtain a copy of Veterans and Families Guide to Recovering from PTSD, which is an
excellent book available from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Treatment of PTSD can consist of individual one-on-one therapy with a psychotherapist, group therapy with other
veterans, or even spending several; months in a group home (at or near a VA hospital) for daily interaction other
veterans, and occasional classes to explain PTSD and how to deal with it.
Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD, with the veteran warring excessively over what others would
find to be minor problems. Anxiety is often related to flashbacks and nightmares of personal danger experienced in
combat. It may also add to other medical problems, such as increased blood pressure and rapid or irregular pulse.
Becoming easily frustrated and difficulty controlling anger are also high on the list. One may become easily
exasperated, feel displeasure and even hostility toward others. The tendency to strike out must be controlled, as doing
so will only worsen the situation. This is a sure sign that one needs professional help, before things get out of hand.
Chronic pain from combat injuries is often a very irritating reminder of horrifying situations in one's past. One must
take care to not become overly dependent on prescription pain medications, and definitely must avoid even "sampling"
illegal drugs. Drug dependency has serious, and often strict legal consequences.
Compulsive behavior, recurrent confusion, difficulties with sleeping, abnormal fear and delusions are often signs of
PTSD. Feeling depressed, lonely, or becoming overly dependent on others also suggests that PTSD may be the
underlying cause such symptoms. It is not at all unusual for victims of PTSD to be suspicious of employers, government
agencies (including the VA), or even friends a family members. Such feelings can lead to suicidal, or even homicidal,
thoughts. Holding in such feelings is counterproductive, but these feelings of paranoia can usually be treated with
proper therapy, if recognized and dealt with promptly. Trying to hide such feelings or to hold them in will only make
matters worse, possibly with tragic results. It is therefore very important to seek immediate help if such feelings occur.
I hope that the information provided in this article will help explain the signs and symptoms that many of us veterans
feel. If you recognize any of these thoughts or feelings in yourself, or in friends or family, please seek professional help
without delay.
Additional information of PTSD can be found at this VA web site: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/general/fs_what_is_ptsd.html
-------------------------
Dr. Ralph is a retired Colonel, U.S. Army Medical Corps. He is an Army Master Flight Surgeon and Naval Flight Surgeon (having served 4 years as a Marine Corps Reserve Battalion Surgeon). He is also Special Forces qualified. His combat decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star/V, and Purple Heart.
I'll Be Home For Christmas
This Christmas Season was a very special one for Operation First Response, Inc; (OFR). OFR is a Culpeper,
One of OFR’s services is to facilitate flights for wounded service members and their families. OFR accepts donations of frequent flyer miles and uses them to purchase flights, reserving general funds for other needs whenever miles are available.
Armand Janelle, the assistant to James M. Cashman, the President of Cashman Companies contacted OFR to offer a large donation of frequent flyer miles.
Jamie Cashman, a home owner of Lafitte, Louisianna, donated 1.5 million miles to OFR requesting that we send as many wounded Heroes home for Christmas as possible. This generous donation enabled OFR to facilitate 27 flights to Heroes who contacted OFR during that time requesting help getting home for Christmas.
This was very moving to the staff of OFR.
In most cases OFR is involved with a family during a very traumatic time, this donation enabled us to share a special gift with them and their families.
Mr. Cashman gave 27 wounded Heroes and their families a special memory and new meaning to the phrase “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”.
Contact Info:
Operation First Response, Inc
Peggy Baker/ President
www.operationfirstresponse.org
Cashman Companies
James Cashman
