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PTSD is the normal reaction
of a normal person
to abnormal circumstances
PTSD, or
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a
set of symptoms that surface after a very dangerous, frightening,
and uncontrollable traumatic event.
PTSD has
many causes.
As a
veteran, it is most likely the result of the experience of war.
However,
you may have been the victim of another traumatic event such as a
violent crime, accident, physical or sexual abuse, or a natural
disaster.
AVOIDANCE
- amnesia, disassociation, numbing, hyper vigilance, controlling
behavior, isolation.
RELIVING
- flashbacks, sleep disorders, overwhelming feelings, overreacting.
VICTIMIZATION - distrust, abandonment, helplessness, fear of change,
blaming others.
SHAME -
feeling guilty, feeling as if you're crazy, feeling unworthy.
REMEMBER:
If you recognize any of these symptoms, your are not alone and there
is help. The first step: Realize it's not your fault.
The second step: Believe that you have the power and ability
to change and get well. It may be difficult, but take a
healthy risk and reach out for help.
Getting a
Group Started...
Place
& Time: Explore various options including Vet Centers, community
centers, and churches. We DO NOT recommend meeting in a home
or military environment. Consider meeting once a month to
start, using an open-group format, and encourage regular attendance
to establish group rapport. Take a break for 1-2 weeks after
meeting for several months to allow new members to join and be less
uncomfortable with strangers.
Facilitator: Use a trained professional counselor to
facilitate meetings and to act as a moderator to discourage
cross-talking, interruptions, or a single person controlling the
session.
Format
& Size: The group should be no larger than 10-12, with 8
being the optimal size. Allow time for all members to share
their experiences and how they handled them. Do not pressure
people to share if they don't feel comfortable doing so.
Materials: There are various books that can be used to
stimulate discussion. Patients Mason's, Recovering from the
War, has been found to be very useful by a number of
facilitators. Discussion topics are up to the group; no preset
agenda is required. DO WHAT IS NEEDED.
Closing the Meeting: The meeting should close with a short
prayer or a version of the Serenity Prayer such as: "God, grant me
the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to
change the ones that I can, and the wisdom to know it's me.
Keep coming back, It works, and we're worth it."
Spreading the Word: Distribute a flyer in your local area
that lists WHEN, WHERE, and TIME meetings will be held. As the
group becomes established, referrals may come from other sources.
Although
there are many resources available to help veterans work through the
issues surrounding their war experiences, there is not much help
available to spouses and families of veterans.
Living
with someone who suffers from PTSD and/or Substance Abuse can be
traumatic. Some spouses report many years of pent up anger and
frustration dealing with their veterans and feeling alone.
Some have totally lost themselves in their veterans' problems and
are unable to deal with their own.
If you
have a spouse or family member with PTSD, learn all you can about
the illness and its treatment.
Associates of Vietnam Veterans of American (AVVA) has recently
updated and reissued an excellent program for the spouses and
families of veterans suffering from PTSD entitled "coping Skills for
Loving Your Vietnam Veteran."
For more
information about this AVVA program contact:
AVVA
8605 Cameron
Street, Suite 400
Silver
Sprint, MD 20910
www.AVVA.org
PTSD is not all in your
head! The evidence is mounting that PTSD, particularly chronic
acute PTSD, significantly changes the electrical and chemical
reaction of the body on a permanent basis. This causes increased
chances of heart attack, strokes, and other long-term health problems.
The following organizations
can also provide information about PTSD:
National Center for PTSD
(802) 296-6300
www.ncptsd.org |
National Mental Health Association
(800) 969-6642
www.nmha.org
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Anxiety Disorder Association of
America
(301) 231-9350
www.adaa.org |
International Society for
Traumatic Stess Studies
(847) 480-9028
www.istss.org |
American Academy of Experts
in Traumatic Stress
(631) 543-2217
www.aaets.org |
PTSD/SA Committee
Vietnam Veterans of America
8605 Cameron Street, Suire 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.VVA.org
Phone (800) 882-1316 |
Provided by: VVAPTSD/Substance
Abuse Committee 2004
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Suicide Prevention Lifeline for US Military Veterans
The
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline* has a new feature for
veterans. Call for yourself, or someone you care about:
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
and press 1. Your call is free and confidential. |
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