Comments on: PTSD and Our Troops: Data, Trends—and Articles

By: Yogathon July 5th 2009 Chicago « Guruvaani

Yogathon July 5th 2009 Chicago « Guruvaani — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:38:46 +0000

[...] Source – The Moderate Voice [...]

By: D. E.Rodriguez

D. E.Rodriguez — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:43:59 +0000

mikeyes:

Thank you for your service (especially in such a critical career field and environment), and thank you for your comments.

You're right that the "handwriting is on the wall," with respect to increased PTSD, suicide, divorce rates, etc., but hopefully the handwriting is also on the wall that with the new administration and new Head of VA things are bound to get better.

By: mikeyes

mikeyes — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:09:29 +0000

I suggest that the incidence of PTSD is probably higher and that almost every combat veteran has some of the symptoms if not the disorder. (My experience? I was a psychiatrist in the first of the combat stress teams, have my combat patch, have treated many combat veterans, and have had the symtoms my self but not the disorder. Also, the scientific evidence is compelling for wide spread PTSD amongst Gulf War and Iraq veterans.)

One of the stories in the Bush presidency that often goes unnoticed is that the psychiatrist in charge of dealing with PTSD on an administrative/global basis in the VA system did not believe that PTSD existed. She made it extremely difficult for veterans to receive care – and the longer you wait, the worse it gets. In addition psychiatrists who treated active duty soldiers were told that there were too many mental health disabilities given away and strongly advised to put those members in the personality disorder category or the “previous condition” category. That way not only did combat veterans with PTSD not get a disability, but many did not get benefits at all. A simple way to save money and keep those whiney bastards in their place./snark

The handwriting is on the wall, and the floor and the ceiling. Suicide rates are up, divorces are up, and other indicators are there and have been there for several years officially. Only with a new CIC can they be acknowledged, but the damage has been done for many.

By: D. E.Rodriguez

D. E.Rodriguez — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:21:17 +0000

So true, JS.

I came across trhese words by Elbert Hubbard that seem to be so appropriate for our PTSD-scarred troops:

"God will not look your over for medals,
degrees or diplomas, but for scars."

-Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)

By: Football » Blog Archive » Mental_floss Blog » Football’S Most Painful Injuries

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:59:54 +0000

[...] PTSD and Our Troops: Data, Trends—and Articles [...]

By: JSpencer

JSpencer — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:37:00 +0000

Meanwhile, the people who orchestrated all this unnecessary anguish and suffering for our troops are blithely going on about their personal business with clear consciences, no doubts, and no consequences. Go figure…