(
http://www.geocities.com/dave_barker...ombatVets.html )
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
The essential feature is the development of characteristic symptoms following a psychologically traumatic event that is generally considered to be outside the range of usual human experience.
The developed characteristic symptoms involve reexperiencing the traumatic event; numbing of responsiveness to, or reduced involvement with, the external world; and a variety of autonomic, dysphoric, or cognitive symptoms.
The stressor producing this syndrome would evoke significant symptoms of distress in most people, and is out of the range of such common conflict. The trauma may be experienced alone (rape or assault) or the company of groups of people (military combat). Stressors producing this disorder include natural disasters (floods, earthquakes), accidental man made disasters (car accidents with serious injuries, airplane crashes, large fires), or deliberate man made disasters (bombing, torture, death camps). Some stressors frequently produce the disorder (e.g. torture) and others only occasionally (e.g. car accident). Frequently there is a concomitant physical component to the trauma which may even involve direct damage to the central nervous system (e.g. malnutrition, head trauma). This disorder is apparently more severe and longer lasting when the stressor is of human design. The severity of the stressor should be recorded by professionals and the specific stressor is noted on Axis:IV.
Associated features: symptoms of depression and anxiety are common, and in some instances may be so severe as to be diagnosed as an anxiety or depressive disorder. Increased irritability, unexpected explosions of aggressive behavior, with minimum or no provocation. Impulsive behavior also can create problems such as unexplained trips, unexplained changes in life styles. Symptoms may begin immediately or soon after the trauma. It is not unusual, however, for the symptoms to surface months or years later following the trauma.
Impairment may be mild or affect every aspect of life. Phobic avoidance of situations or activities that resemble the trauma are common and often create occupational or recreational impairment. Psychic numbing often interferes with interpersonal relationships, such as family life. It often leads to self defeating behavior sometimes including suicide. Substance disorders are common.
The appearance of apparent psychotic symptoms are interpreted by many professionals as psychosis; but, are actual symptoms of PTSD in a normal person.
Now some of our fellow comrades may think if the veteran makes enough money to be in category B or C, he or she should be able to afford the charges. Well, this is not necessarily true. Often, the veteran may have insurance the VA can bill for the treatment; but, not always. The veteran was disabled due to his PTSD in combat, and as a result his insurance was not in force at that time. He had been placed in category C by the VA due to his prior years income, which had ceased. Even if he still worked, the idea of the VA charging a combat veteran for PTSD treatments should make us ill. I asked one of my contacts in the VA why the charges could not be processed on the Agent Orange provision passed by the Congress (HR 1961 Radiation/Ionization- Agent Orange Act) and signed by former President Ronald W. Reagan. He asked: "could we do that? Agent Orange doesn't cause nervous problems, does it?" My response to him was there is scientific evidence that dioxin contamination creates anxiety problems in animals and possible in some humans. This was enough for a change in the policy at that time. I was then told: "we are going to have to change the Agent Orange processing of claims anyway, due to the new rules on what the VA will accept as Agent Orange residuals". This was stated to me by a contact who wished to remain anonymous, and to this day he still remains that way. Again, why subject a veteran to insurance claims and probably alert his/her employer to the fact he/she needs treatment for mental hygiene conditions and risk more prejudicial treatment at work and make it worse than it was before.
BASIC STRESS PROBLEMS: FRUSTRATION
Resignation is the most severe of the degrees of frustration as the person has given up. The fight for survival is gone, the "I don't care" attitude prevails, he surrenders; thus, "all is lost". This is the form dictators will use to take control of the mind. It may be a dormant situation and most people do not realize it is there. People in a state of resignation obviously have low morale and will remain socially neutral unless their mental condition changes.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
In review of the essay Basic Stress Problems: Frustration, please indicate any of the conditions that have appeared in your life since your discharge from active service.
Please list each situation you have experienced and what triggered that experience.
Please list as many specific periods as possible that it has happened to you.
Did you have any guilt of the reactions you may have had, and did the situation remind you of your stressor?
COP AN ATTITUDE
Today it seems as if it is very popular, in some scenes to be a war veteran; but it is still far from popularity as we watch and observe. Exploitation is possibly the oldest reason to care, profit! Many dollars are being made on the sweat and blood of the war veteran. Millions upon millions of dollars have been made by the sale of T-shirts, hats , jewelry, as well as billions of dollars on movies, TV, records, tapes, CD’s and the like. The profits hardly shared with veterans (if any). During WWI and the Korean war we had MOVIETONE NEWS as well as several other newsreels to show us a limited amount of the desolation that occurred. We also had movies in the early 1950’s that hinted of the PTSD problem. However, the American Psychiatric Association chose not to address the issue. After all the veterans were (in their minds) no longer serving their nation. After all, they thought (the APA) there are only a few this affects Why don’t they just put this behind them and get on with their lives. Sound familiar? We hear the same rhetoric today! It generally comes from someone who was not a combatant. I do not think I have ever heard a combat veteran make a remark of that nature. I have heard a few veterans make remarks as such, but they were not combat veterans.
The same TV networks that bring in war entertainment, for very large profits, are the very same networks that brought you the Vietnam war and its protests, with their criticism of the armed forces of that period. The people who avoided the war by deferments found time to go into business, get ahead and start a home. The terror of war was only on the TV screen. Others who aggravated the situation of the returning Vietnam veteran, by aiding and abetting the disgusting show of hate and evil anger in the hippie and so called peaceful flower power demonstration of rock throwing, flag and draft card burning to let the veteran know just how important they were. The networks never once, failed to show the world, the popularity status of the Vietnam war was taken out on the nations finest. It was supported by the majority, according to the commentators of the airwaves. Yet when the peace candidate was nominated, America did in fact, by secret ballot completely dispel the myth of peace at any price. Yet as the war wound down, the popularity of the Vietnam veteran was so low, that many veterans did attempt to deny they were even involved in the war effort. Many just tried to forget, while anti war protestors, movie stars, TV personalities, political leaders and school teachers, went on about their lives and carved out respectable livelihoods. Seemingly all war veterans, after their discharge, would enter the market areas only on a much smaller scale. In the big time, big money positions the veterans find themselves represented by such people as Sly Stallone , or the TV anchor Dan Rather, who did go to Vietnam as a correspondent.
Is it any wonder we have problems with our returned heroes? Yes, they are real live heroes. Many forgotten, a few remembered. I have looked in every corner I can find to see if John Wayne served in any war. So far it has been only on the silver screen. This is not a put down of a super patriot, who has a Congressional medal struck in his memory. It is a comment of how popularity is controlled by the media. The undisputed greatest hero of WWII was Audie Murphy. Audie only starred in one successful modern war movie. That movie was TO HELL AND BACK, it was the Audie Murphy story. Yet this true genuine hero of WWII never reached the glory of John Wayne or Stallone. Nor do other highly decorated heroes such as Nevill Brand, the second highest decorated WWII veteran Mr. Brand starred in the TV series Laredo. Another highly decorated hero is Charles Durning, who in the 1990’s TV series Evening Shade, supported Burt Reynolds. Again, the true hero takes a back seat. Remember, both candidates Mr. Clinton defeated for president were real war heroes. Just look at Mr. Clinton’s draft status during Vietnam!
Sly Stallone of Rambo fame was never in Vietnam, he claims the throne of "hero of the Vietnam war", yet he is only a high paid pretender. The real heroes came back to America and were blended into society quietly and mostly never heard from again. Why? Because the war was so bad, so distressing, so depressing, that it was just easier to go along with the crowd upon return and just try to forget it. The problem was and still is: you just cannot forget it, it just will not go away. The same people who were highly critical of the individual soldier are now in positions of high authority. We have watched a steady stream of anti-war protestors take charge of America, and the Vietnam veteran had to hibernate to forget the pain of it all. The blending seemed to have worked for a while. Then suddenly and unexpectedly we saw headlines in papers throughout the land, of Vietnam veterans who were crazy and committing crimes, such as robbery and murder. These crimes were on the TV evening news, daily newspaper headlines and even movies to depict the Vietnam veteran as a crazed lunatic about to explode. It is no wonder that it was so hard for many of the returning veterans to find a niche in the local community. The people feared an outbreak by this person who served in an unpopular war. The popular war theory always has fascinated me anyway. Why would any war be popular in the first place? That we go to war is for the defense of our nation and its policies and ideals, coupled with treaties that we are bound to for common defense. The questions seem endless with no true answers.
The Desert Storm veteran is simply ignored. Nothing is pressing their issues. No special organizational push. Just business as usual. With the "old timers" complaining "they want it all handed to them!"
It seems as if we have forgotten the years of struggle of the preceding generation of veterans. These too found a strange welcome home. Upon their arrival they were met with very unfavorable reaction and many questions. Each common sense answer always seemed to have another common sense answer that was the exact opposite. The thoughts became very intrusive , the war seemed as if it had never ended. The veteran could now relive the war in his or her mind. It became never ending dreams, nightmares and flashbacks. All so real and all so misunderstood. Many veterans chose suicide as the way out. Others chose to seek professional help. The route of suicide of course did not cure anything but the ceasing of life. The psychiatric help was not all that great either, as many members of the profession did not recognize the problems for what they were. Most in the profession felt the Vietnam veteran was shameful and wrong in their action and very little was done in the late 60's or early 70's to correct the problems that beset the beleaguered Vietnam veteran. The American Psychiatric Association did not address the issue until 1980 when the all out effort on the part of a few became a part of history. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was revised and included the condition we know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We saw the actual revision in 1981 and recognized PTSD as a condition that explained the actions and reactions of a significant segment of the Vietnam veterans. The year 1994 saw another edition of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (fourth edition) DSM-IV, a second revision in a seven year period. It would be of great help for anyone interested in this anxiety disorder to read carefully the section 309.89 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One will find the true criteria to show this condition as defined today. This is not to say the book is final and ultimate, it is based on 10 year old information and studies. After all, the others were revised as well. Effective November 6, 1996 the Rating Board was directed to use DSM-IV replacing the DSM-III-R. This will be a positive for many Desert Storm veterans. This will allow the VA to rate some claims as service connected, that would have been denied under the old criteria. This seems to be a very positive step forward in bringing favorable justice to those who serve.
In the very latter part of 1988, the Veterans Administration, now the Department of Veterans Affairs, finally admitted to part of the dilemma that faces veterans of war. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is experienced by much higher numbers of veterans than projected in the past. The Associated Press article entitled Stress Disorder Found To Affect 15 Percent Of Viet Vets, indicated that a four year study ordered by Congress concluded more than 15 percent of the men who served in the Vietnam war are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. It also went on to say that about 20 percent had sought treatment. The VA also admitted that 30.9 percent had suffered the full disorder at some time and an additional 22.5 suffered partially. The same study also shows the Vietnam war women veterans have suffered from the condition of PTSD. Currently 8.5 percent of the women who served in Vietnam have the disorder. The report states the women who have suffered the full disorder are at 26.9 percent and 21.2 percent as a partial disorder. We are years past Desert Storm and no significant studies have shown the PTSD affect upon these troops.
Why not address the real issue: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD has existed and was the reason for the inability to adjust for a large group of Vietnam veterans. This was not the first time our government had just walked away from a conflict. It was at least the third time. First, it was the Korean Conflict, then the ill fated Bay of Pigs, Cuba, incident was so secret that the President was unaware of the involvement of the U.S. Navy and the average American did not know what actually happened. Vietnam was very different. It was brought into the living room of America. Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, and Chet Huntley, all gave us graphic details of what our sons had done to these seemingly wonderful peaceful people. It seems as if the networks had totally forgotten that the people of that geographical area had warred with one another for many decades prior to our arrival. The operation in Desert Storm was even more vividly projected into our homes. It seemed as if CNN had a camera on every target. They were in the middle and so was America. Many of the Desert Storm veterans were exposed to various stressors. The action in Kosovo is now bringing the triggers to the forefront on many veterans. Some are angry at the lack of direction by our national political leader. However, the current administration may well have a plan to win and end this newest of the small wars.
The VA study shows a significant number of veterans who suffer from PTSD, yet, the VA makes it so difficult for the veteran to prove a claim. Many give up and walk away. Some have, no doubt, died as a result of poor treatment or no treatment in the past. In handling many claims for PTSD, I have found that very often the claim must go to the Board of Veterans Appeals in order for the veteran to win his or her claim. The VA will deny the claim, even when their own doctors have diagnosed the condition and the service records show significant combat and records of valor. The VA excuses range from: not enough proof of unusual life threatening conditions, or, the VA may state the veteran was not in a MOS that matches their criteria. To expand on that thoughtless position of the VA, I represented a veteran for PTSD in 1983 who was a member of the Marines. His MOS was not considered a combat position. He was in operation Starlight. During this operation, he was wounded in action, he also earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal . The veterans DD 214 clearly states: #25 Specialty number and title 0311 Machine gunner. The original VA letter to my client was a denial, which included a sentence "your MOS was not clearly of a combat position". How utterly wrong can the VA be? Needless to say, we appealed and won the case with a large amount of back pay to the veteran. This was not all well and fine, the veteran was forced during those years to live on the streets and in the VA hospitals, until justice was done. An obvious ploy by the VA to have the veteran to just give up and quit. The veteran had decided to quit when I begged him to keep with me on the claim. In 1986 we finally saw the fruits. After, much abuse of society, as well as bureaucratic red tape which continued to plague him as well as all other veterans who are suffering from this disorder.
Now we have hope that this issue will be forever resolved with the acceptance of DSM-IV as the guide. Now an acceptable stressor is to include trauma being invoked on someone close to you, possibly your comrade is killed or seriously wounded. As a result you have nightmares, flashbacks, sleeplessness and a valid claim. In October 1996 you would have been denied. Today you have the opportunity to be fairly rated for the first time in the PTSD process.
Once the veteran has established the condition, the VA begins its three year cycle of cutting the percentage or removing the veteran from the program. I have represented several veterans who suffer from PTSD and unable to work at any type of employment. Verified by VA doctors, the veterans were found to be less than 100% by schedule; however, over the 60% minimum required to be granted Individual Unemployability (IU). Because of policy, the nervous conditions were exempt from the IU allowances and the veterans were continually denied. In early 1992, we found victory at last in this area. Many promises, to most veterans, have not been honored.
Yes, we have some solid doctors in the VA system. Their diagnosis are as often overlooked as a combat record. Which again is no longer going to be a major issue. The VA needs to look at its structure of the rating criteria; rather than trying to silence their critics, as the VA had often attempted. The answers are there if the VA would only listen.
We have come a long way since the day of the closest diagnosis being that of: Anxiety Disorder, adult situational reaction. Let us all attempt to understand the plight of our fellow veteran who suffers from PTSD, after all, their war continues on, even today.
(
http://www.geocities.com/dave_barker...ombatVets.html )
Ptsd Combat Vets ?
Why wan't a Widow warns of postwar stress issues
Linear Mode
