PTSD in the News: Weekly Roundup
Saturday, November 14th, 2009 • Uncategorized •
There’s been a lot of talk since the Ft. Hood tragedy about pre-PTSD. Let’s be serious, that’s a term the media (and in at least one instance, the military) made up to suit a situation for what many believe to be politically correct reasons. The DSM IV (our PTSD diagnostic Bible) does not have pre-PTSD as part of the PTSD definition and, in my opinion, it dilutes the PTSD issue altogether. Either you have PTSD or you don’t.
If you’re pre-PTSD there’s still the chance you will not become PTSD, which means you can’t blame future PTSD for the evil act of a man who’s radicalism seems to have been noticed but not addressed. If there’s such a thing as pre-PTSD I think it would qualify as Acute Stress which, literally, is experienced immediately after trauma and immediately prior to full-blown PTSD diagnosis.
So, let’s stop the pre-PTSD talk and help educate others who get lost in the media maelstrom. We know the lingo; spread it around and educate those who don’t yet know better. Part of our job is raising awareness and educating the general population so they understand us better. Here’s a great opportunity to do your part.
OK, off the soapbox and onto this weeks news, which includes the power of positive thinking, using Imagery Rehearsal Therapy to combat nightmares, Yale’s study of women and the effects of war, and ”Hire A Veteran Month”. Lots of good stuff!
Topics for Everyone
The Power of the Placebo – People looking for natural cures will be happy to know there is one. Two words explain how it works: “I believe.”
Catching PTSD at the Office - In fact at this point there is no evidence of any kind about Hasan’s motives, much less about the existence of airborne strains of PTSD. He’s not talking. Until he does, it’s probably best not to assume the Army is somehow responsible for his killings.
Imagery Rehearsal Therapy Relieves Nightmares - It’s a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing harmful thought patterns.
Topics for Combat Stress
Florida Declares November “Hire A Veteran Month” – Governor Crist has proclaimed November 2009 as Hire a Veteran Month in Florida.
Vietnam Vet Receives Retroactive Benefits for PTSD – Edward Kehoe, a local Vietnam Veteran, received retroactive disability benefits for injuries he received from Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
War Horrors Fresh Decades Later - The Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD estimates that 1 in 20 of the nation’s 2.5 million surviving World War II vets may suffer from PTSD.
Veterans Find Help for PTSD – One of the hardest things he and Robin, 53, had to learn together in their new life was they needed knowledge in order to make progress, Frank said. Both people need to understand PTSD, what behaviors it causes and what strategies will help their relationship survive it.
Therapists Deployed to War Zones to Fight Stress Disorders – Where psychologically damaged troops in far-flung places cannot reach a therapist, the military now flies therapists to them in numbers not seen before.
Yale Study First to Examine Effects of War on Women - In the first study of its kind, Women’s Health Research at Yale will examine whether women soldiers have more trouble adjusting to post-war life than men.
Can Telemedicine Help Wounded Warriors Recover? – Thanks to the U.S. Army’s Mobile Care (mCare), a telehealth pilot program, veterans with traumatic brain injuries or other serious injuries can be medically monitored by using their cell phones.
Fly Fishing Helps Vets Heal - ”There’s no scientific data that says that (fly fishing) helps, but there are people with PTSD that say it helped them,” he said.
(Photo acknowledgement on Flickr.)
Tags: combat stress, DSM IV, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, nightmares, pre-PTSD, ptsd, PTSD in the News, veteran, vietnam, war, Yale
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Thanks, this is a cogent and fair treatment of PTSD. There has been a lot of hysteria over the past few days about pre-PTSD. I agree. There is no such thing. PTSD is a serious disorder for those that have it. There is no reason to heap stigma on those that have it by trying to use it as a political shield.
@Mark – Ah! You bring up another serious point: the stigma of survivors with PTSD. You’re so right, amplifying the issue for reasons of political correctness just makes PTSD seem more crazy, especially when tied to such violence. If that’s what the world expects us to be capable of because of our condition who would ever admit to having PTSD? Which means, who would ever seek healing?? Such a sad cycle of stigma and suffering.
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