PTSD in the News: Monthly Roundup

Greetings survivors and friends! I’m very excited this week: Lots of cool new stuff being developed for the Heal My PTSD, LLC, web site and blog. 2010 is going to rock with new energy, motivation and support!

In the works are FREE downloads to help you further strengthen your healing process. Plus, self-empowered healing training sessions and other interactive events where you will be able to connect in real time with me and other survivors on the healing path. If you’ve enjoyed the BRIDGE THE GAP healing workshop you’ll love what’s happening in 2010.

As a result of these new changes some other current features will shift. Starting this month, ‘PTSD in the News’ will become a monthly feature posting on the first Saturday of every month, highlighting the news of previous weeks. As always, if/when you come across news items you’d like to share with the PTSD community feel free to email them to me. (Many thanks to those of you who already do that!)

This month’s converage includes some films related to PTSD and mental health, plus an article on how to avoid being a victim of your emotions and the results of studies about children and PTSD. On the military front the Supreme Court returned a milestone decision, mobile units reach out to rural vets and a Vietnam vet finds healing through art therapy. Lots to learn and absorb — enjoy!

Disturbing fact for all of us to know: From 2006 to 2009, the new cases of post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans and soldiers in active duty increased by 47 percent. Now, what are we going to do about that?

Topics for Everyone

Tragedy to Triumph -  Physical or psychological trauma can turn a life inside out. Adriana Kanwischer, David Cooks and Jon Linhart are three Milwaukee-area residents who are trauma survivors. The have all looked danger in the eye and emerged with a new perspective on living.

How Not To Be A Victim Of Your Emotions -  In my work as a psychotherapist, I never cease to be amazed at how effective mindfulness can be when used correctly. The moment when a client stops running away and turns towards his or her suffering with kindness, full attention and engaged presence, things start to change in a beneficial direction.

Offspring of Parents with BiPolar -  This study confirms an association between PTSD in adolescents with BD and subsequent development of SUD.

Natural Disasters, War & Children’s Mental Health - The psychiatric status of the children was evaluated by a diagnostic interview, and 30% met the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There was a relationship between cumulative stress (war, tsunami, and family violence) and the severity of PTSD.

Even Elephants Get PTSD -  More than a century of unrelenting violence and destruction has brought elephant society to its knees… Surviving pachyderms are diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the symptoms of which are sometimes directed toward humans and, tragically, to other animals. In the heat of survival, rhinoceroses have become collateral damage as elephants struggle to withstand human appetites.

New PBS Documentary: Can Americans Be Happier - Our brains are designed for survival, and the negative emotions they create are vital to that mission. But those negative emotions can spiral out of control with debilitating effects. (Includes PTSD examination.)

Black Snake Moan: Life Imitating Art - The Movie, Black Snake Moan by Director Craig Brewer, is a pulls-no-punches look into the life of abuse survivors, their problems & challenges, and offers hope for the future. The lead characters are brilliantly brought to life by Samuel L. Jackson as Lazarus, Christina Ricci as Rae, & Justin Timberlake as Ronnie.

Review of Brothers -  The commercial prospects for this Afghanistan War drama would appear dim. The Christmas season already has seen one high-toned, grim film-director John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road-that many will perceive as a “downer.” A film about family strife and post traumatic stress disorder likely isn’t the most desirable subject for seasonal fare.

No Kidding, Me Too: Documentary About Mental Illness - In the documentary No Kidding Me Too, Joe Pantoliano-who directed the film-speaks with people who are affected by mental illness. They tell their stories about how mental illness has affected them and how they have dealt with it.

TeleHealth Services - Tele-mental health is one of the most popular forms of telemedicine. The technology has been practiced for over 40 years. Tele-mental health is primarily used as a tool for treatment in post traumatic stress disorder, or “PTSD,” providing counseling services in rural areas and offering health medication management for institutionalized patients.

Topics for Combat PTSD

Supreme Court Supports Veteran PTSD Defense - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the sentencing decision of a Korean War Veteran convicted of murder should have taken into consideration Post Traumatic Stress he incurred during the war.

Hasan’s Lawyer Seeks To Delay Sanity Exam - Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s defense attorney skirmished with Army commanders Wednesday over the timing of a sanity examination for the Fort Hood gunman, saying that his client is still too medically impaired to participate.

Art Therapy: Vietnam Vet Finds Healing Through Painting - The former gunman of a B-Model Huey Gunship wanted to work out his unsettled feelings about the Vietnam War, so he picked up a canvas and started experimenting with abstract painting methods.

Navy Psychiatrist Addresses PTSD - When people experience a traumatic event, 10 percent won’t have any post-traumatic stress symptoms, Santiago said. Two-thirds have some symptoms that get better over time, and a quarter will chronically feel the disaster’s effects.

Veterans Affairs Mobile Unit Reaches out To Rural Vets - As the name implies, the MVCs are actually mobile facilities that can travel to rural areas and provide services directly. In all, there are 50 MVCs spread throughout the U.S., including one based in Fargo that serves all of northern Minnesota as well as eastern North Dakota.

Support Group Launched for Military Spouses -  Johnson said it is common for spouses of combat veterans to question issues that might arise. She said a common question spouses will ask themselves is “Is anyone else experiencing this, or am I unique?”

(Photo acknowledgement on Flickr.)

Tags: art therapy, bipolar, Black Snake Moan, Brothers, combat stress, healing, joe pantoliano, Me Too, military spouses, No Kidding, PBS, post-traumatic stress, ptsd, Supreme court, telehealth services, veterans, vietnam