PTSD in the News: Monthly Roundup

BIG news this month, of the Heal My PTSD variety! Some of you may already know, but for those of you who don’t: We’ve set up two new places to build the PTSD community. Both are on Facebook:

• Check out the Heal My PTSD fan page, where I post daily updates, articles and other topics of interest;
• Join the Heal My PTSD group on Facebook, where we’re building a positive, safe and nurturing community for survivors to discuss, question and share PTSD related information and experiences.

Both of these pages are just being launched and developed — share your voice and vision. These places are for you, so feel free to make them what you want!

In other news, Heal My PTSD now has a virtual employee! Please welcome Nicole Bissett to the Heal My PTSD team. She’ll be assisting me in all the behind-the-scenes things that go on to help provide more and more self-empowered support for every survivor struggling to heal PTSD.

And now, for this month’s Big Picture News, which includes the positive diagnosis and healing findings of two research studies, the psychological impact of the earthquake in Haiti, a new research study underway for female vets, plus how the military is using Shakespeare to help heal PTSD. Good stuff!

General PTSD Topics

Breakthrough Research Shatters Medical Myth: Anxiety Disorders Curable -  In people with creative intellect, the genetic predisposition to the development of these conditions, at this point a specific cycle of physical reactions causes the development of, and perpetuates, what are commonly referred to as ‘anxiety disorders’. These include panic, OCD, PTSD, agoraphobia and all of the associated conditions and symptoms experienced by 1 in 4 people around the world and around 19 million sufferers in the USA alone.

Survivor Guilt in the Wake of a Natural Disaster -  The DSM-IV (The Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders-the professionals’ guide to mental illness and diagnosis) lists Survivor Guilt as a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and not as a malady in its own right. Like other symptoms of PTSD, Survivor’s Guilt is a distorted reaction to a traumatizing experience.

Neural Interactions Point To PTSD -  Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have shown that measurements of the tiny magnetic fields created by brain activity can be used to identify genuine PTSD sufferers with high confidence - and without the need for patients to relive painful past memories.

APA Denies CE Credits for Energy Psychology - Meaning, the APA doesn’t want to spread the new development of Energy Psychology among its members, even with these stats: “These outcomes are stronger than outcomes reported for conventional treatments such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, where a 50% success rate with PTSD after twelve sessions is considered a highly favorable response.”

Map of fear memory fomation in human brain extended - The discovery could help improve diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias.

The Psychological Impact of Earthquake in Haiti - After this type of a mass trauma, at least half of the people will likely experience some symptoms of post traumatic stress.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children -   A child who has developed post traumatic stress disorder may initially show agitated or confused behavior.

The Good Pyschiatry Does: A Brief Review - One of the misconceptions about psychiatry and psychiatric disorders is that we have no effective treatments for serious illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. In fact, we do have good (albeit imperfect) treatments-and I am not just talking about medication.

Everything You Need to Know About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - News from the National Org. itself.

PTSD After Childbirth - Need a good resource? Here’s a great place to start.

Combat PTSD Topics

Substance Abuse, the military and PTSD - When substance abuse or dependence is combined with post-traumatic stress disorder (prevalence rates of 13-22%), clinical problems such as psychosocial impairment, aggression, and suicide arise.

Repeat Tours Take Invisible Toll - Of all soldiers deployed to Iraq since 2003, about 38 percent have been deployed more than once and 10 percent have been deployed three times or more.

First Black Female POW Shares Her Story -  The physical healing is done, but nearly seven years after becoming the U.S. armed forces’ first black female prisoner of war when she was captured by Iraqi insurgents, Shoshana Johnson is still dealing with the mental trauma of her ordeal.

A State Attempts to Deal with PTSD & Combat Stress - Does it make sense to you to allow a reduced penalty for combat veterans who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when crimes are committed? One state is considering the possibility.

PTSD Disability Ratings Increased -  More than 4300 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who were diagnosed in service as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but got low military disability ratings, have won an agreement with the Department of Defense to upgrade those ratings retroactively to 50 percent

Theater of War! Using Shakespeare to Treat PTSD - The military incorporates theater into PTSD treatment as a way to use art to unlock and express veterans emotions.

Study Seeks to Locate & Help Women Vets with PTSD -  About 22 percent of female veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan develop PTSD, compared with 15 percent of combat veterans in general.

Helping Vets Heal Through Horses - Twenty-six-year-old Iraq war veteran Andres Lazo was hurt in a roadside explosion two years ago. Now he’s in a program called Horses for Heroes in Santa Fe County, and credits the organization with aiding his recovery.

(Photo acknowledgement on Flickr.)

Tags: Afghanistan, anxiety disorders, children, cognitive behavioral therapy, female veterans, Iraq, military, post traumatic stress disorder, ptsd, substance abuse, survivor