Help for PTSD Sufferers!

There are many stories circulating about the shortfalls in adequately diagnosing and treating post traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD.  Just recently, I spoke with a women working at a business here in Nashville whose son was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Iraq.  Her son had two children and had a spouse also serving in the military.  Initially, he was receiving treatment for his physical injuries for the last four months at a military hospital in Colorado.  He appeared to be responding well to physical therapy, but continued to battle episodes with PTSD. 

His mother mentioned that her son could not get a good night’s sleep because of the mental anguish resulting from his combat experiences and the IED explosion which caused his hospitalization.  His mother remained optimistic about his recovery, and held no resentment toward the military or the political leadership that put him in harms way.  She commented that being a soldier and serving his country is what he always wanted to do.  A week after we spoke she was informed that her son had died from an apparent blood clot.  I have no other details, but suffice it to say that certain wounds are not always visible and require counseling and future follow-up.

 

PTSD sufferers are potentially ticking time bombs that need adequate evaluation and treatment in order to lead normal productive lives at work and with their families.  The lack of sufficient government financial resources should not be a factor on whether these soldiers receive care.

 

In January 2009, I was passed an article about Josh Barber, a former combat soldier then employed as a cook at Fort Lewis, WA, who ended up taking his own life as a result of his suffering from PTSD.   There are many stories since this incident which reference similar cases of returning soldiers, either not receiving or even seeking assistance from counselors and therefore their health concerns go untreated.

This issue is not going away, and needs to be met head-on.  If you search the web, you’ll find a multitude of resources that outline the warning signs that families, spouses, employers, and medical professionals need to be cognizant of when observing returning soldiers who have served in combat. 

 

If you are an experienced counselor, or a veteran willing to peer counsel your fellow veterans, this is an area where your help is desperately needed.  Contact your local VA office, and find out how you can help ease the suffering of another by volunteering your services.

 

And to all of our veterans and their families…thank you for your service! 

Comments

[MilHealth79]

Thanks for your post. I wanted to let you know that the Military Health System has set up a page dedicated to the comprehensive services available for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders such as PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and anxiety. Check it out at health.mil/mentalhealth