PTSD
PTSD- “Is a debilitating anxiety disorder that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that involves a real or perceived threat of injury or death. This can include a natural disasters, combat, an assault, physical or sexual abuse, or other trauma.” By http://ask.healthline.com
Stats
· 70% Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers have PTSD
· 50% of soldiers do not seek treatment
· There ae 7% have both PTSD and TBI
· Army have 67% cases of PTSD
· Air Force 9%
· Navy 11%
· Marines 13%
· Many of the soldiers do not seek treatment until there family tell them that they should get help
· When they seek treatment they wait until they return home after deployment
· According to American Legion study 50% of the veterans that seek treatment drops out before their treatment is done.
Connections/ signs
· Constantly having memory/ nightmares of the event
· Lack of interest
· Lack of sleep
· Flash backs
· Isolating from others
· Depression
· Constantly thinking you’re in danger or someone else is
· Felling anxious, irritated
· Family problems
· Constantly working to keep your mind busy
· Avoiding places that remind you of the event
· Using drugs or alcohol
Treatment
· Medication
· Counseling
Medication - Selective Serotonin Inhibitors are used to fell less depressed/ worrying
Counseling – helps you try and change your reaction and try to help you control your thoughts
· Cognitive behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Ø Proven to be the most effective therapy
Ø There are two types of therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy, Exposure therapy
· Cognitive behavioral therapy
Ø In cognitive behavioral therapy you talk to a therapist where they help you with your train of thoughts and how to control them. They help you understand that some of the memories will trigger your symptoms and will make them worse and will cause more stress than what you are in. So they will help you replace those thoughts with more of a peaceful thought so you can control your reaction to them. They will help you understand that the tragic event that happen was not your fault.
· Exposure therapy
Ø In Exposure therapy you talk to a therapist where you will contently talk about the memories that haunts you and by doing so they are going to help you fear them less. They like to do this session in the environment that you feel the most secure at. The therapist uses two methods to help you with the haunting memories, they are Desensitization and Flooding.
Ø Desensitization- Is where they have you talk about your memories little bit at a time and progress from there
Ø Flooding- Is where they have you talk and remember all the horrifying memories that haunts you so they can help you feel less overwhelming and are able to control your reaction to them.
· CBT- Treatment can last up to 3-6 months
· If they have other mental health problems along with PTSD the treatment can last 1-2 years or more
Why they do not seek treatments
· To avoid thinking about the event
· That they will get better as time passes that they do not need help
· Finding a therapist, transportation, cost
· That there carrier can be destroyed
· Medical records open to public to see
· While active if their comrades find out they will not trust them to protect them
· It is sign of weakness to seek help
· Other veterans have it worse than them
· Stigma
Ø Is the feeling of being judged and being treated different from others because you have PTSD
Organization
· Soldiers Best Friend
http://Soldirsbestfriend.org
Ø They are an organization that pairs military soldiers that have PTSD with a dog from a shelter and pair them together for therapy. They go to sessions together to help with PTSD and the dogs are certified to go on to planes. They currently do the training in Arizona only ( Phoenix, Tuscan, Prescott, Sierra Vista)
· Real Warriors Real Battles Real Strength
http://www.realwarrirors.net
Ø It has multiple of sites for you to visit for you to get help
Ø 24/7 help
Ø 886-966-1020
Ø Military crisis line
Ø 1-800-273-8255
· Courage Beyond (donate)
http://couragebeyond.org
Ø They provide free service to all veterans and all branches of armed forces no matter of the discharged. Part of the largest organization Centerstone Military Service
· The Soldier Project (donate)
http://www.thesoldierproject.org
Ø They offer free unlimited counseling for as long as you need for the individual, couples, children’s. You contact them on the website and fill out the form or call them and they have you answer some questions and they will set it up for you.
Ø 877-576-5343
· Save A Warrior (donate)
http://www.savewarrior.org
Ø They have a program called “War Detox”. They help out the military, veterans, reservists, National Guard
PTSD- “Is a debilitating anxiety disorder that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that involves a real or perceived threat of injury or death. This can include a natural disasters, combat, an assault, physical or sexual abuse, or other trauma.” By http://ask.healthline.com
Stats
· 70% Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers have PTSD
· 50% of soldiers do not seek treatment
· There ae 7% have both PTSD and TBI
· Army have 67% cases of PTSD
· Air Force 9%
· Navy 11%
· Marines 13%
· Many of the soldiers do not seek treatment until there family tell them that they should get help
· When they seek treatment they wait until they return home after deployment
· According to American Legion study 50% of the veterans that seek treatment drops out before their treatment is done.
Connections/ signs
· Constantly having memory/ nightmares of the event
· Lack of interest
· Lack of sleep
· Flash backs
· Isolating from others
· Depression
· Constantly thinking you’re in danger or someone else is
· Felling anxious, irritated
· Family problems
· Constantly working to keep your mind busy
· Avoiding places that remind you of the event
· Using drugs or alcohol
Treatment
· Medication
· Counseling
Medication - Selective Serotonin Inhibitors are used to fell less depressed/ worrying
Counseling – helps you try and change your reaction and try to help you control your thoughts
· Cognitive behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Ø Proven to be the most effective therapy
Ø There are two types of therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy, Exposure therapy
· Cognitive behavioral therapy
Ø In cognitive behavioral therapy you talk to a therapist where they help you with your train of thoughts and how to control them. They help you understand that some of the memories will trigger your symptoms and will make them worse and will cause more stress than what you are in. So they will help you replace those thoughts with more of a peaceful thought so you can control your reaction to them. They will help you understand that the tragic event that happen was not your fault.
· Exposure therapy
Ø In Exposure therapy you talk to a therapist where you will contently talk about the memories that haunts you and by doing so they are going to help you fear them less. They like to do this session in the environment that you feel the most secure at. The therapist uses two methods to help you with the haunting memories, they are Desensitization and Flooding.
Ø Desensitization- Is where they have you talk about your memories little bit at a time and progress from there
Ø Flooding- Is where they have you talk and remember all the horrifying memories that haunts you so they can help you feel less overwhelming and are able to control your reaction to them.
· CBT- Treatment can last up to 3-6 months
· If they have other mental health problems along with PTSD the treatment can last 1-2 years or more
Why they do not seek treatments
· To avoid thinking about the event
· That they will get better as time passes that they do not need help
· Finding a therapist, transportation, cost
· That there carrier can be destroyed
· Medical records open to public to see
· While active if their comrades find out they will not trust them to protect them
· It is sign of weakness to seek help
· Other veterans have it worse than them
· Stigma
Ø Is the feeling of being judged and being treated different from others because you have PTSD
Organization
· Soldiers Best Friend
http://Soldirsbestfriend.org
Ø They are an organization that pairs military soldiers that have PTSD with a dog from a shelter and pair them together for therapy. They go to sessions together to help with PTSD and the dogs are certified to go on to planes. They currently do the training in Arizona only ( Phoenix, Tuscan, Prescott, Sierra Vista)
· Real Warriors Real Battles Real Strength
http://www.realwarrirors.net
Ø It has multiple of sites for you to visit for you to get help
Ø 24/7 help
Ø 886-966-1020
Ø Military crisis line
Ø 1-800-273-8255
· Courage Beyond (donate)
http://couragebeyond.org
Ø They provide free service to all veterans and all branches of armed forces no matter of the discharged. Part of the largest organization Centerstone Military Service
· The Soldier Project (donate)
http://www.thesoldierproject.org
Ø They offer free unlimited counseling for as long as you need for the individual, couples, children’s. You contact them on the website and fill out the form or call them and they have you answer some questions and they will set it up for you.
Ø 877-576-5343
· Save A Warrior (donate)
http://www.savewarrior.org
Ø They have a program called “War Detox”. They help out the military, veterans, reservists, National Guard