Regrettably, many men and women are returning home from Iraq and other areas of the Middle East with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD"). There has been much discussion about the topic of PTSD. In fact, some people do not even believe it exists. Rather, some believe it is a way for malingering soldiers to bilk government medical retirements. The truth is that while some individuals may abuse the system - like any other system - PTSD is real. It causes depression, leads to substance abuse and, in severe cases, suicide.
What causes PTSD? There is a division among experts, but most can agree on the basic fact that PTSD occurs when an individual participates in or witnesses violence that is incomprehensible. It simply traumatizes them. Most soldiers, men and women, have a certain "bravado" to maintain. After all, they are "soldiers" and "leaders" ... they are "TOUGH!" As a result, they repress their emotions because it is not "soldier-like" to be "sensitive" and emotional. As a result, their mind has to process the horrors of war without the benefit of communication.
What cures PTSD? There is a deep division among experts on this subject. Some think that it is necessary for the suffering individual to "purge" - to talk it out and get rid of the emotions. On the other hand, this particular author believes there is little, if any, benefit in such an approach. Rather, the most effective therapeutic approach is to reassure the traumatized person that they do NOT have to re-live the horror and trauma to get better. Rather, the cure is so simple it mystifies all those with PhDs and other significant psychological education and training.
The real cure: 1) Reduce situational anxiety to the fullest extent possible. Realizing that all stress inducing circumstances in a one's life cannot always be controlled, it is important to exercise full control over those stress sources that actually can be reduced; 2) Simultaneous to reducing situational anxiety, increase adaptive coping skills. Adaptive is emphasized because this is where most soldiers and others suffering from PTSD go wrong - they engage in in maladaptive coping skills, i.e. alcohol abuse, drug use etc. Some examples of adaptive coping skills are: weight lifting; bicycle riding; running; golf; chess; writing; reading etc.
The combination of reducing situational anxiety and increasing adaptive coping skills will bring PTSD under control in a brief period of time and usually without any medication. Nonetheless, it should still be done with the assistance of a health-care professional. The reason it is necessary to involve a health care professional is to ensure that the coping skills are effective; to monitor progress; and, in some very significant cases, it is important because in order to reduce situational anxiety it may be necessary or advisable for the suffering person to use anti-anxiety medications such as xanax or other benzodiazepine based medications and, perhaps, even an anti-depressant while they develop the positive coping skills to overcome the PTSD.
What causes PTSD? There is a division among experts, but most can agree on the basic fact that PTSD occurs when an individual participates in or witnesses violence that is incomprehensible. It simply traumatizes them. Most soldiers, men and women, have a certain "bravado" to maintain. After all, they are "soldiers" and "leaders" ... they are "TOUGH!" As a result, they repress their emotions because it is not "soldier-like" to be "sensitive" and emotional. As a result, their mind has to process the horrors of war without the benefit of communication.
What cures PTSD? There is a deep division among experts on this subject. Some think that it is necessary for the suffering individual to "purge" - to talk it out and get rid of the emotions. On the other hand, this particular author believes there is little, if any, benefit in such an approach. Rather, the most effective therapeutic approach is to reassure the traumatized person that they do NOT have to re-live the horror and trauma to get better. Rather, the cure is so simple it mystifies all those with PhDs and other significant psychological education and training.
The real cure: 1) Reduce situational anxiety to the fullest extent possible. Realizing that all stress inducing circumstances in a one's life cannot always be controlled, it is important to exercise full control over those stress sources that actually can be reduced; 2) Simultaneous to reducing situational anxiety, increase adaptive coping skills. Adaptive is emphasized because this is where most soldiers and others suffering from PTSD go wrong - they engage in in maladaptive coping skills, i.e. alcohol abuse, drug use etc. Some examples of adaptive coping skills are: weight lifting; bicycle riding; running; golf; chess; writing; reading etc.
The combination of reducing situational anxiety and increasing adaptive coping skills will bring PTSD under control in a brief period of time and usually without any medication. Nonetheless, it should still be done with the assistance of a health-care professional. The reason it is necessary to involve a health care professional is to ensure that the coping skills are effective; to monitor progress; and, in some very significant cases, it is important because in order to reduce situational anxiety it may be necessary or advisable for the suffering person to use anti-anxiety medications such as xanax or other benzodiazepine based medications and, perhaps, even an anti-depressant while they develop the positive coping skills to overcome the PTSD.
2 comments:
This is incredibly insightful and you should know, you suffered it and helped me and others through it with this process. You really should publish this some place where it gets attention because it could save many, many lives.
Read on, "America's Medicated Army," http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1811858-1,00.html.
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