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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event. Often, people with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to. PTSD, once referred to as shell shock or battle fatigue, was first brought to public attention by war veterans, but it can result from any number of traumatic incidents. These include kidnapping, serious accidents such as car or train wrecks, natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, violent attacks such as a mugging, rape, or torture, or being held captive. The event that triggers it may be something that threatened the person's life or the life of someone close to him or her. Or it could be something witnessed, such as mass destruction after a plane crash or combat. Possible Cause of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder


Whatever the source of the problem, some people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections during the day. They may also experience sleep problems, depression, feeling detached or numb, or being easily startled. They may lose interest in things they used to enjoy and have trouble feeling affectionate. They may feel irritable, more aggressive than before, or even violent. Seeing things that remind them of the incident may be very distressing, which could lead them to avoid certain places or situations that bring back those memories. Anniversaries of the event are often very difficult. 

PTSD can occur at any age, including childhood. The disorder can be accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or anxiety. Symptoms may be mild or severe—people may become easily irritated or have violent outbursts. In severe cases they may have trouble working or socializing. In general, the symptoms seem to be worse if the event that triggered them was initiated by a person—such as a rape, as opposed to a flood. 

Ordinary events can serve as reminders of the trauma and trigger flashbacks or intrusive images. A flashback may make the person lose touch with reality and reenact the event for a period of seconds or hours or, very rarely, days. A person having a flashback, which can come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, usually believes that the traumatic event is happening all over again. Not every traumatized person gets full-blown PTSD, or experiences PTSD at all. PTSD is diagnosed only if the symptoms last more than a month. In those who do have PTSD, symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the trauma, and the course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, others have symptoms that last much longer. In some cases, the condition may be chronic. Occasionally, the illness doesn't show up until years after the traumatic event. 

Symptom logy of PTSD: 

  • Recurrent intrusive distressing recollections 
  • Recurrent distressing dreams of events
  • Hallucinations and dissociate flashbacks
  • Inability to recall aspects of the trauma
  • Diminished interest in significant activities
  • Inability to show affection to others 
  • Feeling of detachment or estrangement 
  • Sense of bleakness with regard to the future 
  • Difficulty getting to and staying asleep 
  • Intense psychological distress
  • Irritability or outbursts of anger
  • Inability to concentrate fully
  • Exaggerated startle response
  • A multitude of physical problems
  • Feelings related to guilt
  • Substance abuse and addiction
  • Psychic numbing
  • Major Depression 

The following list contains some of the symptoms which may be present when assessing people thought to have post traumatic stress disorder. When we are talking about this syndrome, we are not generally referring to people who have very recently had an extreme event, but those who, some weeks after, are still not able to advance recovery and remain in a similar psycho logic state as immediately after the event. Delayed post traumatic stress, symptoms may emerge years later. 

Related PTSD Links:

VA National Center for PTSD

Military PTSD Reference Manual

Medications for Combat PTSD

PTSD Web Resources

 

 

 

Agent Orange

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam veterans now have a new national toll-free help line to answer their questions about Agent  Orange exposure, health care and benefits.

The new help line -- 1-800-749-8387 -- is part of the continuing efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reach America's 2.3 million Vietnam veterans.

Callers can speak directly to VA representatives Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Central Standard Time, or access a 24-hour automated system. They can leave voice mail messages to have information sent to them or listen to recordings about exposure to Agent Orange, VA benefits, health care and disability compensation.

``As scientific studies expand our understanding of the possible long-term health effects of Agent Orange spraying in Vietnam, VA is increasing its programs for affected veterans,'' said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi, himself a Vietnam veteran. ``VA is committed to reaching out to these veterans and their families whenever and wherever possible to ensure they receive the health care and other benefits they deserve.''

VA expects considerable interest in the help line because of a new policy that allows Vietnam veterans with adult-onset (Type II) diabetes to receive disability compensation for ongoing medical problems linked to Agent Orange or other herbicides during the war. VA now recognizes 10 medical conditions as being associated with Agent Orange.

Agent Orange was a herbicide used to unmask enemy hiding places and destroy foliage during the war. It has been linked to a variety of health problems, ranging from rare conditions and certain birth defects in veterans' offspring to diseases that are somewhat common in middle age, such as prostate cancer and adult-onset diabetes.

A regulation to provide monthly compensation for Vietnam veterans with adult-onset diabetes is expected later this year. VA estimates that approximately 200,000 Vietnam veterans will receive service-connection for their diabetes within the first five years under the new policy. About 36,000 veterans from all periods of service are already recognized as ``service connected'' for diabetes.

As part of its outreach, VA is expanding its Agent Orange Review newsletter mailings to over 600,000 identified, in-country Vietnam veterans. A special issue of the newsletter has been prepared which summarizes VA benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and the procedures to obtain benefits.

The newsletter, along with the help line, builds upon longstanding VA outreach to let Vietnam veterans know of changes to their benefits. Over the last 18 years, VA has provided periodic newsletters to over 300,000 Vietnam veterans who have received free Agent Orange-related physical examinations.

The help line is located at the St. Louis VA Regional Office, which has a similar toll-free help line for Gulf War veterans. The two help lines will share the same telephone number, with callers selecting the service they wish.

For general information on VA benefits and programs, visit VA's website at http://www.va.gov . VA has developed a specific Agent Orange Web Page in conjunction with the help line. It can be accessed at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/herbicide . 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Agent Orange Links

Veterans Administration (Agent Orange)

Veterans Administration (Benefits)