PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is defined as a severe psychological disorder that is caused by exposure to any event that is extremely sensitive or traumatic. PTSD is real and if you know someone or are someone who has PTSD you know that it can be frightening.
Anyone can develop the disorder and the people who have it need support from everyone around them. My fiancee is a veteran who suffers severe PTSD. I've seen what it does to her both while she is sleeping and awake.
There are approximately 7.7 million American adults over the age of 18 who suffer from this terrible disorder. Roughly nineteen percent of Vietnam Veterans have experienced PTSD at some point after the war. People who may not think that that percentage is high; it translates to 103,000 troops having PTSD from the Vietnam War alone. Those vets live in a daily hell.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
Flash backs
Bad dreams
Frightening thoughts
Feeling numb
Suicidal thoughts
Startling easy and others
Those who suffer from PTSD may feel as if they are trapped inside their own head with no escape of the inner hell they feel. If you know someone who suffers from PTSD try and talk with them. Support is always important to help those suffering from this horrid disorder.
People who suffer from this sometimes relive the traumatic event(s) on a daily basis. Those who have their disorder somewhat controlled may not have symptoms for a couple weeks or a couple years. V.A. research has shown that PTSD can lay dormant for years before it manifests itself. Often it only takes something to startle the person before their PTSD symptoms return. A backfiring engine, tire blowout, city bus fumes or the sound of a passing helicopter overhead can cause a veteran to think they're back in the war. The sound of a woman screaming can bring a rape victim to tears.
The VA has a National Center for PTSD page online. The VA page can open your eyes on the assessment for PTSD and treatment. If you do not understand PTSD or you want to learn more you can go to: www.ptsd.va.gov. There you can find all you need to know about PTSD. If you briefly look through the website you will find a public section tab. You can learn a lot from reading through there.
The VA says at least 60% of all adults suffer at least one traumatic event in their life time. Most people who experience traumatic events recover fine but there is a small significant amount who go on to suffer serious symptoms from PTSD.
My experience of living with someone who suffers from war trauma has sometimes been frightening. My fiancee suffers horrid war dreams and has harmed herself in her sleep and actually picked me up and thrown me across a room thinking that there was bombing going on outside of our apartment. She always yells, growls and "runs" in her sleep. Her dreams have been so bad that she attempted to kill herself in her sleep and needed dental care for trauma to her teeth and gums.
I suffer from PTSD due to a car accident I was in several years ago. Now I suffer anxiety when someone other than myself is driving. When I am not in control of the car I constantly nag the other person about their driving. Sitting in the passenger seat while someone else is driving and they go around a highway entrance or exit ramp curve too fast freaks me out. I have to close my eyes and grip the seat belt and door handle to feel safer.
Roughly one third of rape victims suffer from PTSD. Women who are raped are 6.2 times more likely to develop PTSD than a person who was not a victim of the crime. There is approximately 96.3 million adult women in the United States. If there are 13% of adult women raped and 31% of those women had PTSD that means 3.8 million women have rape-related PTSD.
Finding a hobby is always a good thing to do when it comes to dealing with PTSD. For example, my fiancee paints. She is a wonderful artist. Her PTSD dreams come to life on the canvas. To some it's an eye opener and to others its confusing. She uses art as therapy. Finding a hobby might just save the life of a person overwhelmed by their PTSD.
Suicide is a serious risk with PTSD. Listen and look for signs that may save a life. One person saved is someone who could change the world. Everyone matters and make sure that they know that. Just telling someone that they are important or sitting down and having a cup of coffee may save their life.
Research at the National Center for PTSD
There are many ongoing studies at the VA's National Center for PTSD. Find out about what is being studied and how at on our Research Initiatives page in the About Us section.
We will also be listing some specific ongoing studies on this page. For example, below is a study from our Pacific Islands Division that is being done online.
Study 1 Name: Survey of Experiences of Returning Veterans (SERV)
Description: This is a VA-funded project based at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven, CT. The target sample is 1200 separated OEF/OIF Veterans from all 50 states, and it involves a telephone interview every 3 months for one year. Veterans are compensated up to $250 for their time. All calls are confidential.
Principal Investigator: Rani Desai, PhD
Contact for further information: Elizabeth.dombrowski@va.gov, (203) 932-5711 ext 3730
Study Website: http://www.mirecc.va.gov/...
Study data collection ends: 10/1/2014
Study 2 Name: Telemental Health and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Rural Combat Veterans with PTSD
Description: This DOD-funded study is based at the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System in Honolulu, HI. The study team is looking for male Veterans, Reserve and National Guard service members on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island who have experienced combat-related PTSD. The purpose of the study is to test the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) when used through video teleconferencing. CPT is a proven cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on thoughts and feelings. In this study, there are twelve, 90-minute group therapy sessions occurring twice a week for six weeks. Study participants can be compensated up to $430 for their expenses.
Principal Investigator: Leslie Morland, PsyD, (808) 566-1934
Contact for further information: Jennifer Schneider, PhD, (808) 538-2533
Study Website: www.pathwaystochangehawaii.com*
Study data collection ends: December 31, 2012
Study 3 Name: Telemental Health and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Female Veterans with Military-related PTSD
Description: This DOD-funded study is based at the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System in Honolulu, HI. The study team is looking for female Veterans, Reserve and National Guard service members on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island who have experienced trauma during their military service which has resulted in PTSD. The purpose of the study is to test the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) when used through video teleconferencing. CPT is a proven cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on thoughts and feelings. In this study, there are twelve, 75-minute individual therapy sessions occurring once a week for twelve weeks or twice a week for six weeks. Study participants can be compensated up to $430 for their expenses.
Principal Investigator: Leslie Morland, PsyD, (808) 566-1934
Contact for further information: Tara Buckley, MSW, (808) 954-6388
Study Website: www.pathwaystochangehawaii.com*
Study data collection ends: March 31, 2013