Thursday, February 7, 2008
Support for Your PTSD
By Matthew Tull, PhD,
About.com Guide to PTSD
My Bio My Forum Add to: iGoogle My Yahoo! RSS
Seeking Out Support for Your PTSD
Thursday February 7, 2008
It has constantly been found that having social support can play
a major role in helping people overcome the negative effects of a
traumatic event (including PTSD). However, just simply having
someone available to talk to may not be enough when it comes to
support.
There are several important pieces to a supportive relationship
that may be particularly beneficial in helping someone overcome the
effects of a traumatic experience. Read on to learn more about some
of these qualities.
Sponsored Links:
Post Traumatic Stress List of Ptsd Symtpoms Diagnosis
and Treatments for Ptsd
http://help-for-ptsd.net/
Ross Center For AnxietyComprehensive Outpatient Treatment
For Anxiety Related Disorders
http://www.rosscenter.com/
VFA's FREE Survival Guide Helping veterans and servicemembers
get the support and help they need
http://www.veteransforamerica.org/
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Healing Veterans PTSD Blogsite
What not to say to returning vets...
"Time heals all wounds". If you've got returning troops coming into
your family, community or church, this is one cliché you will want to
stay away from. In fact you may want to stay away from alot of clichés.
Instead let your veteran know that you care, you don't know what
they are going through, but you do want to help.
They may have PTSD which means they might feel angry, confused,
embarrassed, depressed, anxious, drinking or worse, avoiding old
friends, family and hangouts. But you can't know that unless you stop,
take the time to ask AND listen!
Posted by Nancy Dunkin and Lisa Lindsey at 4:40 AM
Labels: angry, anxious, church, confused, depressed, drinking, family,
PTSD, troops, wounds
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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Toll - 2/3/08 - Conditions Not So Super in Iraq

Violence is rising in Iraq along with the power of the
Taliban in Afghanistan. Conditions are not as
favorable as the commander-in-chief reported last week.
Also, our returning heroes with brain injuries may be
more treatable than previously thought.
But they need to be treated.
By Dave McGill
February 03, 2008 03:25 PM EST
Yes, as "Super Tuesday" approaches, following "Super Sunday,"
conditions may not be so super in Iraq. Violence is on the increase
for both our military and civilians.
Last week, the Department of Defense released the obituaries of
12 military personnel killed in that country, ranging in age from
19 to 41. Ten of the deaths were caused by (IED's) improvised
explosive devices, including five soldiers killed on Monday when
a roadside bomb blew up their combat vehicle in an ambush that
took place in Mosul, north of Baghdad.
According to the web site www.icasualties.org, U.S. deaths
in Iraq now stand at 3,944, including one whose family is being
notified today.
The Department of Defense also released the obituary of one
29-year-old Army soldier killed in Afghanistan who may have
been shot by an Afghan guard, mistaking him for an enemy
combatant.
Total U.S. deaths in Afghanistan were 415 as of January 26,
according to the Pentagon. The New England Journal of medicine
has just released its study of soldiers that have experienced brain
injuries. According to the report, such common symptoms as sleep
disturbances, memory loss and irritability are generally the result
of post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD's), which are treatable,
as opposed to traumatic brain injuries (TBI's), for which
there are no treatments.
These conclusions are favorable for our returning war veterans
provided only that they are afforded a level of follow-up
treatment commensurate with the sacrifices that they made to
the war effort.
And, at this point, it cannot be said that our returning heroes are
receiving an adequate level of care. In too many instances,
veterans with head trauma are being medically discharged and
largely lost track of until their internal time bombs explode with
dire consequences for themselves and those around them.
As for Iraq, today's edition of the Washington Post carries a story
in which Major General Jeffrey W. Hammond, a commander in
Baghdad, describes the Iraq campaign by U.S. forces as being
three separate but related wars.
The first is against the group known as al-Qaeda in Iraq, the
second is against the domestic Sunni insurgency, and the third,
described as being the most vexing, is against Shiite extremist militias.
A fourth group, the Baathists, being those who previously belonged
to Hussein's party, are simply living in a constant state of fear of the
other groups, according to today's LA Times, as they watch their
fellow members being routinely killed and beheaded.
Meanwhile, a degree of apparent confusion seems to exist
among some of our military leaders. Certain commanders in Iraq
had been quoted as saying that the reductions in troops would pause
come summer, but, according to yesterday's LA Times, the chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday that no such decision had
been made.
The Times reported that senior Bush administration officials had
privately acknowledged the existence of tensions between the
Pentagon and our field commanders in Iraq leading up to next
month's planned recommendations to the White House and Congress.
For the civilians in Iraq and particularly those in Baghdad,
violence has risen to its highest level in months. Coordinated
suicide bombing in two popular pet markets on Friday, killed
at least 99 people and wounded 208, according to Iraqi police.
Pet markets are generally magnets for families with children.
Senior American military officials revealed on Saturday that
the suicide bombers, both of whom were women, showed signs
of Down syndrome, suggesting that the insurgents may be
having trouble recruiting men, if not any sane people, to do the job.
A witness to the carnage told the L.A. Times that security for the
area was the responsibility of a U.S.-organized brigade that
managed the checkpoints. He charged that the group allowed
the attacks to take place.
"It's an excuse for the U.S. to stay and declare that the
Iraqis are still not capable of taking care of our country,"
he said. "Each time we think the situation has gotten better,
it deteriorates further."
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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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Thursday, January 10, 2008
A PEACE WITHIN , part 2
(c) by TK Rosevear January 09, 2008
It has been my experience that nightmares are teaching dreams or your inner self and fears trying to get your attention towards clarity and insight, depending upon how you identify, define and surrender or embrace the symbolic workings of the messages of 'subconscious' thoughts, beliefs or fears.
Our bodies respond to stress emotionally, as perceived danger and/or physically, as an extreme temperature change or exertion as: our muscles contract to fortifying and protecting the body; our metabolism speeds up to provide 'fight or flight' strength or energy. This will cause increasing heart rates and blood pressure; our rate of breathing increases to provide oxygen to 'fight or flight'; our digestion shuts down diverting blood and energy to large muscles needed for fighting or running; our pupils dilate to aid vision and our hearing is heightened.
Our bodily functions urge us to urinate and move the bowels, reducing the danger of abdominal infection if injury should occur; our arteries in the arms and legs constrict, so less blood will be lost if we are injured; and, our blood clots quicker, so we'll lose less blood if we're wounded. [WoW!] (3)
Our nervous system is somewhat overlooked in the typical diagnosis and treatment of PTSD, and the nerves are definitely part of the system that conveys impulses between the mind (brain) and body, it also reflective of strength, vigor and/or courage. A nerve impulse is defined as a progressive wave of electrical and chemical activity which stimulates or inhibits bodily function; Much like the similar sounding word 'Nirvana' which is a state of mind or place characterized by freedom from or oblivion to pain, worry, and the external world influence.
Our nerves are the center of our ability to experience beyond memories and senses. They are also representative of our communication and its receptivity's ability: when it breaks down, we're jamming the channels with self-centeredness guilt, self-pity and inferiority; when nervousness is our inability to trust the process of life!
Being anxious, struggling through and/or rushing time. The 'life lesson' or common denominator amongst PTSD clientele, is associated with this intricate, complex human network of 'nerve' and how we perceive tangible things, beliefs and ideas as we move beyond rationalizing, to the potential connection to a higher consciousness or insight.
Rationalizing forces us to abide by a set of rules that becomes increasingly limiting and isolates us from our imagination, while an intuitive hones their skills, knowing the difference between theory and practice ? like we don't just 'live by the book' but trust our instincts to supply us with unique and telling insight.
The possibilities of shadow or dysfunction for this 'life lesson' in balance would be neurological disturbances, poor vision, headaches, nightmares, learning difficulties and hallucinations, as are suffering from the imbalanced behaviors of arrogance, dogma, highly logical and authoritative, yet undisciplined, low goal oriented, and afraid of success scenarios in actions and communication. (3)
Balancing the nervous system takes practice and determination, without chemical alterations, and achieving this balance rewards us with being charismatic, highly intuitive, not attached to material things and the possibilities of experiencing unusual phenomena.
When painful, traumatic, adverse and/or negative experiences befall us, we tend to only see the negative sides more than the positivity in reasoning towards the nature of our senses, the nervous system, and the brain being beneficial tools, blessings, lessons, gifts and service of these painful and traumatic experiences.
The healing journey consists of discovering and embracing these balancing sides, so the larger picture is revealed not masked, to containing the 'gift of the wound', a piece to the puzzle of the meaning and purpose of our lives. (3)
The reasoning behind writing this article is somewhat cathartic, as it also revealing to my own personal experiences from childhood, adulthood and my choices to the services of counsel for PTSD, as well as nutrition as it has played a significant role in the healing of the nervous system, so vitally important in the healing process.
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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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Wednesday, January 9, 2008
A PEACE WITHIN , part 1
by TK Rosevear
January 09, 2008 04:38 PM EST
Initially, the intentions of this article were simply to lead into a book review for one of our own here on Gather.com that I had the privilege of reading. E. Everett Mc Fall wrote a poetic journey and brief narrative about his own struggles with the 'demons' of PTSD, from his military experience in Vietnam.
As I began researching further, I have to say that if I were questioned by a psychologist today, I would most likely be diagnosed with some type of anxiety disorder, quite simply from my distressing findings. Please note that if you are currently taking any of the below mentioned medications for the diagnosis discussed or something else, it would be in your best healthy interests to discuss it with your doctor ? seriously.
PTSD defined
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined clinically in the Merck Manual (the world's most widely used medical reference) as an anxiety disorder caused by the exposure to an overwhelming traumatic event, in which the person later repeatedly reexperiences the event. These experiences are considered to threaten death or serious injury that can affect people long after the actual occurrence has been experienced; an intense fear, helplessness, or horror that can haunt a person's beliefs, thoughts and behaviors negatively.
Traumatic events may involve having been threatened with death or serious injury or witnessing violence against another person. Clinical examples include engaging in military combat, experiencing or witnessing sexual or physical assault, or being affected by a disaster, either natural or man-made. A delayed onset of PTSD symptoms may take months, years, and even decades to appear. A diagnosis of concurrent symptoms for 3 months consecutively is considered as a chronic affliction with PTSD. This manual also concludes that this disorder affects at least 8% of the people at sometime during their life with the symptoms of re-experiencing repeatedly, usually in nightmares or flashbacks. (1)
In lieu of 9/11 events, in 2001, I would venture to say those percentages have risen considerably. The Merck manual continues its definition of symptoms to PTSD, as an intense distress that often occurs when the person is 'triggered' or exposed to an event, situation, even conversation. Even with persistently avoiding things and people that may remind us of the trauma. We will attempt to avoid thoughts, feelings/emotions, and talking about the traumatic event, also trying to avoid situations or people who serve as reminders.
Avoidance may lead to amnesia and/or a numbing or deadening of emotional responsiveness, as well as the tendency to being overly sensitized to relaxation or stimulation (difficult to fall asleep/easily startled). They go on to say that symptoms of depression are also common, as is losing interest in previously enjoyed activities. Feelings of guilt, whether "survivor's guilt", 'why me' guilt, or the guilt associated with being deserving of the trauma. (1)
The most common treatment for PTSD is drug therapy, like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's), Tricylic Antidepressants, and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI's), to be accompanied by psychotherapy and counseling. (1)
Psychologists and sleep experts still debate and disagree whether dreams/nightmares reflect emotional turbulence, though they continue to insist that brain waves are activities the sleeping brain randomly choreographs into a plot. While others argue to seeing the repressed fears, desires, symbolic solutions, even ancient archetypal patterns.
Nightmares are considered like anxiety attacks while dreaming with the side effects of losing sleep, raising blood pressure and heart rate and other 'fight or flight' responses. Sleep terrors are not dreaming nightmares, it is more akin to sleep walking as these both occur in the deep stages of nondream sleep and the person usually doesn't awaken and can even be difficult to rouse. Night sweats are emotions and stresses carried to bed, quite common with sleep disorders like sleepwalking, nightmares, apnea and insomnia.
The rising pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and adrenaline levels prior to bedtime with food, spices, alcohol, television and tobacco, can literally guarantee igniting night sweats later. (2)
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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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Monday, January 7, 2008
BURY ME NEXT TO A MARINE

BURY ME NEXT TO A MARINE, WHEN MY TIME HAS COME
THEY’VE INSPIRED ME EVERY DAY. THEY’VE NEVER ASKED
FOR ANYTHING, SO A DEBT I CAN NEVER REPAY. NONE OF
THEM SERVED FOR GLORY, NONE FOR MONEY OR FAME.
BUT THEY’VE SERVED IN EVERYTIME AND PLACE, HERO'S
WITH BUT ONE NAME. NO ONE WILL OUTDO THEM, THEIR
HONOR IS NEVER OUTDONE. THEY WILL ALL GO DOWN IN
HISTORY,AS AMERICA’S FAVORITE SONS. MARINES WILL
NEVER FAIL YOU, AND THEIR GUARD WILL NEVER CEASE.
PLEASE BURY ME NEXT TO A MARINE,
HM2 ( FMF ) ROBERT L. OWENS AUGUST 31, 2007
Sunday, January 6, 2008
MS-13 Gang Desecrates Veterans Memorial, New Haven
NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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MS-13 Gang Desecrates Veterans Memorial, New Haven CT
By Donald H.
January 06, 2008 12:01 PM EST
Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) gang, which is the main importer of illegal aliens, meth, and cocaine into the United States has vandalized a veteran's memorial in New Haven, CT.
You may remember that New Haven, CT has given illegal immigrants ID cards and that ALIPAC made the national press by making fliers encouraging illegal’s to go to New Haven, CT.
It appears that MS13 has set up shop in New Haven, to import illegal aliens and service them with documents, drugs, prostitutes, etc...Where are our elected officials and those who swore to defend and PROTECT?
Many of us wonder why the Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) refuse to declare the murderous MS-13 as a hate group, since they are killing black and white Americans for racist reasons.
This is the kind of thing you can expect more of when our Mayor’s and city council members welcome illegal aliens, foster illegal immigration rights, thus permitting the drug dealing gangs to thrive uncontrolled in America.
Please watch, comment if you want to, forward the You Tube links for these video’s to all of your contacts.
MS-13 Gang Desecrates Veterans Memorial, New Haven
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1U854PyaQS0
MS 13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_UO_FgG4IE&NR=1
MS 13 Gang Doco. Epi. 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBzu3mOFOvo&NR=1
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Listen to the Archived "Veterans Forum" Talk Shows at
http://internetvoicesradio.com/
E. Everett McFall, Host
Got something to say, but don't have a platform?...
(Please, No Porn or Vulgarity)
email: getpaid365@sbcglobal.net
Your Comments are Welcome!!!
Old Man and The Marine
NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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Old Man and The Marine By Donald H.
January 05, 2008 06:44 PM EST
White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue where
he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the
Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in
and meet with President Hillary Clinton.
"The Marine replied, "Sir, Mrs. Clinton is not the President
and doesn't reside here." The old man said, "Okay," and
walked away.
The following day, the same man approached the White
House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go
in and meet with President Hillary Clinton".
The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday,
Mrs. Clinton is not the President and doesn't reside here.
"The man thanked him and again walked away..
The third day, the same man approached the White House
and spoke to the very same Marine, saying "I would like to
go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton."
The Marine, understandably agitated at this point , looked
at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you
have been here asking to speak to Mrs. Clinton.
I've told you already several times that Mrs. Clinton is not
the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?"
The old man answered, "Oh, I understand you fine, I just
love hearing your answer!" The Marine snapped to attention,
saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."
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Listen to the Archived "Veterans Forum" Talk Shows
at http://internetvoicesradio.com/
E. Everett McFall, Host
Got something to say, but don't have a platform?...
(Please, No Porn or Vulgarity)
email: getpaid365@sbcglobal.net
Comments Welcome!!!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Death Toll Gets Higher Daily

(captions):
#1- The Death Toll Gets Higher Daily, A Price TOO HIGH...
#2- "You're home now Marine, You paid the price,
They Will Wait"...and they did, patiently!
Visitors;
Please take the time to offer up this short prayer for our fallen:
Marines, Soldiers, Naval and Air Force warriors.
Remind others to do the same. Thank you.
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts that
they perform for us in our time of need.
Please bring them back home safely to their friends and loving families.
Amen."
------------------------------------------------
Listen to the Archived "Veterans Forum" Shows at
http://internetvoicesradio.com/
E. Everett McFall, Host
Got something to say, but don't have a platform?...
(Please,No Porn or Vulgarity)
email: getpaid365@sbcglobal.net
Comments Welcome!!!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
There's No Holiday From War

Ken Bode
For the holiday season, the American media suspended most of the bad news from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, we're given reports on refugees returning, Christmas at Camp Liberty and Baghdad churches crowded for the holiday. In the presidential campaign, the candidates in both parties now tailor their themes to new polls showing that immigration, health care, taxes, foreclosures, even toys from China top the public's concerns. America seems ready to give the war in Iraq a rest.
Reports on the changed security situation in Iraq may have driven the war out of the headlines and off the top of the presidential candidates' campaign agendas, but there is much to remember and think about as we turn our calendars to 2008.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
VA Begins New Suicide Prevention Program
Listen to the Archived "Veterans Forum" Shows at http://internetvoicesradio.com/ E. Everett McFall, Host
Remember: 120 Vets per Week!!!
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New Suicide Prevention Program within the VA
By Derek Meurer, The Daily Courier
Tuesday, December 25, 2007 "The biggest myth about suicide is that people should not talk about it," according to Ali Cassidy.
"People think that talking about suicide with someone will 'put the idea in their head,' and that's just not true," said Cassidy, the Mental Health Clinic Suicide Prevention Coordinator working at the Bob Stump VA Medical Center. "People who are dealing with suicidal thoughts are begging for someone to notice. We make sure there's always someone available to talk to who is knowledgeable, and who will listen."Cassidy, a former employee of the West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, is heading up the local effort to enhance suicide prevention measures for veterans as part of a nationwide cooperative effort of VA hospitals
Veterans are a special risk group for suicide," said Cassidy. "There's a number of reasons for that, but mainly due to the experience of trauma in battle, post traumatic stress disorder and their familiarity with guns. That makes it more likely if they attempt a suicide, it'll likely be fatal."
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, (1-800-273-8255), a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention hotline, now has a prompt of, "if you are a U.S. military veteran ... please press 1 now." The call will then route to Canandaigua, N.Y., where a staff of specially trained suicide counselors wait to help veterans through their time of crisis.
"It does require some special knowledge of what a veteran goes through to counsel a veteran, and they have that knowledge," said Cassidy. "Just as important, it immediately enters them into the VA Medical System, if they weren't already, and cross references their location to find the closest appropriate facilities to help them." (1-800-273-TALK)-8255
The Department of Veterans Affairs has established several new programs to combat the
threat of suicide among veterans. Cassidy estimates more than 100 life-saving emergency interventions, "where they were literally going to do immediate harm to themselves," since the beginning of the suicide prevention effort less than a year ago.
"Just last week I got a call from the suicide hotline about an Iraqi war veteran in California who was suicidal," said Cassidy. "I spoke with the young man for over an hour. He had returned from active duty and had a cascade of problems not unusual for a young man returning from war; numerous personal losses.
"With the help of the new information networking system, VA personnel were able to enter the veteran into the VA medical system and arrange for emergency care through a local community hospital.
"He was later transferred to a hospital in Phoenix, where I saw him at the end of the week," said Cassidy. "He looked at me and said, ''I was really going to kill myself.'' I thought, thank God for that hotline. It would have been so needless, such a waste if he'd taken his life. He was just a kid.
"In addition to the veteran-specific hotline and the information network, the suicide prevention program involves educating VA hospital staff and the Prescott community in how to look for the signs of suicide and what measures to take to prevent it.
"There are definite, tangible signs to look for, with suicide. It's another myth that suicide happens without warning," said Cassidy. "When trained to look for the signs, you can intervene and avoid a senseless death. Suicide is the permanent solution to a temporary problem. More people die every year by suicide than by HIV, or murder, things that are always on people's minds. People need to take notice. It's the only way we can make this change.
"The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
For more information, visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.
Contact the reporter at: dmeurer@prescottaz.com
