(Ptsd) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Close your eyes and imagine, that you are all alone, on a dark deserted island. You have no shelter, no food and you are slowly starving to death and you want so desperately to find shelter and food and someone to talk too, but you can't.

A solider who has experienced something that goes against their moral fiber in battle is never prepared for what follows. A guilt, sleeplessness and fear that they are in it alone. The inner turmoil and the daily struggle to go on with business as usual, all the while feeling like an outsider because of what they carry within.

Many give up, many leave behind all that they know because they feel they don't deserve it and many pretend that they don't have an issue because it's "easier", but in reality it isn't.

These are the men and women who have fought for our way of life and our freedom and they have paid the ultimate price. They have lost those freedoms for themselves and are trapped in despair.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) robs these men and women of their livelihood and puts them on a deserted island. We owe it to them to get them off and give them hope. Hope of a brighter tomorrow, taking it one day at a time.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder brought on by exposure of any event that results in psychological trauma. It can be brought on by different experiences in ones life, seeing a violent death, rape, etc. Nurses and doctors who experience continued trauma sometime suffer from PTSD. However, with the large number of veterans coming off a war of over 8 years, our veterans with PTSD are large in numbers.

For years soldiers that suffered with PTSD from battle would not seek help for fear of being singled out as having a mental disorder and therefore affecting their chances of promotions or being allowed to continue with their career in the military. Prior to Desert Storm, soldiers didn't have the availability for PTSD diagnosis or treatment that we have today.

Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks or nightmares, difficulty sleeping, anger or short temper. Most will last more than a month and cause impairment in functioning in areas both social or occupational.

The Obama Administration

The Obama administration have worked to see that more doctors and facilities are available to offer these soldiers the help they need and deserve.

Texas Helping Veterans with PTSD

San Antonio, Texas has many medical facilities for military personnel. The Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital and BAMC. They have also added a new facility that will house about 80% of the patient load from the Walter Reed Veterans Hospital. San Antonio, Texas has grown greatly with the influx of Veterans seeking help.

It's o.k. to ask for help, don't let PTSD take over your life, your life is worth a great deal to your family and our country.

Female Veterans Suffer from PTSD

The Veterans Administration has become aware of just how many women need help with PTSD and are working to see that they get help.

Studies show how they can help with PTSD

A recent article stated that tests are being done that show a person who suffers from severe trauma and stays awake for 12 hours after the trauma does not experience the high level of memory retention. The lack of sleep and time allowed for the brain to consume other information did not allow for it to retain the harshness of some situations. Kind of like a bad dream, but you can't remember what happened. While those that slept within the 12 hour time period retained much of what they had experienced.

While it is still in the study period; it is good to know that someone is still out there working to help our soldiers and others who suffer from this illness.

You are not alone....

We are all here for you. Sometimes talking to a stranger is easier than talking to family. If you need to talk to someone, we'll listen. If you have a close friend or family member, reach out to them. The first step is always the hardest, but how many hard steps did you walk to get here?

Don't Go it Alone

www.ptsd.va.gov (you will find links to the following)

• National Center for PTSD
• VA Mental Health
• For Veterans and the General Public
• Get Help with PTSD