I have witnessed what effects Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can do to an individual. I am writing about my sister and her situation.

My sister's husband was Captain William C. Mattis, who was killed in action during the Vietnam conflict. He was killed March 11, 1965, near Pleiku, Vietnam. When he was killed, he was participating in a flight as a B57 pilot in support of ground action against Viet Cong forces. With great risk to personal safety, he successfully pressed the attack and achieved accurate and effective delivery of bombs on anti-personnel weapons and hostile positions. He was awarded all kinds of bravery medals, but the key word during this paragraph are "killed in action". My sister was devastated!

She suffered from PTSD almost immediately. She gained about 100 pounds and started smoking continuously. She could not sleep and cried for months. Raydean never really ever recovered from Bill's death. She suffered from depression until the day she died. She did raise two great children with the help of our Mother, but never really was the same from then to the end of her life.

PTSD is real. Don't doubt it's effects and if suffering try to get help.

Dave

My wife and I were was watching a television show called "Amsterdam", and the show's theme was about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through time...specifically the names used for this disorder. It is a like able show about an immortal trying to find his way to die so he does not have to relive the same problems over again.

The PTSD names used were interesting and quite revealing as to how people felt about the ones suffering from this malady. Let me list and explain about the names used from the show and others that I found or knew about from the past.

The phrase Soldier's heart was used probably before and during the Civil War to describe soldiers who could not deal with the war or the memories of the war in later years. The results appear to have been exactly the same for the soldier including suicide.

Shell shocked is another name that was used during World War I which kind of reminds me of the old boxer problem of punch drunk.

Both battle and combat fatigue was used during World War II too describe combatants with PTSD.

I know in the British army, they used Lack of Moral Fiber (LOMF) to describe soldiers that refused or could not fight. This term was used especially for airmen who refused to fly combat missions.

The above are just a few of the terms; others were used such as yellow, chicken, or coward. Today we use PTSD too describe a soldier's troubles and certainly we are more compassionate than yesteryear.

Dave

This post contains the Army's suicide prevention programs ACE tips. In my healthy opinion, we should copy this and hand it out to everyone we see, especially ones who you feel might be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Just pass it on to everyone you meet!

Thanks to the Army for these ACE tips.

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Ask your buddy

• Have the courage to ask the question, but stay calm
• Ask the question directly, e.g. Are you thinking of killing yourself?

Care for your buddy

• Remove any means that could be used for self-injury
• Calmly control the situation; do not use force
• Actively listen to produce relief

Escort your buddy

• Never leave your buddy alone
• Escort to the chain of command, a Chaplain, a behavioral health

professional, or a primary care provider

Dave 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a topic that I am interested in and write about alot. Having had this in my life, it is important, I feel to spread the message as to what PTSD is and that you can get treatment for the disorder.

I am posting the following picture to illustrate what stress can do to a family and how situations can be horrible.

Dave

All people with PTSD have lived through a traumatic event that caused them to fear for their lives, see horrible things, and feel helpless. Strong emotions caused by the event create changes in the brain that may result in PTSD.

Many people who go through a traumatic event don't get PTSD. In my healthy opinion, it isn't clear why some people develop PTSD and others don't. How likely you are to get PTSD depends on many things. These include:

* How intense the trauma was

* If you lost a loved one or were hurt

* How close you were to the event

* How strong your reaction was

* How much you felt in control of events

* How much help and support you got after the event

PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not happen until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. About half (40% to 60%) of people who develop PTSD get better at some time. But about 1 out of 3 people who develop PTSD always will have some symptoms.

Dave