Information for Vietnam Veterans Many veterans around the world are suffering today from the after effects of their military service. They are sufferers of a stress reaction called: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Not only does the veteran suffer, but responses are shared by the wife, families and close friends of the veteran. Click HERE to view characteristics of shared responses. The professional secular community has generally pronounced PTSD as an incredible "misfortune" that veterans will be plagued with for the rest of their lives. Many have found this to be true, many have not. Delayed War Stress or Post Traumatic Stress is caused by traumatic events that are outside the range of usual human experiences (such as bereavement, chronic illness, business losses, marital conflict). The essential feature of PTSD is the development of characteristic symptoms that follow psychologically distressing events. The incident that caused this disorder would be distressing to almost anyone, and is usually experienced with intense fear, terror, and helplessness. The most common traumata involve either a serious threat to life, threat of harm to family members, sudden destruction of one's home or community, or seeing other people killed and/or maimed as a result of an accident or physical violence. Many refer to the event as Critical Incident Stress (CIS) . Symptoms of PTSD are often intensified when the person is exposed to situations that resemble or symbolize the original trauma; often causing them to react with a survival mentality and mode of response. PTSD occurs primarily because the issues of CIS do not get identified and resolved. The PTSD victim persistently reexperiences the distressing event(s). An event causing PTSD may be experienced alone (such as rape) or in the company of groups of people (military combat, airplane crashes, natural disasters, vehicle crashes). The disorder appears to be evidently more severe and longer lasting when the event is caused by human means and design (bombings, shootings, combat, etc,). Many PTSD victims suffer with denial that the CIS event affected them in any way. Helping the PTSD sufferer relate to the experience(s) by "talking it out" is the first step to healing.

A few of these delayed stress responses may sound familiar to you and those who are closest to you. But you and they may even deny these reactions when they appear. There are other telling clues which indicate that you may be suffering from PTSD. Here are some of the more common indicators and how they can be expressed in our daily life:

The spouse and families of veterans can share PTSD responses. These responses add to the tension caused already by PTSD in the veteran. Click HERE to view characteristics in Vet's wife or partner, families, and close friends. Some of these everyday symptoms of PTSD may hit pretty close to home. They did with me, and I realised that I was a PTSD sufferer. In fact, they may have just tripped your wire, as they did mine. If so, leave this site and come back to it when you are ready to continue. You may feel pressured or that your feelings are writhing inside of you. The National Centre for War-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ( NCPTSD ) produced a booklet for the information of veterans and their families entitled: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and War-Related Stress Locked Bag 1, West Heidelberg VIC 3081 Tel: (03) 9496 2922 Fax: (03) 9496 2830 Email: ncptsd@austin.unimelb.edu.au Web: www.ncptsd.unimelb.edu.au Current instrumentality for PTSD: Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health Level 1, 161 Bany Street , Carlton Victoria 3053 Tel: +61 3 9035 5599 Email: mariamh@unimelbb.edu.au Phoenix Australia Frontpiece: Ivor Hele Private John White 1941 Crayon with Charcoal, 56 x 37.8 cm, AWM.28483 The National Centre former) provided the following information on Treatment and Recovery. What is PTSD? Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a response to experience of overwhelming traumatic events. It is a serious condition that sometimes affects veterans with combat or other military experiences e.g., peacekeeping. It can affect veterans of any age, culture, or gender. PTSD comprises three groups of symptoms: 1. re-experiencing of trauma, which can take the form of repetitive thoughts, memories and dreams. 2. avoidance of reminders, withdrawal from social interaction, and difficulty responding emotionally to others; and 3. heightened arousal, with reduced sleep, increased jumpiness and anger. PTSD is often associated with other problems such as anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse. When to Seek Treatment Not all veterans who develop stress reactions following their , military experiences will require treatment. In time, most recover with the help of family and friends. For some, however, difficulties may persist for many years. This may be because the event was especially severe, or because there were other serious life problems before or after the trauma. In some cases, symptoms may not appear for several years. Veterans who continue to have stress-related problems may benefit from some professional help. In such cases, it is important that treatment be obtained at the earliest opportunity. Help should be sought where the veteran: • experiences problems which are severe . • is constantly on edge or irritable. • is unable to respond emotionally to others or becomes unusually busy to avoid issues. • increasingly uses alcohol or other drugs. • has a strong need to share experiences, but no-one is available to listen. What Does Treatment Involve? Many treatments are available, but most include some of the following components: Education: about the nature of PTSD and traumatic stress. This helps to reassure the veteran that their symptoms are understood and that they can be helped. This component would include a discussion of what may be expected in treatment and the steps involved in recovery. Stress Management: to assist the veteran in managing the distress that can be so prominent in post-trauma reactions. These strategies may include relaxation techniques, controlled breathing, and strategies to deal with the troublesome memories. The veteran may be encouraged also to resume some kind of normal routine in order to provide structure and security. In this way, the veteran may begin to feel able to cope again with the demands of everyday life. Alcohol Rehabilitation: attaining and maintaining sobriety is an important part of recovery. Specialist assistance in this area is available if required. Dealing With The Memories : to enable the veteran to confront their unpleasant military experiences. This work can be difficult and distressing, but it is important in dealing with the intrusive memories and nightmares. It requires the veteran to work cautiously through their experiences and to reflect on the meaning of the events. Thus, although veterans cannot change or forget what occurred, they may be able to view it, themselves, and the world differently. The goal is to be capable of remembering what happened without being overwhelmed by distress. When this occurs, the symptoms of PTSD can be expected to reduce in intensity. Drug Treatment: several medications have the potential to alleviate symptoms of PTSD. No single medication, however, stands out in the treatment of PTSD. Rather, a range of medications may be used depending on the specific problems of each person. Long term medication (up to a few years) may be required in some cases. It is important that medication be managed by a medical practitioner who has a thorough knowledge of PTSD and its pharmacological treatments. Treatment may involve other components also. If you decide to seek treatment, you may wish to talk to your doctor or therapist about what it will involve. Finally, contact your local Open Arms and Families Counselling office - they are an excellent source of advice about treatment services and can provide professional counselling and referral. For information of the location of your nearest Open Arms and Families Counselling Office CLICK HERE . What Can You Do If You Are Suffering With PTSD? • acknowledge the symptoms of PTSD which may be affecting you. • recognise that PTSD can be difficult to deal with and that recovery does not occur without effort. It is not simply a matter of snapping out of it. • review your lifestyle for appropriate adjustments - e.g., balance the daily stresses of your life with pleasurable and relaxing activities. • take up stress reduction methods, such as exercise and relaxation, and pay attention to your physical health, especially sleep and diet. • recognise and try to cut down, those things which do not work, particularly the overuse of alcohol, caffeine and prescription medications. • seek appropriately qualified professional help. The information on Treatment and recovery in this document was was obtained from brochure "No5" in a series of National Centre Brochures. Brochure supplied by VVCS (former name) - now ‘Open Arms and Families Counselling Office’ - used with permission. To find out more about PTSD or the National Centre contact: Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health Level 1, 161 Bany Street , Carlton Victoria 3053 Tel: +61 3 9035 5599 Email: mariamh@unimelbb.edu.au Phoenix Australia go to top of page