Are there degrees of PTSD?

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 22:00:45 -0500

I ask this question because I have seen how it effects one soldier and then the way it effects another. One can't be around anyone and is always on the edge and the other has a good job and has a side business, but was also discharged with PTSD. I use my father as an example of someone who never came all the way home and can't be around people. I mean no offense to anyone.

Response by Sgt Mike Williams made Feb 25 at 2016 10:02 PM

Sgt Mike Williams — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 22:02:14 -0500

Great question. Definitely a topic worth exploring.

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made Feb 25 at 2016 10:07 PM

SGT Jonathon Caldwell — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 22:07:56 -0500

Yes. That is also how the VA rates PTSD is on the severity and how it affects your everyday life.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Feb 25 at 2016 10:20 PM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 22:20:36 -0500

Yes, you can have PTSD or symptoms of and not be classified as this for VA purposes and still get treatment. I have had symptoms, had treatment by the VA, recovery. Nothing is on my VA rating, disability or compensation for it.
My advice is to seek counseling and if it doesn't help much try someone else and a different way of mitigation. It would be great for someone in the clinical side to explain the available therapies

Response by SSgt Robert Jorgensen made Feb 25 at 2016 11:12 PM

SSgt Robert Jorgensen — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:12:34 -0500

Yes, unfortunately it effects each person to different levels. No one specific standard.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Feb 25 at 2016 11:14 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:14:26 -0500

I think it only makes sense that there are varying degrees of PTS. Not only do SM's go through different combat experiences, they also process it in a much different way. Would make sense that is the same reason that there isn't a PTS 'cure all' treatment.

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made Feb 26 at 2016 7:38 AM

Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 07:38:54 -0500

Yes, they currently are using four stages of ptsd albeit there are additional degrees but the va is only using 4 at this time.

Response by PFC David Ryba made Feb 26 at 2016 7:52 AM

PFC David Ryba — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 07:52:09 -0500

I think so. I've been living with PTSD since I left the military in 1970 without knowing about it. It took a long time, but by 2004 I got to be a emotional train wreck. I finally went to the VA and got diagnosed with PTSD and sever depression. I started treatment. Along the way I went through many degrees or phases. It seems to me that PTSD can be best described as a really bad memory that won't go away. These memories are often called flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. Left untreated these memories can interfere with one's ability to function and make rational decisions. It never goes away completely. However with talk therapy and the right medication you can control it. Since the brain is an organ, like the heart or liver, each person may need a different medication to help control the symptoms. I took me three tries with the meds. The meds seem to help while I'm awake, but controlling thoughts while you're asleep (nightmares) is another issue. That's my experience. If you have PTSD, how it effects you might be another story.

Response by TSgt Dawn Premock made Feb 26 at 2016 9:16 AM

TSgt Dawn Premock — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 09:16:12 -0500

The VA uses your GAF score to asses how the PTSD is affecting you.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3036670/

Guidelines for rating Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)

Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) is a scoring system for the severity of illness in psychiatry. It is used clinically in many countries, as well as in research, but studies have shown several problems with GAF, for example concerning its validity ...

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Feb 26 at 2016 10:56 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 10:56:33 -0500

As many as there are people dealing with it.

For a better understanding of Combat PTSD, which is like no other kind, I recommend reading "Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior" by C Hoge, COL USA(MC) Ret...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 12:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 12:28:40 -0500

As a clinical psychologist and a behavioral health officer I can honestly say that a PTSD diagnosis can vary in intensity. Another poster pointed out that the severity of the stress reaction has multiple component parts (i.e, the activating event, the meaning making of why the event occurred, belief structures, and community response). What makes a PTSD diagnosis is whether it impairs the primary areas of functioning (social, occupational, and interpersonal). There are also subtypes of PTSD called delayed expression and dissociative type.
In my experience PTSD is deeply cognitive and emotional which adds another level in that there are some that have been diagnosed and rely on thoughts and problem solving to manage the symptoms. On the other hand some who live with this diagnosis have learned to shut out or off all emotional responses, consequently making them emotionally volatile when triggered.
Treatments vary in intensity as well. There are four primary treatments modalities Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). PE is the most intense treatment and extremely challenging for an emotionally constricted and cognitively rigid individual. CPT involves a good amount of work outside the therapy office and focuses on belief structures and meaning making. EMDR involved bilateral eye movements which allows the brain to reprocess the traumatic memory so the individual can heal and let the event be a memory. EMDR can be very effective for MST's and multiple traumas. ACT, said as a word, is a values driven cognitive behavioral therapy that primarily focuses on moving towards post traumatic growth. All modalities are evidenced based and effective for resolving a diagnosis of PTSD. The challenge lies with combating the driving force of the diagnosis, AVOIDANCE. The brain is a wonderful problem solver and when dealing with pain and self preservation we avoid things that are unpleasant. Consequently, the power of the traumatic event overloads the fear response and creates a state of hyper alertness so the system and the individual are ready to fight or run from any real or perceived threat. The avoidance works in the short term and then stops working after several year (7-10yrs in my experience). The individual is now living with PTSD and has avoided people, places, memories, emotions, and new experiences so much so that their functioning becomes impaired.
Great question and I am happy to see some many responses that point towards treatment and getting help, it works (IMHO) to reduce the stigma of getting help and opens the door to those who may otherwise suffer unnecessarily.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2016 11:28 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 11:28:44 -0500

I feel like there are varying degrees of PTSD. I also think that PTSD is also misdiagnosed quite often. In some cases when people have negative COSR reactions, medical professionals are all to quick to jump to PTSD instead of exploring alternate less severe possibilities first

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2016 5:27 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 17:27:38 -0500

The question was are there different degrees of PTSD... not sure about that.. but will tell you there are different severity levels and when I say that the level might slide on an individual to mild to extremely severe. It would all depend on the surroundings, circumstance, and even the time of day or number of people (too many variables).
Personally, I have "good" days,,, and then "not so good days" and personal experience would say this is from activity / surroundings / events, etc.
Combine any of the above with alcohol, will for sure change the equation.
So for me, what I find that works, is no drinking, get into a routine, get out and about even for short walks, it helps.
Chief

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 28 at 2016 11:24 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 23:24:04 -0500

Yes there are.... like every other mental health issue.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2016 10:43 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 10:43:09 -0400

no offense i came home 2009 dxed with ptsd, im 50%, because i'm still functionable and can work, my work place is wide open, and is a safe place for me, i do get easily startled, but recover, however the things i used to be able to do i cant ie going to concerts max people in small area, being in small rooms the anxiety kicks in, large crowds give me anxiety, i now prefer to be alone than with others, i take my meds and go to counselling, thats all i can do, i wish i was the person i was prior to 2009, i miss that person.

Response by SPC James Dollins made Mar 24 at 2016 11:04 AM

SPC James Dollins — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 11:04:40 -0400

I personally believe there are different degrees of PTSD. All people are affected differently. I know guys that CANNOT be in crowds. I know people who totally flip out if their in crowds. Some that just get quiet. There are all sorts of degrees of PTSD. I myself, can't do crowds. I have a VERY tough time during 4th of July. It's not all the fireworks like you would think. It's the frequency (sound/pitch) of certain fireworks. It's made me change the way I act in everyday life. Basically, it HAD taken over my life. I have developed habits that help me cope w/ things that used to drive me crazy! Thanks to meds, counseling, & developing some of my coping mechanisms it has definitely helped A LOT!