Dealing With the Effects of Post Traumatic Stress: Have You Considered Virtual Reality Therapy to Treat PTS?

Chris Meek — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 09:58:53 -0500

More than 3 million Americans have served around 5.4 million deployments since the horrendous events that took place on 9/11, resulting in a considerable number of young veterans struggling with a plethora of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress (PTS) and depression.

For those veterans that are living with the effects of PTS, navigating life after service can present many obstacles and challenges, especially when greater than half of veterans with PTS never receive treatment. Says Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo, PhD, director of Medical Virtual Reality at the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California, “You’re always looking for the next shoe to drop. That might have been a survival skill in combat, but it doesn’t work so well in civilian life.”

In an effort to combat the high national average of 20 U.S. military veteran suicides that occur each day and to offer an additional solution to treating PTS, the national non-profit organization SoldierStrong maintains a partnership with the Veterans Administration to offer StrongMind. StrongMind is a revolutionary virtual reality therapy program that maximizes the efficiency of PTS treatment while appealing to young veterans. Due in part to the ever growing popularity of gaming, the use of virtual reality therapy as a way to treat PTS remains appealing to young veterans who may not be inclined to participate in traditional therapy practices.

Exposure therapy, the practice of recalling a troubling memory while talking through the nuances of that memory with a therapist, is a proven effective method in treating PTS. However, veterans dealing with PTS often find it difficult to summon specific memories of their time in service. Virtual reality therapy makes the process of recalling such memories easier for veterans.

The technology in the StrongMind virtual reality system utilizes an array of specific “worlds.” These fourteen different “worlds” offer a wide range of combat scenarios, such as a crowded Iraqi marketplace. Therapists can select a specific world and customize it, recreating the scene of the troubling memory in the virtual reality headset, thus placing the veteran squarely back within the midst of that memory.

The protocol may come across as simple in writing, but as Dr. Rizzo notes, exposure therapy can be “hard medicine for a hard problem.” However, if done in a safe and supportive environment, in which veterans feel comfortable, it can help individuals confront and deal with their emotions surrounding a traumatic memory in a healthy and effective manner.

The StrongMind program remains so effective because it affords therapists the control to customize the world in the headset so precisely, that sounds, smells and the time of day mirror those of the exact memory. Experiencing troubling memories repeatedly works to reduce the brain’s response to them, so that veterans can begin to have greater control of their memories instead of their memories continuing to have a large stranglehold on them.

“It gets them to talk about things they’ve never talked to anyone about before,” said Dr. Rizzo, “Those memories don’t have the same intense, painful emotional power that they did before. Patients start to feel empowered, to feel that they got it out, and that they can talk about it.”

The StrongMind initiative has donated 12 virtual reality headsets to VA Hospitals across the country since September.

To learn more about SoldierStrong’s StrongMind program, please visit us on the web at https://www.soldierstrong.org/strongmind/

Virtual Reality Therapy: Post-Traumatic Stress Treatment for Veterans | StrongMind

StrongMind uses virtual reality therapy to help veterans recover from PTS. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2020 10:26 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 10:26:50 -0500

I relive that every night.
The last thing I need to do is get in a VR system to relive it consciously.

I know these people mean well, and wish them luck in helping others that might benefit from this kind of thing.
But hard pass from me.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 17 at 2020 3:17 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 15:17:37 -0500

They don't as far as I know have a program for what caused my PTSD.

Response by 1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2020 4:50 PM

1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 16:50:03 -0500

Chris Meek virtual reality is a great augmentation for service members who are experiencing difficulties when going through Prolonged Exposure Therapy. Emory Healthcare's Veterans Program uses such techniques when a patient is having issues during therapy or when the situation has to be specific. That being said, Emory Veteran's Program has more to offer than just Prolonged Exposure Therapy, check out our website for more info: http://emoryhealthcare.org/veterans-program/

veterans-program

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Jan 17 at 2020 6:48 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 18:48:17 -0500

Unfortunately, we have just lost a young member to suicide

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made Jan 18 at 2020 10:51 AM

Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 10:51:22 -0500

I have dabbled in this arena about five years ago. I found that many people did not find this type of exposure therapy beneficial to their ptsd. Many found that it exacerbated it. I would caution. I would have wished that it would have progressed to healing and would send each patient for pre-evaluation, guidance with psychiatrist. The Outcomes can be both positive and negative. I error on the side of safety cause PTSD is not a game.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jan 18 at 2020 1:43 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 13:43:47 -0500

Chris Meek perhaps for the young troops who grew up with technology... For me personally, I’ll pass.

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Jan 18 at 2020 4:24 PM

SSgt Richard Kensinger — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 16:24:28 -0500

This tool can be useful. So can psychotherapy, esp. group since group therapy recapitulates the psychosocial unit, the squad. With vets i have them take me to the combat zone and they know I will not abandon them. This is a paradigm that is a mixture of "exposure-response prevention" combined w/ revisiting, reliving. and revising.
Rich

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2020 2:48 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 02:48:47 -0500

I’ll be a hard ‘no’. While I’m sure the good idea fairy means well by adding this tool to the box, I wonder if the mechanic would apply it to all PTSD-causing events.

For example, the OP states, “ These fourteen different “worlds” offer a wide range of combat scenarios, such as a crowded Iraqi marketplace. Therapists can select a specific world and customize it, recreating the scene of the troubling memory in the virtual reality headset, thus placing the veteran squarely back within the midst of that memory.” Ok, right on.

In the above paragraph, change the phrase ‘combat scenarios’, and instead use ‘rape’. Would survivors of military sexual trauma really find it helpful to be placed squarely back within the midst a wide range of different specific, customized recreated raped scenarios? Again, I vote ‘no’.

Response by SSG Alfred Woods made Jan 20 at 2020 7:05 AM

SSG Alfred Woods — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 07:05:10 -0500

I'll make this response short....
Someone dealing with PTSD should seek counseling to understand what they are really going through and or dealing with. One very important and helpful clue in treatment, is that the veteran trust his\her counselor, because with the understanding of ones PTSD being present, it also manifest and with the different techniques in use to assist the veteran, PTSD will adjust to it and suppress itself, as though parts of the identified illness will seek cover and grow in silence. Years later, it will present itself as something different, which counselors, may not relate it to the initial screening. Most PTSD signs and symptoms are not superficial or present. It takes time and even the veteran, who seeks help, is not aware of the different manifestations his\her illness can and will take. I can only speak from my experience and "YES," counseling does help, but when you're out in the world and start feeling the least bit of stress or ill feelings, this is when one should remember to exercise his\her breathing. PTSD, is Mental, Physical and emotional, which also functions off what the person may have learned over his\her years of service and in civilian life. PTSD lives and is often silent, which is why its critical for one to continue treatment and be honest with his\her counselor.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2020 9:24 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 21:24:16 -0500

And lastly...or firstly, consistent Prayer can work to relieve anguish

Response by SFC Tom Crenshaw made Jan 26 at 2020 2:17 PM

SFC Tom Crenshaw — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 14:17:11 -0500

Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the rightious is taken away from a evil time to come.
2: He shall enter into peace: they shall rest upon their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
My cure. Realizing I don't know their future and God does. He saves them when he can.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2020 7:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 19:12:15 -0500

I would consider it. Seems like a good approach.

Response by SGT Barbara Nebert made Jan 29 at 2020 10:54 PM

SGT Barbara Nebert — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 22:54:26 -0500

Here are a couple of veteran's walking across America bringing awareness to the issues facing veteran's:
https://www.facebook.com/buddywatchwalk/ John Ring & Jimmy Matthews

Buddy Watch Walk - Pier to Pier

Buddy Watch Walk - Pier to Pier, Richmond Hill, Georgia. 9,560 likes · 4,112 talking about this. John Ring and Jimmy Mathews are walking from Tybee Island to Santa Monica to raise awareness to...

Response by SPC Allyn Luce made Feb 9 at 2020 2:17 AM

SPC Allyn Luce — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 02:17:00 -0500

I think it will be a really help, I relive my time in and it can be very rough. But I have learned to ground and keep my self centered. IF I had to face it again, I would rather have it in a controlled environment. But I want to see protocols and treatment plans way before I can subject myself to it all again.

Response by SPC John Estabrook made Feb 11 at 2020 8:55 AM

SPC John Estabrook — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 08:55:53 -0500

It seems like this method could trigger some people and activate a fear response. I think using a method in which the person stays within their level of tolerane would work pretty good. One such method is the Flash Technique which is associated with EMDR therapy. You don’t really even need to think about the event while it is being addressed. I just went to a training on it and plan to try it out.

Response by PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM made Feb 27 at 2020 11:33 AM

PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 11:33:33 -0500

I have a few points to make and a question. 1 anyone who has studied STRESS knows that stress is cumulative. It is rare albeit not uncommon that one incident causes PTSD. It may be one straw that breaks the camels back but there were a lot of bundles placed there before it finally broke. Will you treat ALL the causes or just the final? How can you track down all the causes and develop programs to cover each "shock" to the system that added to the cause? If a person served in multiple duty stations that may be a daunting task if at all possible. Selective memories may not allow the Service Member to recall certain memories to be able to help in his/her own treatment to develop said programs, and then you will have a land mine waiting to go off when you thought you had covered everything.

Now you state that 3 million Americans since 9/11... is there a reason you completely left out those of us still suffering from Vietnam, that the Military and the VA has almost completely forgotten about? My Shrinks at my work can see the signs of my PTS, but the VA will not acknowledge it because I do not meet their "criteria" I have not been caught on the roof with an M-1 picking off the neighbors (to coin George Carlin).
Anyway Interesting read but I see major flaws in the concept working as a complete package for all.

Response by SN Terry Poynter made Mar 16 at 2020 4:18 PM

SN Terry Poynter — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 16:18:27 -0400

I play online tank battles in a game called World of Tanks to deal with my PTSD. not a first-person shooter game but this works for me. I stress. it works for ME.

Response by SP6 Peter Kreutzfeldt made Mar 24 at 2020 12:25 PM

SP6 Peter Kreutzfeldt — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:25:44 -0400

I spend years with demonds with the VA and without. My present wife was the best help I could have ask for. I had 4 of them. In the 30 year involvement with the VA on PTSD, all I can say is do not take the meds they give you. But find somebody to work with you on anger management. I'm referring to VN Vets.

Response by Cpl Eric Day made Apr 12 at 2020 1:56 PM

Cpl Eric Day — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 13:56:39 -0400

how about medical weed

Response by Maj Scott Kiger, M.A.S. made Apr 13 at 2020 3:03 PM

Maj Scott Kiger, M.A.S. — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 15:03:43 -0400

I haven't tried it but will look next time able at VA

Response by SFC Michael D. made Apr 13 at 2020 5:55 PM

SFC Michael D. — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:55:08 -0400

I just bought a VR system and wow, it's like being in a different world. It has taken away 80 percent of my depression just because of how fun it is and distracting me from PTSD.

Response by PO3 Julie Whipple made May 1 at 2020 7:58 AM

PO3 Julie Whipple — Fri, 01 May 2020 07:58:33 -0400

I would if my inner ear wasn't so messed up. Tried VR on my own and makes me dizzy with bad vertigo.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Mar 2 at 2021 6:49 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 06:49:16 -0500

I had a friend give me a PlayStation video game of Vietnam he said it helps him with his ptsd, so I tried playing the game I lost it I just started feeling out of control thoughts of what I went through in Vietnam drove me to the point I stopped playing removed the cd and broke it in a million peace’s after that it took me a long time to get over it, note my friend was not happy with me I offered to buy him another cd he said no it’s ok, we have not talked after that, my point it does not work for everyone, buyers beware.