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Post Traumatic Stress is the body’s natural response to critical life incidents, affecting each of us to varying degrees and in different ways physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. Within the VA, PTS is generally ranked by severity somewhere between one and ten. Anyone who has survived a fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, shipwreck, rape, or any sort of life-threatening incident never forgets what happened. PTS is our reaction to traumatic or unpleasant incidents or chapters of our lives. Symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, loss of sleep, irritability, short temperedness, loss of concentration, hostility, weight gain, loss of self-worth, anxiety, and survivor's guilt.
During the post-Vietnam War period when the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder replaced the old school WWI term “shell-shock” and the WWII term “battle-fatigue.” The VA tends to take a clinical approach to Post Traumatic Stress and continues to call it a disorder (PTSD). PTS is not a disorder in my opinion, but a natural response to trauma we experience. Most veterans agree that there is a negative connotation to calling this reaction a disorder - it suggests there is something wrong with them. Truthfully, what we are responding to is natural. Post Trauma Stress should be universally considered an injury (PTSI) rather than a disorder. Sometimes people never fully recover, but that doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with them. Just like any other injury, even if it’s not possible to get back to 100%, there are many methods to get people back to living a mostly normal life.
Although I’m a non-combat Vietnam era vet, I have many friends who saw combat in that war or are combat veterans of the conflicts in the Middle East. They all returned home wanting to put the experience behind them and, with only a few exceptions, most are not comfortable talking about their experiences. Many returned home with a newfound addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Generally they received little help from anyone, including the VA.
Over the course of time, and many cups of coffee, a good friend of mine provided me some insight and understanding of PTSI, based on his own experience and what he has learned about himself as a Vietnam Army Combat Veteran. His wife encouraged him to write down his experiences while in Vietnam, and the result was a piece called, “Through My Eyes” chronicling his tour of duty in Vietnam 1968 - 1969. It was the beginning of his recovery process from PTSI. He has attended a number of Veterans’ Camp gatherings as both a participant and advisor. Though he still suffers from PTSI, Bob has learned coping mechanisms to deal with it, and over the past 45 years he has come a long way.
Through our discussions, I learned that many veterans didn’t realize what effect combat had on them until they returned home. It was at home that my friend began to realize that simply getting a good night’s sleep would be a blessing. His attitude and conversations had changed considerably after the war, along with his level of impatience. Most combat vets are hesitant to talk about what happened to them, or read war stories, or watch certain movies because they do not want to reignite memories.
I could never fully comprehend the anguish and fear my friend experienced as a combat Vietnam vet, but I can understand the flashbacks. My own experience with PTS is based on my 32-year marriage to a woman with PTS. Even after 50 years, she still struggles with memories of rape, a car accident, and the loss of our 8-year-old daughter. My friend told me that while he could not comprehend what we went through losing a child, he appreciated knowing how I dealt with it. Many of us agreed that we share a common healer in Jesus, even though most people at a Vet Camp would not appreciate a dialogue that included a lot of Jesus talk.
My friend also discovered that spouses of combat veterans can play an important role in successfully addressing PTS. At one family Vet Camp, he shared his experience speaking with just the spouses. He talked about the emotions, concerns, and fears that their partners would not share with them. They were very appreciative of his willingness to open up and give them a better understanding of the issues their loved ones may be dealing with.
Today we have many combat Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who struggle with similar flashbacks and stress-related issues when they return home and strive to melt back into civilian life. However, PTS also affects our men and women within our community support systems, such as police officers and firefighters, and is recognized as being a key factor in the health and stability of these organizations.
At home, and on any given day, at least 22 veterans take their own lives, typically due to PTS. However this past summer, the Department of Veterans Affairs indicated this number is now closer to 20 veterans committing suicide every day. I personally believe that the most recent statistics on these suicides likely do not consider vets suffering from PTS, who in the past overdosed on drugs or and/or alcohol. Though the exact figures are unknown, any number of military personnel taking their own lives is unacceptable, it is too many.
The universal goal among veterans advocacy groups is to dramatically reduce that number by working with our vets by giving them the knowledge, tools, and resources to understand what PTS is and how to cope with it. Veterans’ Camp, or veteran gatherings, have proven to be a successful means to begin a dialogue.
Nearly all vets with PTS have trust issues to varying degrees. Even amongst themselves, vets may not open up or even realize that their suffering can be helped. The purpose of Vet Camps is to provide a safe place where vets can meet other vets with PTS while learning how best to cope with it. At these camps, we talk about issues that cause them concern, such as a lack of support from the VA. Many others open up about the ugliness of war and the loss of their comrades and friends. Occasionally, discussions revolve around similar topics to what is discussed here on RallyPoint: what our government expects of our military, such as rules of engagement and intelligence failures, and the overall effectiveness of our armed forces.
If you or anyone you know may be suffering from PTS, just remember that it is not a disorder, but an injury, and there are thousands of vets like you who would love to help out.
During the post-Vietnam War period when the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder replaced the old school WWI term “shell-shock” and the WWII term “battle-fatigue.” The VA tends to take a clinical approach to Post Traumatic Stress and continues to call it a disorder (PTSD). PTS is not a disorder in my opinion, but a natural response to trauma we experience. Most veterans agree that there is a negative connotation to calling this reaction a disorder - it suggests there is something wrong with them. Truthfully, what we are responding to is natural. Post Trauma Stress should be universally considered an injury (PTSI) rather than a disorder. Sometimes people never fully recover, but that doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with them. Just like any other injury, even if it’s not possible to get back to 100%, there are many methods to get people back to living a mostly normal life.
Although I’m a non-combat Vietnam era vet, I have many friends who saw combat in that war or are combat veterans of the conflicts in the Middle East. They all returned home wanting to put the experience behind them and, with only a few exceptions, most are not comfortable talking about their experiences. Many returned home with a newfound addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Generally they received little help from anyone, including the VA.
Over the course of time, and many cups of coffee, a good friend of mine provided me some insight and understanding of PTSI, based on his own experience and what he has learned about himself as a Vietnam Army Combat Veteran. His wife encouraged him to write down his experiences while in Vietnam, and the result was a piece called, “Through My Eyes” chronicling his tour of duty in Vietnam 1968 - 1969. It was the beginning of his recovery process from PTSI. He has attended a number of Veterans’ Camp gatherings as both a participant and advisor. Though he still suffers from PTSI, Bob has learned coping mechanisms to deal with it, and over the past 45 years he has come a long way.
Through our discussions, I learned that many veterans didn’t realize what effect combat had on them until they returned home. It was at home that my friend began to realize that simply getting a good night’s sleep would be a blessing. His attitude and conversations had changed considerably after the war, along with his level of impatience. Most combat vets are hesitant to talk about what happened to them, or read war stories, or watch certain movies because they do not want to reignite memories.
I could never fully comprehend the anguish and fear my friend experienced as a combat Vietnam vet, but I can understand the flashbacks. My own experience with PTS is based on my 32-year marriage to a woman with PTS. Even after 50 years, she still struggles with memories of rape, a car accident, and the loss of our 8-year-old daughter. My friend told me that while he could not comprehend what we went through losing a child, he appreciated knowing how I dealt with it. Many of us agreed that we share a common healer in Jesus, even though most people at a Vet Camp would not appreciate a dialogue that included a lot of Jesus talk.
My friend also discovered that spouses of combat veterans can play an important role in successfully addressing PTS. At one family Vet Camp, he shared his experience speaking with just the spouses. He talked about the emotions, concerns, and fears that their partners would not share with them. They were very appreciative of his willingness to open up and give them a better understanding of the issues their loved ones may be dealing with.
Today we have many combat Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who struggle with similar flashbacks and stress-related issues when they return home and strive to melt back into civilian life. However, PTS also affects our men and women within our community support systems, such as police officers and firefighters, and is recognized as being a key factor in the health and stability of these organizations.
At home, and on any given day, at least 22 veterans take their own lives, typically due to PTS. However this past summer, the Department of Veterans Affairs indicated this number is now closer to 20 veterans committing suicide every day. I personally believe that the most recent statistics on these suicides likely do not consider vets suffering from PTS, who in the past overdosed on drugs or and/or alcohol. Though the exact figures are unknown, any number of military personnel taking their own lives is unacceptable, it is too many.
The universal goal among veterans advocacy groups is to dramatically reduce that number by working with our vets by giving them the knowledge, tools, and resources to understand what PTS is and how to cope with it. Veterans’ Camp, or veteran gatherings, have proven to be a successful means to begin a dialogue.
Nearly all vets with PTS have trust issues to varying degrees. Even amongst themselves, vets may not open up or even realize that their suffering can be helped. The purpose of Vet Camps is to provide a safe place where vets can meet other vets with PTS while learning how best to cope with it. At these camps, we talk about issues that cause them concern, such as a lack of support from the VA. Many others open up about the ugliness of war and the loss of their comrades and friends. Occasionally, discussions revolve around similar topics to what is discussed here on RallyPoint: what our government expects of our military, such as rules of engagement and intelligence failures, and the overall effectiveness of our armed forces.
If you or anyone you know may be suffering from PTS, just remember that it is not a disorder, but an injury, and there are thousands of vets like you who would love to help out.
PTSD
PTS
Trauma
Mental Health
Command Post
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 61
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I whole really think he is on to something here, when people hear disorder they do believe (in my opinion) it is a negative thing. and dealing with people they tend to view and treat people with PTSD as if the had a cold and was punished for coughing(everytime you coughed)
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Recently I’ve befriended a X Marine. His military career ended on the day the helicopter he and 11 other’s were flying in had mechanical failure. Crashed. He lost 7 buddies. He suffered numerous broken bones, head concussion, life long dark memories. One other survivor took his own life 4 yrs ago. This guy has told me he gets anxiety, panic attacks mostly at night. Got even worse when his beloved wife died couple yrs back from brain cancer. He resides in their 2 story house they built together.Lake front, with a dock, 3 dogs running about their back yard and 2 flags, an American Stars and Stripes, Marine flag. PTSD is a subject we all should open our ears and hearts to. Thanks Rallypoint
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Allow me please to submit my take on this experience that I had.
I have a different take. PTSD isn't "the body’s natural response to critical life incidents...." STRESS is the natural reaction. PTSD/PTS/PTSI is the result of the stress we respond with not being discharged from our system.
Dr. Peter Levine uses this illustration. Imagine a spring attached to the ceiling. A slinky perhaps. You pull it down (stress it), and let it go, and what happens? It zips right back into shape. It discharges the energy in the pull, and resilience in the steel causes it to spring back. That is the natural response to critical life incidents.
What happens though if we pull the spring, and don't let it go? Like attaching a small amount of weight to it. What happens to that energy? What then if I add a little more weight? The a little more, a little more, a little more.....
One might think that if we removed the weight, it would snap right back, but it doesn't. The undischarged energy eventually destroys the resiliency in the steel, and it will not spring back. That is now disordered steel. I'll complete that analogy to neurology briefly.
Another image of this is the ladder testing we did as firefighters. It was an annual requirement. A ladder would be opened, and then laid out with the ends on horses. Depending on the length, a certain amount of dead weight was placed in the middle of the ladder, to which we expected there to be sag. After a certain amount of time, the weight was removed. The resilience of the metal (aluminum) caused the ladder to return to straight almost immediately. If the ladder did not return to straight, it was red tagged taken out of service (OOS). It was no good for firefighting duties any longer.
That little weight we put on the slinky? That a stressor. In the human organism, that means for whatever reason, we interpret something as dangerous, and our brain stem activates fight/flight. We become a chem lab of hormones, and sugars among other things. Some of those things, like glucose and adrenaline, can be reprocessed by our organism rather quickly. Cortisol, one of those chem lab ingredients, cannot. Then boom, another weight is added to the slinky, and now more chem lab, and maybe even the glucose is accumulating and taxing the insulin production system. The cortisol? Increases big time. What cortisol does over time with the chronic adding of weight to our slinky, is make the amygdala of my brain bigger than normal, and the hippocampus smaller. Now neither is doing their jobs properly, and that is why PTSD is a disorder. That is the disorder that post traumatic stress, or what I sometimes refer to as traumatizing stress, causes. I drop the P rather than the D. Aside from disordering my actual brain and cognition, it disordered my relationships, my emotions, and my physical health.
It has taken a while to re-order that, but I got rid of the weights, and put the resilience back in the slinky. That probably wouldn't happen to a real slinky, but the human organism is thankfully capable of doing that.
Thanks for allowing me to express my experience.
I have a different take. PTSD isn't "the body’s natural response to critical life incidents...." STRESS is the natural reaction. PTSD/PTS/PTSI is the result of the stress we respond with not being discharged from our system.
Dr. Peter Levine uses this illustration. Imagine a spring attached to the ceiling. A slinky perhaps. You pull it down (stress it), and let it go, and what happens? It zips right back into shape. It discharges the energy in the pull, and resilience in the steel causes it to spring back. That is the natural response to critical life incidents.
What happens though if we pull the spring, and don't let it go? Like attaching a small amount of weight to it. What happens to that energy? What then if I add a little more weight? The a little more, a little more, a little more.....
One might think that if we removed the weight, it would snap right back, but it doesn't. The undischarged energy eventually destroys the resiliency in the steel, and it will not spring back. That is now disordered steel. I'll complete that analogy to neurology briefly.
Another image of this is the ladder testing we did as firefighters. It was an annual requirement. A ladder would be opened, and then laid out with the ends on horses. Depending on the length, a certain amount of dead weight was placed in the middle of the ladder, to which we expected there to be sag. After a certain amount of time, the weight was removed. The resilience of the metal (aluminum) caused the ladder to return to straight almost immediately. If the ladder did not return to straight, it was red tagged taken out of service (OOS). It was no good for firefighting duties any longer.
That little weight we put on the slinky? That a stressor. In the human organism, that means for whatever reason, we interpret something as dangerous, and our brain stem activates fight/flight. We become a chem lab of hormones, and sugars among other things. Some of those things, like glucose and adrenaline, can be reprocessed by our organism rather quickly. Cortisol, one of those chem lab ingredients, cannot. Then boom, another weight is added to the slinky, and now more chem lab, and maybe even the glucose is accumulating and taxing the insulin production system. The cortisol? Increases big time. What cortisol does over time with the chronic adding of weight to our slinky, is make the amygdala of my brain bigger than normal, and the hippocampus smaller. Now neither is doing their jobs properly, and that is why PTSD is a disorder. That is the disorder that post traumatic stress, or what I sometimes refer to as traumatizing stress, causes. I drop the P rather than the D. Aside from disordering my actual brain and cognition, it disordered my relationships, my emotions, and my physical health.
It has taken a while to re-order that, but I got rid of the weights, and put the resilience back in the slinky. That probably wouldn't happen to a real slinky, but the human organism is thankfully capable of doing that.
Thanks for allowing me to express my experience.
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SGT Shannon Ritzert
Correct it is a common response but not a natural response. People need to seek help if they have PTSD.
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Leckey Harrison
SGT Shannon Ritzert - No arguments there despite that fact I didn't, and what chances of staying an active duty soldier does an active duty soldier have if they go in for an evaluation and are diagnosed as having PTSD? I know for firefighters it's a career killer. I can pretty much say the same for LEOs. Which is why they don't, and why I do what I do.
Part of that determination is the level of functionality the person has.
Part of that determination is the level of functionality the person has.
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SGT Shannon Ritzert
Actually for active duty no. I was wounded in combat and had PTSD related to the event. I remained on Active duty until I got out and went to nursing school. It is unlikely that someone will sustain an RPG blast without residual psychological trauma. That is not to say that because you have PTSD you cannot function socially. There are certainly extremes of PTSD in which one should probably not be in Law enforcement, the military or be a Firefighter however, for the most part there is no issues with continuing work while seeking treatment.
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I like that you refer to it as PTS and not PTSD as it is not a mental disease; as you say it is the body's response to a intense traumatic experience. Unfortunately, war Veterans seem to be among the group effected the most. I just lost a friend that committed suicide due to PTS, and another traumatic experience after returning home from Afghanistan. I all him my friend as we trained at the same gym and we were both paratroopers from different eras mine being Vietnam era. However, there is a brotherhood that extends over all time for those of us who have earned our wings. I wish I had gotten to know him better; perhaps I would have realized that he needed more help than he was getting or not getting.
It is sad to think that 22 military Veterans a day commit suicide because of PTS.
It is sad to think that 22 military Veterans a day commit suicide because of PTS.
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Thank you very much for this article. I served in the army for 3 years, while my husband is a retired JAG NCO. Though thankfully I've never seen combat, I'd like to add one more life-changing event, and that is being bullied in school for 10 years--beaten up, punched in the face by boys (I am a female), spat on, hit with rocks till I bled, and called every filthy name in the book. So what, you say? I did have flashbacks and frequent crying spells. God forgive me, I acted out on my pets.
Today I am 53 and still have trust issues. Nobody walks closely behind me (God's grace I made it through the army). I have to walk behind them. I refuse to participate in team sports of any kind. For a long time I hated men. It is through becoming a Christian that I was healed of most of it.
Again, thanks. This has really helped me understand a lot.
Today I am 53 and still have trust issues. Nobody walks closely behind me (God's grace I made it through the army). I have to walk behind them. I refuse to participate in team sports of any kind. For a long time I hated men. It is through becoming a Christian that I was healed of most of it.
Again, thanks. This has really helped me understand a lot.
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PO2 Gerry Tandberg
Elizabeth, thank you for acknowledging the spiritual benefits in the recovery process. This is most often overlooked by the VA, doctors, and victims themselves. God Bless.
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The number one thing that I got from this article and many other articles, comments, and opinions is this, if you been diagnosed with Post Trauma Stress Disorder/ Trauma Brain Injury / Concussion It's pure hell living with it. Especially with your family who loves you, take care of you and try their best to help understand you. Your psychiatrist believes that you can and will get better with time. I truly believe this. I've been in counseling groups, one on one therapy. I've been given medications to help me but what I've learned is to cope with it. To understand the why me, to understand how it affects my family the way I behave. It's the behavior and attitude that you as an individual has to understand. Yes, I've been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress, cognitive impairments, serious low back problem, but I am a survivor and I understand that. It's my way of coping and dealing with this everyday, every minute, every hour. But you know what, at the end of the day I'm still here. If you've been diagnosed with these disabilities, diseases, and disorders, then you should know what I'm talking about. You understand that You can get better by trying to get better. It's You that your family look to and it's You that your family Love. So from me to You. Don't give up, no matter what, no matter why. Just Don't give in be aware of your behavior and attitudes because it will only destroy You if you Don't Survive this.
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I FIND THE MAN'S POST INSULTING TO COMBAT VETERAN'S.
PTSD IS REAL AND MANY HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE. IN FACT OVER 60,000
OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE VIETNAM WAR HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE
THAT IS MORE DEATHS THAT WE HAD DUE TO COMBAT!!!!!
THIS PERSON IS NOT A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRISTS.
PLEASE IF YOU KNOW ANY VETERAN IN CRISIS GET THEM TO THE VA EMERGENCY ROOM
AT THE VA HOSPITAL OR ANY MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC AT THE VA HOSPITAL. THEY WILL BE HELPED. ALSO THE 1-800- NUMBER IS [login to see] PRESS 1. OR EMAIL CONFIDENTIAL CHAT
@VETERANSCRISISLINE.NET. OR TEXT 838255.
SGT MIKE LINDLEY, GRUNT, VIETNAM 70-71
101ST ABN DIV, TEAM LEADER S&D TEAM.
YES I SUFFER FROM PTSD AND SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPRESSION
FROM SURVIVORS GUILT!!!
THEY HELPED ME THEY WILL HELP YOU.
GO SEE THEM---YOU GOT NOTHING TO LOSE!!!
YOU EARNED IT!!!!
ALL THE BEST,
MIKE
PTSD IS REAL AND MANY HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE. IN FACT OVER 60,000
OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE VIETNAM WAR HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE
THAT IS MORE DEATHS THAT WE HAD DUE TO COMBAT!!!!!
THIS PERSON IS NOT A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRISTS.
PLEASE IF YOU KNOW ANY VETERAN IN CRISIS GET THEM TO THE VA EMERGENCY ROOM
AT THE VA HOSPITAL OR ANY MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC AT THE VA HOSPITAL. THEY WILL BE HELPED. ALSO THE 1-800- NUMBER IS [login to see] PRESS 1. OR EMAIL CONFIDENTIAL CHAT
@VETERANSCRISISLINE.NET. OR TEXT 838255.
SGT MIKE LINDLEY, GRUNT, VIETNAM 70-71
101ST ABN DIV, TEAM LEADER S&D TEAM.
YES I SUFFER FROM PTSD AND SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPRESSION
FROM SURVIVORS GUILT!!!
THEY HELPED ME THEY WILL HELP YOU.
GO SEE THEM---YOU GOT NOTHING TO LOSE!!!
YOU EARNED IT!!!!
ALL THE BEST,
MIKE
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Drafted or volunteered - Vietnam era. Recently I have befriended (Facebook) a volunteer Vietnam Vet. He said he volunteered to avoid the draft as once drafted your chances of going to war & dying were much higher. Today he states he has no respect for the volunteers who went to Bush's war on terror. He said he wonders why so many loathed Obama. 8 yrs of war under democratic administration Obama/Biden, I suggested. I thought are you one perfect example of PRIDE in America; divide and rule and you get Vets benefits and low income disabled housing subsidies? I'm simply trying to remain neutral and respectful - YET my blood boils. My Facebook friend told me - When he wears his Vietnam vet hat (he served) and people come up and say "Let me shake your hand and thank you." He thinks "what have you done for this country?" He said often it turns his stomach when these citizens find they need to off load their guilt with a superficial thank you. PTSD - I saw the finest volunteers leave, I saw the drafted leave. Many never returned. Many who did return late 60's, into the civil rights 70's they just were NOT THE SAME. Many returned drinking like fish, many decided to take heroin, opium, downers, speed, LSD, some smoked weed. Families did not know how to FIX these new clinical diseases. Detachment, alcoholism, drug addiction, anger issues and the LAZY son of bitches just don;t want to "plow the fields" anymore. Then in came this flood of PHARMACEUTICALS, happy pills. The quick fix, filled with anticipation and expectations (at a cost). Resently one RallyPoint member sent me a personal correction to my post 20 plus veterans take their own lives a day. No Kate the correct number is approximate to "34 veterans, in all 50 states, as we get the reports 24/7 COMMIT suicide a day Kate." OMG.
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Kathlean Keesler
Have we fewer enemies? San Francisco. Golden Gate bridge - I stood watching the tourists, along with my 18 yr old daughter simply walk by the "military" historics of this "famous" landmark. Happy Memorial Day Veterans ..thanks for keeping "us" free.
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Kathlean Keesler
Thank you to ALL who are serving "active duty". God Bless America and all us landmark "tourists"
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Kathlean Keesler
Beautiful here in the Nanny State California. 2017 I am not able to forget all the dead soldiers decades/centuries -my thoughts remained with all the people serving on the front lines as I was enjoying the view. Never ending wars seem profitable. May we place a price tag/toe on "Joe" * by golly he was worth a fortune.
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