June is here and it is PTSD Awareness Month! What is PTSD you ask? PTSD
stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and can occur after enduring a
traumatic experience. Traumatic events are something that is emotionally
traumatizing that you hear about, visually witness, or physically endure. For
example, combat exposure or a victim of a terrorist attack can lead to PTSD.
There are four symptoms of PTSD: 1) relieving the event and re-experiencing the
symptoms through flashbacks; 2) avoiding situations that remind you of the
event because they trigger memories of the traumatic experience; 3) Negative
changes in attitude towards interests and/or activities that were once
enjoyable to you; and 4) Feeling “keyed up,” known as hyperarousal. You may be
jittery, on high alert, and/or having trouble concentrating or sleeping.1
According to the National Vietnam Veterans’ Readjustment Study
commissioned in 1980, at the time of the study 15% of veterans had PSTD and 30%
had PTSD at some point in their life. The 2003 re-analysis revealed that 4 out
5 Vietnam veterans reported recent PTSD symptoms when being interviewed 20-25
years after the Vietnam War since starting in 1955 and ending in 1975!2 Similarly,
there are over 2.3 million American veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars
and about 11-20% have PTSD and about 10% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) Veterans
have PTSD.3
In order to temporarily alleviate the symptoms associated with PTSD,
many turn to the use of alcohol or other potentially abusive substance such as
prescription drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 10-32%
of Vietnam veterans seeking PTSD have alcohol use disorders.4 On the
other hand, the use of prescription drugs has almost tripled between 2005 and
2008!5 Although prescription drug use has increased dramatically
since 2002, alcohol abuse is most prevalent and poses a significant health
risk. According to a study, 27% of Army soldiers screened 3 to 4 months after
returning from Iraq deployment, met the criteria for alcohol abuse.5
If you or someone suffers from PTSD, there are several services available
within your community. Please contact Chauntel Wright, VetCorps Prevention
Coordinator, at 845-225-4646 or putnamvetcorp@gmail.com;
or Elaine Santos, VetCorps Supervisor, at putnamdfcgrantee@gmail.com to obtain information of
services that are specific to you and/or your family’s needs. Also, contacting
your local VA would be another beneficial way to seek help for PTSD symptoms.
Just remember, PTSD is treatable and relatively common so you are not alone. Do
not feel ashamed to ask for help!
Additionally, to help raise more awareness about PTSD, the Mental
Health Association (MHA) will be displaying an information board at Putnam
Hospital Center on Friday, June 27, 2014 to advertise their new program,
Vet2Vet Peer Networking. Vet2Vet
Peer Networking is led by Veterans, for all Veterans and members of the Armed
Forces. Vet2Vet participation is free, anonymous and confidential. Each
Vet2Vet gathering provides a place for peers (fellow Veterans and members of
the Armed Forces) to network with one another via telephone or in person in a
safe and nonjudgmental environment. They provide services to all Veterans
and families from all eras without restrictions to service dates, discharge or
dependency status. Please be sure to stop by to take a look at the display! If
you would like more information about the Vet2Vet program, please contact
Jessica Mazzucco, Vet2Vet Coordinator, at 845-278-7600 or email at jessica.mazzucco@yahoo.com
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI have a quick question for you, could you email me when you have a chance? Thanks! –Emily
EmilyDWalsh(at)gmail(dot)com