Comments (1)

By charlene, September 6, 2010 3:42 pm

I’ve been a subscriber to Kathie Costos wonderful blog on combat-related PTSD. Titled Wounded Times it’s a terrific resource for veterans, their families, and for anyone interested in learning more about PTSD, plus keeping on top of news related to the subject.

I’m using this info on Chaplain Kathie that comes from another awesome resource for vets and their families, the website/blog, Healing Combat Trauma, by Lily Casura.

http://www.healingcombattrauma.com

“Kathie Costos, also known as “Nam Guardian Angel,” is a certified, ordained Chaplain and member of the International Fellowship of Chaplains (“IFOC”).  The daughter of a Korean War veteran, and the wife of a Vietnam veteran, she has been active in veterans issues since the 1970s.  For the last 25+ years, she has focused on Vietnam veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Years of volunteering with Vietnam veterans and their families has taught her to take care of the spiritual needs of people and not just the already ‘faithful.’

Kathie is the author of a well-regarded book, called For the Love of Jack, His War/My Battle — about how her family coped with the legacy of PTSD that her husband returned with from the Vietnam War.  She self-published the book immediately after 9/11, out of concern that the word needed to get out about what PTSD was, before many more people began to suffer from it.  The book is available for downloading on her website, and Kathie has also produced many educational videos about PTSD that are also available on her website.  A list of those videos include the following, but because Kathie is always expanding the list of videos she’s made about this topic so close to her heart.”

You can now find the following videos on: http://www.greatamericans.com

• Wounded Minds: PTSD and Veterans
• Coming Out of the Dark: PTSD and Veterans
• When War Comes Home, Part One
• When War Comes Home, Part Two
• Hero After War
• Death Because They Served – PTSD Suicides (Google)
• Wounded and Waiting, Part One
• Wounded and Waiting, Part Two
• Women At War
• The Voice, Women At War
• Nam Nights Of PTSD Still
• PTSD After Trauma
• PTSD Not God’s Judgment
• Homeless Veterans Day

A link to Kathie’s website about PTSD and videos is http://www.woundedtimesblogspot.com.

For a direct link to the book she wrote about her husband and family surviving PTSD,  go to http://namguardianangel.com

A favorite quote of Kathie’s: “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.” — George Washington

Charlene Rubush’s Note:

I thank God every day for people like Kathie Costos and Lily Casura (of Healing Combat Trauma) for their dedication and commitment to help and healing combat vets and their families. I can’t imagine a world without people like them in it.

Comments (0)

By charlene, August 30, 2010 10:10 pm

Military Spouses of America (MSA) is a non-partisan, non-profit membership organization created to provide information, resources, and support to the spouses of servicemembers (including National Guardsmen, Reservists, and Coast Guardsmen) and veterans around the world. MSA is working on providing information on state by state unemployment benefits, higher education residency requirements, etc..

MSA is monitoring policies by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The organization encourages military spouses to visit their site weekly for updates as well as joining MSA as a member. Membership is free and you can be kept apprised of relevant legislation developing in Congress–like the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act, and other important developments affecting our community via email.

MSA believes that: 
 
1. family readiness is vital to mission readiness;
2. the well-being of the spouse cannot be divorced from the well-being of the servicemember or veteran (and vice-versa);
3. both the military and veteran communities benefit from well-informed and well-connected military spouses;
4. the spouses of servicemembers and veterans face unique challenges–challenges for which spouses can, and have, come up with the most effective and creative solutions (individually and collectively); and,
5. servicemembers are not the only veterans in military marriages.

MSA* is a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas and a federally tax-exempt 501(c) 3 charity recognized by the IRS (thus all donations are tax deductible).  

 
MSA uses the political power, personal experiences, and social networks of military spouses to:1) educate the public about the issues that military and veteran families face; 2) inform the debate on the needs of these families; and 3) empower themselves and each other.

Comments (1)

By charlene, August 27, 2010 4:24 pm

The Veterans Health Administration as part of its VA Research: Improving Veterans Lives brochure series, has produced a six-pager on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder [pdf]. Written by the communicators at VA’s Research & Development Department, the slant is on treatment modalities currently being developed and tested:

This brochure presents examples of VA’s recent accomplishments in PTSD research. These studies, it is hoped, will benefit veterans and many other Americans now and in the future and spare them from PTSD’s life-disrupting symptoms and complications.

One of nearly 10 other offerings to choose from (Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans [pdf], Mental Health [pdf], Rural Health [pdf], TBI [pdf] Women’s Health [pdf] and more) — all worth at least a glance.

Go to this site to download free brochures:

http://www.research.va.gov/resources/pubs/brochure_series.cfm

Charlene Rubush’s Note:

I’ve just been going over some of these brochures, and have found them to be very informative and enlightening. There is always something new to be learned, as research moves us forward in the study and treatment of PTSD.

Comments (0)

By charlene, August 23, 2010 2:57 pm

I’ve just been checking out some online communities dedicated to providing support and information for combat vets and their families.

These are free and right at your fingertips. All you need is access to a computer, and the willingness to reach out to others. Here are just a few that can help combat vets, their partners, and families:

http://www.combat.ptsdforum.org

http://www.ptsdforum.org

http://www.forums.militaryspot.com/eve

http://www.experienceproject.com/group/Am-A-Combat-Veteran

Charlene Rubush’s Note:

Periodically, I visit these sites, and find a tremendous amount of vital information. I just wish we’d had such groups available back in the sixties, seventies, and eighties, when I was dealing with terrible trauma behind closed doors, and had nowhere to turn.

But I’m thankful they are accessible today. There is nothing as comforting as interacting with others who have been in similar situations. In these groups we can find comfort and support with those who understand, and yet still retain a measure of anonymity.

Comments (2)

By charlene, August 18, 2010 7:33 pm

To glean a better understanding of the mysterious, baffling disease of alcoholism, I often return to the work of alcoholism expert Doug Thorburn. Our society, as a whole, has a long way to go in learning about this insidious disease:

I’m listing below some startling facts from Thorburn’s excellent book, Alcoholism Myths and Realities- Removing the Stigma of Society’s Most Destructive Disease. It’s a well-known fact that our returning combat veterans are often struggling with alcohol abuse.

• Alcoholism is the most misunderstood of all diseases. This is rather surprising, since 1 out of 10 people have this disease and we are all directly or indirectly affected.
• Doctors and psychologists whom we trust to treat diseases and mental disorders are almost completely untrained in understanding and diagnosing the affliction.
• Medical doctors take as few as 24 classroom hours on the subject, virtually all on treating withdrawal and none on diagnosis.
• Psychologists are schooled in the idea that childhood trauma and other negative environmental factors can cause alcoholism, even though the evidence shows that such influences only shape its course.
• Secondary diseases are usually diagnosed long before alcoholism is identified.
• Alcoholism is the root cause or primary contributing factor to at least 300 other illnesses and disorders.
• Emergency room medical personnel treat symptoms of addiction, including accidents, in an estimated 50 to 80% of admissions, yet rarely test for alcohol or other drugs in the system.

I believe it is imperative that we teach a course on alcoholism in the primary grades. Thorburn notes (p.9) that most recovering alcoholics tell us they triggered alcoholism during their first drinking episode, usually at age 12 or 13.

Thinking back to my own education on this affliction, ( in my late 30′s) it took me attending a treatment center for 52 lectures on the subject, before I began to grasp the “big picture” of this disease. It is that complex; affecting body, mind and soul.

Doug Thorburn is one of the most forward-thinking of today’s alcoholism experts. I highly recommend all his books, and checking out his wonderful website and free newsletter. Get educated. The life you save may be your own, or that of a loved one. Go to:

 http://preventtragedy.com

Comments (1)

By charlene, August 16, 2010 4:36 pm

For over 40 years now, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been a major problem for many Vietnam veterans. It’s one of the main conditions treated by the VA. It’s said to be one of the major causes of divorce for Vietnam veterans. And, if some of the suicide statistics are true (and there’s room for argument on both sides), PTSD is a major cause of suicide among Vietnam veterans.

VietNow is very fortunate that two compassionate PTSD experts – experienced counselor Mary Tendall and her associate Jan Fishler – have shared their expertise with us in the form of a great series of articles with ideas on how to deal with PTSD.

In the history of the VietNow National Magazine nothing has come close to the response to these articles. These articles have not only touched a nerve, but have also provided a healing touch.

Since it’s obvious that PTSD won’t be going away any time soon, and because it sometimes seems that the problem is getting bigger rather than smaller – and because there are differences of opinion on the topic – we have published lots of articles, stories, and poems related to this painful topic.

We hope something you’ll read here with touch you in a good way, and we hope that if you need help with your ghosts, maybe something here will point you (or someone close to you) in the direction of help.

If you have questions or comments about your PTSD-related problems, Jan and Mary have kindly made themselves available to help. They assure your confidentiality and invite you to e-mail them directly at:
Jan Fishler: jan@tincatmedia.com
Mary Tendall: maryten@jps.net

Some of the article titles are:

Featured PTSD Articles by Jan and Mary – and other writers.

Getting Through the Rough Times
There are ways to help the PTSD sufferer through the physical and emotional pain, but you also have to take care of yourself during the process.

Living With Guilt and Shame
Guilt and shame are deep and often debilitating emotions that can haunt individuals for years. Exploring the origin and impact of guilt and shame from the perspective of combat veterans and family members.

http://www.vietnow.com

Charlene Rubush’s Note:

VietNow is an awesome organization which is committed to helping all veterans and their families. Much of what we now know about PTSD has come from the study of Nam vets and their families.

Please visit their website and learn all about them. I’ve gained a lot from my membership with them. Their magazine is phenomenal, and they’ve been  working hard for many years, to better veterans lives.

Comments (0)

By charlene, August 13, 2010 3:05 pm

In 1984, a transportable scale model of the Wall named The Moving Wall was first put on display. John Devitt was a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam. After he attended the 1982 dedication of the Wall in Washington, he vowed to make a smaller version of the Wall that could travel the country to take the Wall directly to the cities and towns of those named upon it.

Friends and relatives of the fallen who could not make the trip to Washington could now experience the Wall. John and his friends built The Moving Wall. Since 1984, two additional structures of The Moving Wall were added and have made more than 1000 visits all over the USA and Canada.

Since the names on the Wall are listed in the order of death, first-time visitors to the Wall are frequently unable to find the name they came to see. Shortly after the Wall was built, some relatives and friends of the fallen decided to help visitors find names and began to spend their spare time at the Wall with their own copies of the Directory of Names. They formed the organization Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, “The Friends.”

Charlene’s Note:

While working in my office today, I noticed the book “Shrapnel in the Heart- Letters and Remembrances from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial” by Laura Palmer. It had been quite some time since I’d read it- but it got me thinking about my trips to visit “The Moving Wall” when it had been in my area.

Those visits were incredibly painful, but also immensely healing. So today I decided to read about the history behind The Moving Wall. I think it’s definitely worth sharing, and shows how combat vets help others.
 

Comments (0)

By charlene, August 10, 2010 2:48 pm

A novel study published in the Journal of Neuroscience has suggested that the use of certain memory-boosting drugs paired with some behavioral therapy may assist in curbing drug addiction.

The study outlined that D-cycloserine, a drug used for the treatment of fear and anxiety disorders, could serve as a medication for addicts to inhibit themselves from taking drugs.

These substance abusers, which offer behavioral treatment as well, assist drug addicts in keeping them from relapse. In many cases, anti-addiction drugs fail to prevent a person from falling back into old habits, uncovers www. sify. com.

The research study, done by a team of researchers from Yale University, was conducted on a number of rats.

“Extinction therapy usually only works where the therapy takes place, like a treatment center”, Torregrossa explained. “Using drugs like D-cycloserine to make extinction work more broadly is a big advancement in the treatment of addiction”.

The study findings have claimed that use of extinction therapy with D-cycloserine, could prevent chances of relapsing, even when a person lands in a varied environment.

Comments (0)

By charlene, August 6, 2010 4:09 pm

Periodically, I return to Judith Herman’s widely acclaimed work on human trauma, in order to glean a better understanding of the “big picture;” the magnitude of human trauma.

 Titled Trauma and Recovery- The Aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror, the book contains some of the most helpful insights into the actual study of trauma. While the book was published in 1997, its message is as timely as ever. In the Introduction, Herman writes:

 “The ordinary response to atrocities is to banish them from consciousness. Certain violations of the social compact are too terrible to utter aloud: this is the meaning of the word unspeakable.

Remembering and telling the truth about terrible events are prerequisites both for the restoration of the social order and for the healing of individual victims. The conflict between the will to deny horrible events and the will to proclaim them aloud is the central dialectic of psychological trauma.

People who have survived atrocities often tell their stories in a highly emotional, contradictory, and fragmented manner which undermines their credibility and thereby serves the twin imperatives of truth-telling and secrecy.

When the truth is finally recognized, survivors can begin their recovery. But far too often secrecy prevails, and the story of the traumatic event surfaces not as a verbal narrative, but as a symptom.”

Here are some notes from the book flap:

“This book will surely become a landmark work on the social impact of psychological trauma and its treatments …. A magnificent gift to survivors.”

                                                                 –Miriam Lewin, Women’s Review of Books

 “A stunning achievement … a classic for our generation.”

                                                –Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. Harvard Medical School

“Astute, accessible and beautifully documented. Bridging the worlds of war veterans, prisoners of war, battered women and incest victims. Herman presents a compelling analysis of trauma and the process of healing. A triumph.”

                                                –Laura Davis, coauthor of The Courage to Heal

Comments (0)

By charlene, August 2, 2010 5:01 pm

The American Combat Veterans of War (ACVOW) states their mission as:

Approximately 20% of veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan will suffer significant effects of stress from sustained combat. Mostly young, they do not normally associate the stress to the changes in their lives after returning home. As warriors, they also are reluctant to admit it and seek help. We strive to educate them on how to recognize those effects, and offer help in dealing with it for those who want help.

Description:

We are invited to speak to marine units at the four major bases in the San Diego area during the first 96 hours of their return home. Our members relate their own stories of combat, and the ensuing stresses. With that rapport, we tell them that help is available and that we can guide them to it.

We have a weekly group session “Safe Warrior Outreach,” at which any combat veteran can come and relate with his/her peers. This allows the veteran to confront his/her problem without the stigma associated with telling his problem to his superiors in the Corps. This is the first and very important step in the healing process.

We also maintain an office in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in La Jolla, CA. Many veterans, especially those with combat stress, have a difficult time applying for benefits from the VA. We have been quite successful in helping those veterans secure their benefits.

Visit American Combat Veterans of War at:

http://www.acvow.org