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By Charlene Rubush, November 7, 2012 2:54 pm

Here’s another great organization dedicated to helping our returning combat vets and their families.

Vets4Vets is a non-partisan organization that is helping our troops heal from the psychological injuries of war through the use of peer support.

This is their Vision:

Our primary goal is to help Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans understand the value of peer support and to regularly use peer support to express their emotions, manage their challenges and ease their integration into society.

Our vision is that anytime a veteran needs to talk with someone who really understands, a local Vets4Vets peer support group is available at no cost. We envision Vets4Vets being a common name in the minds of all veterans as a place where they, and their comrades, can go to heal.

Here’s a list of many of their Beliefs:

• Sharing personal experiences with those who have shared similar experiences is a powerful healing tool.
• Peer support does not require professionals.
• Peer support can take place in many formats including weekend workshops, one-on-one and in small or large groups.
• By expressing the feelings associated with our experiences, we help each other heal.
• In providing an environment that is confidential, safe, and accepting.
• Taking part in positive community action, of their choosing, empowers veterans to further promote healing and reach out to other veterans.
• Use of drugs and alcohol hinders real emotional healing.

Vets4Vets also offers a blog and listings of vets resources. You’ll also find info on their website about how to start a group in your area, as well as listings of local groups. They are on Facebook and Twitter.

How I wish these types of groups had been available for our Vietnam vets. It was my experience that bonding then usually occurred in bars, and that brought innumerable problems for the vets and their families.

I am so glad to see this group note that the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs actually impedes healing. –I’m really happy to pass on info about this important resource for today’s veterans. Better late than never…

Contact them at (520)393-8302 and visit their website at:

http://www.vets4vets.us

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By Charlene Rubush, August 23, 2012 3:35 pm

Today I stumbled across another excellent website for our returning combat vets and their families. “American Homecomings” is a project from Digital First Media, which chronicles the lives of returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

The site also offers vet news, information about support services plus a place to share their photos and memories. Eight soldiers from around the country have agreed to let reporters follow them for a year, shedding light on the numerous challenges they face upon returning home.

Some have incurred brutal injuries or psychological scars, some have broken marriages and some have no jobs. A new chapter will be posted on their site every Monday.

The site also features a searchable database for national veteran services such as counseling and job placement. They also offer movie and book reviews, info about various resources and organizations that help veterans.

The photos add a personal touch to the stories and are beautifully done. I had to struggle to stem tears as I viewed some of the photos. The wedding photos particularly affected me as they show the love and hope that’s reflected in the eyes of the couples followed.

So vets, you also have the opportunity to share a photo from your own time away or your time back home here on the site.

This is just an awesome site! Check it out at:

http://www.americanhomecomings.com

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By Charlene Rubush, September 29, 2010 10:52 pm

Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a resource library on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I’m always happy to pass along comments and reviews on books that have proved invaluable to me. I’ve found that the “Dummies” books are generally of very high-quality, and are laid out in an easy-to-read and digest format.

Mark Goulston, MD, the author of this 2007 book, is an expert on PTSD, suicide prevention, violence intervention, and maintains a private clinical practice. He has taught or lectured at UCLA, USC, and Fortune 500 companies, as well as trained FBI  and police hostage negotiators.

While this book is now several years old, it provides an amazing array of sound ideas and proven therapies for treating PTSD, in its many forms.

This review is from:

 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder For Dummies (Paperback, Copyright 2007, Wiley Publishing, Inc.)

—Outstanding Resource, from One Who Knows

This is a comprehensive look at a very serious subject. Written by Mark Goulston, MD, a top psychiatrist and life-skills coach, the book delivers invaluable information and advice for those living with PTSD.

It’s also an excellent primer for anyone interested in the subject. Dr. Goulston writes with a conversational tone that is very comforting. His primary message to his reader is “There is a road out of this terrible place.”

PTSD victims and their family members have to be reminded of this at every turn, for the depression and isolation that usually comes with PTSD, too often leads to suicide. We are seeing this more and more in combat veterans.

While Dr. Goulston notes that PTSD is a major, life-altering disorder, and an “invisible epidemic” affecting at least 13 million Americans of every age, he also asserts the good news today, is that PTSD is highly treatable.

PTSD is a complex illness, and there are many manifestations of it. The author explains that there are two primary types of PTSD: Simple and Complex. Simple PTSD usually follows a single event, while Complex PTSD can occur after repeated traumas. Goulston gives insights into the amazing array of available treatments that now offer relief and healing.

He addresses the challenges and stresses facing the loved ones of those with PTSD, as well as nearly every facet of this “Anxiety Disorder.” He also manages to infuse the book with flashes of humor, a much-needed tool for fighting PTSD.

This book will help anyone interested in PTSD, and that should be all of us, as we’re all just one traumatic event away from it. As our war veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan, this vital resource can provide great hope and understanding.

Don’t be mislead by the “Dummies” label. This book is chock-full of scientific facts, and proven remedies. A very important work on PTSD. Highly, enthusiastically recommended!!

• To read more reviews, go to http://www.amazon.com/books

Note: This book also contains “Cheat Sheets” in the front, such as “Simple Stress Busters,” “Truths to Hold Onto,” and “Important Numbers to Have on Hand.” There is also an informational section titled “Are Your PTSD Meds Working for You?” which tells you the things to watch for, both positive and negative, while taking these meds.

I’ll get on my soapbox again. Where were books like this when we, of the Vietnam generation, needed them? I guess the answer is– they were waiting to be born.

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By Charlene Rubush, February 16, 2010 9:24 pm

A new study has come out from researchers in San Francisco, on Iraq War veterans. The study suggests that more discussion of killing, may help veterans cope with an array of mental health problems after their wartime experience.

This is no surprise to those of us of the Vietnam War generation. We’ve long known that Vietnam vets seemed to find comfort in having interaction with other Vietnam vets. Unfortunately, from my experience, much of that bonding time included consumption of massive amounts of alcohol, or other substances. This of course, can be very hard on families.

The study was published last week in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, and found that soldiers who reported having killed in combat, or who gave orders that led to killing, were more likely to report the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, anger and relationships problems. Continue reading 'New Study Says Combat Veterans Need to Talk about Killing, Even in Public Forums'»