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By Charlene Rubush, November 2, 2011 4:49 pm

Unfortunately, there has been too little research done yet, on the specific relationship challenges that couples face when one of the partners has PTSD. Some things we do know. From the National Center for PTSD’s research findings on Partners of Veterans with PTSD fact sheet, we learn:

Partners of PTSD-diagnosed veterans often describe:

•  Difficulty coping with their partners PTSD symptoms.
• Stress related to their own unmet needs.
• Experiences of physical and emotional violence.

These difficulties may be explained as Secondary Traumatization,  which is the indirect impact of trauma on those in close contact with victims.

Alternatively, the partner’s mental health symptoms may be a result of his or her own experiences of trauma, related to living with a veteran with PTSD (e.g., increased risk of domestic violence) or related to a prior trauma.

Caregiver Burden

Caregiver Burden is a name used to categorize the types of difficulties associated with caring for someone with a chronic illness, such as PTSD. These difficulties include financial strain, as well as emotional strain.

According to the experts, the first step for partners of veterans with PTSD, is to gain a better understanding of PTSD and the families by gathering information.

Treatment Options for Caregivers

 Effective treatment should include:

•  Family psychoeducation.
• Support groups for both partners and veterans.
• Concurrent individual treatment.
• Couple or family therapy.

Fortunately, there are now Veterans Affairs PTSD programs becoming available. Also, Vet Centers are beginning to offer group, couples, and individual programs for families of veterans.

As one who has received counseling in the past, from a Vet Center, I can attest to the tremendous value I gained from the experience. I’m not sure I would have made it through my crisis with my veteran without their help.

I pray that all of you who need help, will reach out and use the resources available to you.

To read the whole article, go to http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/partners_of_vets_research_findings.asp

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By Charlene Rubush, August 26, 2011 12:05 pm

I just came across another organization dedicated to helping those of us who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

PTSD Survivors of America is a non-profit organization which incorporated in May of 2011. They have a starling statistic on their website:

Fact: Since 9/11 and the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan soldier reports of suicidal thoughts have increased 7,000%.

Their mission statement:

 “We intend to both educate the general public regarding the causes and effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, and to help in the treatment of people currently suffering. Many people think PTSD is an illness of the mind that is only in people returning from the war. That myth is far from fact. PTSD can be caused by any type of trauma one experiences. Granted, military are more susceptible to this due to the nature of their job. However, with events of Hurricane Katrina the recent tornadoes of Joplin, Missouri, 9/11, and the thousands of violent crimes that happen across the United States it is possible for anyone to be a victim of PTSD, and without the education regarding what can come from that, it leads to a path of unimaginable consequences.”

It’s important to note that half of the current board of directors are victims of PTSD due to combat-related injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. They understand how PTSD victims feel, and are able to relate to the illness.

 Goals:

•      To hold seminars across the United States that give people both medical information and personal experiences regarding this illness and how to cope.
• ·     Advertise their website which will hold valuable information and include numbers for people to call if they’re feeling depressed.
• ·     Print brochures, pamphlets, and other informational materials regarding PTSD in hopes of further educating the general public.
• ·     To assist in visiting disaster areas and returning war veterans to provide information and counseling, if possible.
• ·     To use both traditional and non-traditional medicine to help heal the mind of our wounded vets, and civilians who suffer from PTSD.

Currently, PTSD Survivors of America are dedicating the rest of 2011 to fundraising and education. In 2012, they intend to focus more on education, and a bit less on fundraising, and 2013 will be a culmination of the previous years, where they will not only offer education, but treatment to those who apply and are accepted.

For more information on this exciting organization, go to:

http://www.ptsdsurvivorsofamerica.org

Note: I believe this is exactly what we need in this country, so that more people will become informed and gain a better understanding of what PTSD is. I‘m already thinking of ways I might help them, not only monetarily, but with some volunteer time. Hip hip, hooray for grassroots movements!

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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, September 17, 2010 1:29 pm

There are now so many wonderful books being written by our returning soldiers. I’ve decided to share this book review I wrote (which is posted on amazon.com) after reading Jeremiah Workman’s searing memoir. I often wonder where such author’s gain the strength and insight to be able to revisit their trauma and share it with the reading public. I’m just glad that they do.

Shadow of the Sword: A Marine’s Journey of War, Heroism,and Redemption by Jeremiah Workman and John Buhning

——Intimate, Courageous Look into the Hell of War, Its Aftermath and Learning to Live with PTSD

Jeremiah Workman is not only one admirable Marine, but he’s also a tremendous human being. He has written an absolutely awesome book. Not only is the writing crisp and unflinching, the story behind it is riveting and gut-wrenching. What we ask of our soldiers!

I found this book to be among the very best that show the mental and emotional devastation that enduring fierce combat brings upon a soldier. Workman describes the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that he now lives with, (for those of us who remember vinyl records) as like a groove in a record which gets stuck, and plays the same note over and over again. Once the groove is there, it cannot be removed.

Workman shows the reader, in gory detail, what his life as a Marine has been like, from training at Parris Island, to his mind-blowing tour in Iraq, especially the battle in Fallujah that claimed so many of his buddies, and left him with severe survivor guilt. He shows us what it was like for him, as he became a drill instructor back again at Parris Island, and his PTSD shifted into high gear.

I learned so many things from reading this book. Like what the life of a drill instructor is like, and the fact that they have one of the highest divorce rates in the Marine Corps. And that the VA had only planned for 8,000 cases of PTSD, and there will be well over more than 700,000 thousand cases of it by the time the war ends.

Only now we’re also sending more troops to Afghanistan. There is truly no end in sight. What a wave of anguish is washing over our country. And yet denial continues. It continues in the American public.

And for so many reasons, it continues in our soldiers themselves, until the pain grows so severe, the problem can no longer be denied. Even then, not all of those needing help seek it from the VA. And who pays the price along with our soldiers? It’s the spouses, children and other family members.

This book has astounded me with its brutal candor. What guts this American hero and recipient of the Navy Cross, displays as he bares his soul to us. Parts of this book made me weep. I will never forget this young American soldier, or the price he and his family have paid for our freedom. May he and his loved ones, somehow find the peace they have truly earned.

Workman tells us that by joining the Vets for Freedom Heroes tour in 2008 and speaking about his experiences, he has started the healing process. In sharing, he continues to serve our country, holding up a mirror to us.

Every American should read this book, so that each citizen will be more understanding and compassionate toward our returning combat veterans. And also understand that we owe them and must provide, all the help they need. And that we will begin to truly realize that the aftereffects of war can be just as consequential, as the initial battles.

I applaud Jeremiah Workman and his family for all they have given up for us, and for the fact that he is determined to make the most of his life, in spite of PTSD. I wish them all the best.

I pray that his story goes a long way in eradicating the shame that stills accompanies those afflicted with PTSD, especially our soldiers. He has shone a hopeful light on this deadly serious subject. Very, very, highly recommended reading!!

http://www.jeremiahworkman.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

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By Charlene Rubush, June 23, 2010 2:43 pm

• 15-43% of girls and 14%-43% of boys will experience a traumatic event
• 3-15% girls and 1-6% of boys will develop PTSD
• As many as 30-60% of children who have survived specific disasters have PTSD
• According to The National Center for PTSD: “Rates of PTSD are much higher in children and adolescents recruited from at-risk samples. The rates of PTSD in these at-risk children and adolescents vary from 3 to 100%.
• 3-6% of high school students in the U.S. who survive specific disaster develop PTSD.
• More than 33% of youths exposed to community violence will experience PTSD.

 According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) children with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, may have intense fear and anxiety, become emotionally numb or easily irritable, or avoid places, people, or activities after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic or life-threatening event.

Not every child who experiences or hears about a traumatic event will develop PTSD. It is normal to be fearful, sad, or apprehensive after such events, and many children will recover from these feelings in a short time.

 Children most at risk for PTSD are those who directly witness a traumatic event, who suffered directly (such as injury or the death of a parent) had mental health problems before the event, and who lack a strong support network. Violence at home also increases a child’s risk of developing PTSD after a traumatic event.

For more info on PTSD, and other anxiety disorders, visit:

 http://www.adaa.org

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By Charlene Rubush, June 18, 2010 3:38 pm

The more research I do on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the more alarmed I am at the enormity of the population that is affected by the disorder.

These statistics are from an excellent website Heal My PTSD. Michelle Rosenthal is a PTSD survivor and writes about the subject, both to inform and help others heal.

 PTSD General Stats

•  70 % of adults in the U.S have experienced some type of traumatic event, at least once in their lifetimes. That’s 223.4 million people.
• Up to 20% of these people go on to develop PTSD. As of today, that’s 31.3 million people who have had or are struggling with PTSD.
• An estimated 1 out of 10 women develops PTSD; women are about twice as likely as men.
• Among people who are victims of a severe traumatic experience 60-80% will develop PTSD.
• 50% of all outpatient mental health patients have PTSD!
• Somewhat higher rates of this disorder have been found to occur in African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, as compared to Caucasians in the United States.

 Combat PTSD

•  Lifetime occurrence (prevalence) in combat veterans 10-30%.
• In the past year alone the number of diagnosed cases in the military jumped 50%- and that’s just diagnosed cases.
• Studies estimate that 1 in every 5 military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has PTSD.
• 20 % of the soldiers who have been deployed in the past 6 years have PTSD. That’s over 300,000.
• 17% of combat troops are women; 71% of female military personnel develop PTSD due to sexual assault within the ranks.

 Charlene’s Note:

These are shocking statistics, and prove that PTSD is now a pressing national health crisis. Become empowered and learn more about PTSD. Visit Heal My PTSD for more free information and help.

 http://www.healmyptsd

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By Charlene Rubush, June 6, 2010 2:32 pm

Part One:

Another good website sponsored by social workers, which offers excellent information for the general public and for combat veterans and their families is:

 http://www.helpstartshere.org.

Susan Evans, LICSW, runs a support group, and offers the following information (which I’m summarizing).

 “There is not a day goes by that PTSD does not play some part in that day.”

-Trudi, Spouse of Vietnam Combat Veteran 

Introduction

The Journal of the American Medical Association in March, 2006, reported that 35 percent of Iraq war veterans sought treatment for mental health issues within a year of coming home.

The Department of Defense now estimates that between 15 percent and 29 percent of veterans from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan will suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The caseload for mental health counselors in the Veterans Administration is six times higher than anticipated. By 2008 more than 400,000 troops could need mental health treatment if this trend continues. Who will help the spouses and families of these combat veterans?

 Stepping Up to Help

Eleven women with vast experience dealing with combat veterans returning home from war are using what they’ve learned by contributing to this article. They are married to vets who have significant PTSD disabilities from previous wars, and the Iraq War. Their goal is to offer support, encouragement and hope to the spouses and families of Iraq and Afghanistan vets.

They offer the following thoughts while recognizing that each war is unique and some of these suggestions may not be appropriate for the most recent wars.

• Listen and Do Not Judge
• Know What to Look For. Educate Yourself about PTSD!
• Accept Help. / Be Willing to Accept Help, Even if He Doesn’t!
• Protect Yourself and Your Family Even if He Can’t
• Help Your Children. Go to the PTSD Information Helpline at 802-296-6300

 Remember:

You cannot fix the PTSD symptoms. Those are his symptoms that he has to learn to manage or not. Make your own goals and keep them in your focus. These goals might be improving your own health with good nutrition, exercise, and rest, or spending time with friends, or doing special things for yourself.

Go to http://www.ncptsd.org for constantly updated info on PTSD and resources.

To read complete article now, go to:

http://www.helpstartshere.org/tip-sheets/veterans-affairs-tip-sheet-help-for-spouses-of-com

Charlene’s Note:

I’ll be posting more on this article soon. As a former spouse of a Vietnam veteran, and one with very little help at the time I needed it, I’m so grateful to pass on this terrific information for today’s vets and their families. There is hope and help out there for you!

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By Charlene Rubush, March 9, 2010 9:37 pm

I love it when I find another terrific website for vets. Lest We Forget-PTSD Family and Military Support Group, is a “peer to peer, veteran to veteran, family to family support group with the belief that PTSD is not just your problem nor does it just affect you.” They are based in Charleston, West Virginia, where they offer a safe and private meeting place, complete with free child care.

Even if you are not in the area, you can benefit by visiting the website. They note “PTSD affects everyone around you but most of all the people who love you most, your family and friends. Our belief is that by helping not only the person suffering from PTSD but the family and loved ones, the road to healing will be less difficult by not having to go this alone.”

The site offers excellent articles and resources. But most importantly, it shares real life struggles with combat vets and their families, and how they are navigating their personal PTSD journeys. Two of their statements particularly stood out for me: Continue reading 'Another Great Website for Combat Vets and Their Families'»