I know I sound like a broken record, but I’m constantly amazed by the resources that are being made available to today’s vets and their families. We of the Vietnam generation could only have dreamed of such things. That’s why I love passing along this type of positive information.

Coaching Into Care works with family members or friends who become aware of their Veteran’s post-deployment difficulties—and supports their efforts to find help for the Veteran.

This is a national clinical service providing information and help to Veterans and the loved ones who are concerned about them. 

Some visitors will note that their program formerly operated under the name Families at Ease. Coaching Into Care focuses on the VA’s primary mission: helping those who care about Veterans encourage them to seek help.

How Coaching Into Care Helps

Coaching Into Care offers Veterans and their loved ones these services:

• Encouragement and information about getting an evaluation and services
• “Coaching” with family members or friends to help motivate Veteran for evaluation/consultation
• Referrals to services for veterans and their family members

“If living with your Veteran is as hard as living without him, ” contact 1-888-823-7458 or CoachingintoCare@va.gov.

Launched in 2000, the PTSD Alliance is a group of the nation’s leading professional and advocacy organizations representing healthcare issues related to PTSD including trauma-related stress, anxiety disorders and women’s health. Founding members are the American College of  Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), and the Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute.

The PTSD Alliance was founded to increases public awareness and promote a better understanding of PTSD, and serve as a resource for the general public and professionals on diagnosis, treatment and management of PTSD. The PTSD Alliance offers:

• Resource Center–877-507-PTSD, a clearinghouse for PTSD Alliance-published educational booklets, educational resources, and referral and support information available from the four member organizations. Information packets–for consumers and professionals–are available free of charge by calling the automated, toll-free number, 1-877-507-PTSD. The PTSD Alliance Resource Center is not a staffed crisis hotline.
• www.PTSDAlliance.org, an online resource center for the general public, professionals, and the media. The site offers general background on PTSD, trauma-related causes, signs and symptoms, myths, diagnosis, and treatment; as well as links to the member organizations, which offer additional education and training resources, and information on local support groups and referral services; and an online form to order a free information packet.
• Patient Education Booklet and Video: The booklet and video seek to dispel the myths about PTSD that keep many people from recognizing the problem and obtaining help. The booklet reviews causes, risk factors and symptoms for PTSD, and provides information on treatment options and how family and friends can support and help in the recovery process.

PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced extreme trauma; been victimized or has witnessed a violent act; or has been repeatedly exposed to life-threatening situations. This includes combat veterans, survivors of a terrorist attack, rape or sexual assault victims, domestic abuse victims, those with childhood trauma, physical attacks, car accidents, school orworkplace violence, natural disasters, or other unexpected, catastrophic, or psychologically distressing events.

Although PTSD symptoms usually appear within several weeks of the trauma, some people don’t experience symptoms until months, even years, later. Once properly diagnosed, PTSD is treatable with psychotherapy, medication or a combination of both.

However, PTSD sufferers often do not seek professional help because they don’t associate their symptoms with a past traumatic event, or they feel helpless as to where to go for help.

The PTSD Alliance is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Inc.

Charlene’s Note:

Every day I find more encouraging resources for helping those affected with PTSD. Hopefully, those who need these resources will take full advantage of them.