I’m working on an exciting project with Dr. Harry Croft, a psychiatrist who has evaluated more than 3500 veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for the Veterans Administration.
Dr. Croft is writing a book to help vets with PTSD and their loved ones to understand and deal with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of the disorder.
The book will explain what PTSD is and what the symptoms are. Dr. Croft has found that many vets don’t recognize their symptoms in the clinical descriptions; the book will be simple to read and easy to understand, with no medical jargon. The overview of treatments will familiarize vets with the various options without overwhelming them with details.
Perhaps the most valuable part of the book will be a variety of scenarios of the experiences of many vets and practical advice on dealing with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of PTSD. Each example will include information for the vet, for family and loved ones, and for others (such as employers and coworkers) who interact with the vet.
Dr. Croft has access to many veterans who have been treated clinically for the disorder, but he wants to include examples of vets who have improved through a variety of ways, including self-help.
Do you know a vet with PTSD who has been helped by faith or religious activities, volunteer work, having a pet, or something else? If so, we’d like to hear from him or her. Please e-mail ptsd@lillieammann.com.
We will choose representative examples to include in the book. The vets will not be individually identified, and Dr. Croft may combine information from multiple sources into composite examples.
We recognize that vets with PTSD often find it difficult to talk about their experiences. However, we encourage those who have improved to share valuable help and give hope to others who are still suffering.
photo credit: The U.S. Army.