Looking for Vets with PTSD Who Have Improved
February 5, 2010 by Lillie
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.
That sounds like a great project, Lillie! I am sure it will be a very helpful book to both vets and their families. There was a story in my local paper about a vet who was suffering from PTSD. He saw his men get shot down in Iraq and he still has nightmares about it. He and his mother have been trying to get Veterans’ Benefits to help him pay for medical care because it’s really bad. Unfortunately, the article had no happy ending and, as far as I know, his mother was still petitioning the VA to help him obtain treatment. Anyway, I hope this book will help the several veterans suffering from PTSD. Good luck with this!
Dawn,
It is a great project, and I’m really enjoying working on it.
PTSD is such a terrible problem to deal with and there are so many vets suffering with it. There’s a lot going on with the VA’s treatment and benefits, which makes it even more difficult to handle.
Dr. Croft wants to offer help and hope to vets with PTSD and those who interact with them—regardless of what the VA does or doesn’t do. Stories without happy endings abound—he’s looking for the successes and happy endings to help others.
This must be your most important book, Lillie. There are bound to be vets who are suffering in silence out there. This book will reach out to those who don’t seek medical help, too. For caregivers and loved ones encouragement is essential. My experience caring for a person after trauma and depression includes several of your suggestions. Prayer, including hands on prayer, an unconditionally loving pet who hugs happily, praying for patience, lots of patience and did I say patience.
Patsy,
You mention “suffering in silence”—that’s the title of a chapter in Dr. Croft’s book! He says that many of the Vietnam vets he sees have never talked about their war experiences or their symptoms to anyone in all these years.
I appreciate hearing about your experience. We want to share similar experiences that can give help and hope to those suffering in silence.
Looking forward for this book and my sincere wishes and all the best on your project Lillie. Your posts always do something to the society. You are an inspiration to all of us. May god bestow happiness and peace on you.
Alan@Tulsa Homes´s last blog ..Protecting your Tulsa Property from Flood Damage
You are very kind, Alan.
As a Vet I am so glad this is being done. The numbers of those returning from the currents wars with PTSD is astonishing to say the least.
In addition, the VA response is not always timely or adequate so I am glad to see that at least this information will be available to my fellow soldiers.
For me and all other Vets, thank you!
Dominique´s last blog ..Telling MYSELF the truth
Dominique,
Even if the VA were perfect, many vets would still find it difficult to go through VA treatment for a variety of reasons.
As you are doing with your own medical challenges (I clicked over and read some of your blog and subscribed to your feed), vets with PTSD can take responsibility for their own treatment. We know there are things that help in addition to conventional medical treatment, and we want to give vets options. Most of all, we want to let vets with PTSD know they aren’t alone and give them hope that they can get better.
Lillie – you are absolutely right in that vets need to take responsibility for their own treatment.
Although I use the VA when I absolutely have to, I have come to a place where I seek quite a bit of my treatment outside of the VA for a variety of reasons. But, again, I had to come to a point where I realized that I have to figure out what is best for me and move forward.
I hope that many Vets will take advantage of the information you will be able to give them so they can take control of their health and their destiny!
I look forward to reading more of your future posts!
Dominique´s last blog ..Telling MYSELF the truth
Thank you, Dominique. I’m excited about working on this with Dr. Croft. He’s seen so many vets with PTSD and is eager to help them.
I like that you’ve decided not to use medical jargon in your book. That’s going to play a huge role in it being accessible to the people who need it. Jargon can be an extremely useful thing – it lets doctors speak to one another efficiently, without having to resort to a bunch of “you know that thing that happens when …?” But it’s a barrier for everyone else.
Forrest´s last blog ..Granite Mountain Lookout
Forrest,
Yes, we’re trying to make this book as reader-friendly as possible. It’s meant to be a self-help book so it has to be easily understood by vets with PTSD and those who interact with them.
How much does treatment for PTSD cost in Southern California? I’m a freshman in college and am suffering from PTSD from an abusive relationship, and want to find someone to help me get through it. Is it expensive? I have no money and neither does anyone who would be willing to help!
David,
I suggest you go to your college’s health clinic. They should be able to refer you to affordable treatment.
You can also search online. In researching this book, I’m finding lots of information about PTSD. However, I can’t offer you much help because I’m specifically focusing on PTSD in combat veterans so haven’t followed up on anything else. I have a Google alert for PTSD and get tons of links every day. You might search for “PTSD treatment in southern California.”
Also look into programs that help victims of abuse—you may get some help there, not necessarily financial, but maybe referrals to agencies that can help you.
Who diagnosed you with PTSD? Did you ask them for referrals for affordable treatment?
Working with the psychiatrist on this book has convinced me that early treatment is critical. Many of the Vietnam veterans have suffered with this untreated disorder for decades, and their lives have been terribly and severely impacted.
Please find help now. It may take some effort on your part to find the help, but I know you can find it if you don’t give up.
Wow, Lillie- This is right up my alley. My narrative nonfiction/memoir details the journey my father and I took when more than 60 years after his service during WWII, he began having flashbacks and nightmares. And yes, he refused to seek any help at all. The wonderful and amazing part is actually the end of the book. And I’m not sure I want to give it away here. But what we did caused his PTSD symptoms to be completely gone for an entire year. I’d love to talk with this man. Too bad he isn’t going to give credit for stories, as I would love to have that for networking/marketing purposes. Still, if it helps a veteran, I’m all for it. Thank you for this information!
Karen,
It’s not that he doesn’t want to give credit—it’s just that most vets with PTSD don’t want to be identified, and we want people to feel comfortable responding.
Dr. Croft is also including a list of books and other resources he recommends. Your book might be a good candidate for that list.
I will pass your information along to him.
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