PTSD

I was listening to the Larry O'Connor Show this afternoon on WMAL and while he was discussing the latest mass shooter atrocity at the synagogue in Poway, a caller named Todd called in and described being in shock that VA facilities had "no security checks" and after all, "veterans have PTSD" and "could bring a weapon in at any time".

I tried to call in to the show to talk to Larry but he very shortly segued into Redskins football and the bored-sounding lady screener let me know that I wouldn't be on.

First of all, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the completely normal human response to some period of time where the person is subjected to experiences that they would never ordinarily experience: strong, unrelenting fear, seeing people killed, including friends, and maybe suffering wounds and permanent damage. When we send our young men and lately women into combat, they are all in some way changed by that experience. During my war, the war in Vietnam, we had mines and booby traps that made you watch the ground very carefully, snipers that could pick you out of a group and kill you, mortar and rocket attacks to hit you in your positions, and ambushes, night attacks, infiltrators, and so on.

PTSD or the "Shakes" were a given. Everyone had some form of it and when we got back, it caused nightmares, the Fliches, maybe broken marriages, maybe drinking, and in some rare cases, suicide.

It has almost never caused violence against others. That was a Hollywood myth that sold a lot of tickets during the aftermath of our war - you know, the "Crazed Vietnam Vet" going bugeyed nuts at the smallest provocation and slaughtering everyone their paths. You know, Rambo and Billy Jack and scores of others on the big screen and TV.

The reality is that most or all of us came home, adjusted, healed and went forward with our lives. If anything veterans are the most stable and solid members of our nation and all that I have see of our latest veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq confirm this view.

I wish that Larry had immediately countered that caller and came to veteran's defense but he didn't.

It may be some comfort to you that, thanks to rapid technological advances, we are learning fascinating things about the human brain.

What happened to you, and so many others, was a light speed shift in biochemistry.

When experiencing overwhelming trauma, the brain and body are ravaged by a sudden flooding of adrenaline. Combine that with the alterations in brain chemistry. It’s critical to understand that these shifts are happening *before* you are consciously aware of the threat.

The human organism is simply not built to handle stressors of that magnitude. Your body gears up for fight/flight/freeze. The brain does all it can to protect you, psychologically.

Here is where the repressed memories and distortions form; along with the (seemingly) irrational behaviors.

Strong emotional and physical responses get unconsciously linked with external events, whether it makes sense or not. The mind can link completely irrelevant minutiae to the event. For instance, a certain sound or smell, something unrelated in the visual field; any of those kinds of things can get inadvertently pegged to the trauma. The unconscious does not judge or analyze. Those are the origins of flashbacks.

This is why odd things that don’t seem related to the original trauma can trigger a flashback or strong emotional response. Or, something reminiscent of the event can trip a wire that sets off an overreaction to the current situation.

Those links have to be dissolved. It’s about 100% impossible to do on your own. You’re not fully conscious of the connections.

Another caveat: while I desperately want anyone who struggles with PTSD to get treatment, it is absolutely *essential* to work with a qualified professional only. There are therapists who specialize abuse recovery.

I am very sorry for all you have been through. I thank you for your service and sacrifices.

I have PTSD from escaping the bombing of the World Trade Center.

I am glad you survived, so sorry you had to go through that. Cannot imagine that horror.

I hope you sought out treatment. I was diagnosed with PTSD 15 years ago. Went through EMDR treatment to help with it. Took several years to get mine under control, thankfully I did. Wouldn't wish PTSD on anyone. I can only speak for myself, whenever I had an "episode" it was the most disabling, powerless feeling I'd ever have. I'd get tunnel vision, feel like whereever I was, was spinning out of control and the "whooooosh!!!" noise that filled my head was unbearable.

Nowhere near that bad anymore thankfully. I've learned to remove myself from whatever situation is triggering an event and calm myself down. Treatment helped a lot.

Very interesting and informative post, thank you. I guess that it remains to be seen what results will come of this and other treatments.

Since my events 52 years ago, I have had many long hours of contemplation about the many changes that happened. I remember the “flinches” - now called the Startle Reaction - and of course, nightmares. The most common for me was a small sound, a distant pop. Then some seconds later, a louder pop. Then a much louder pop. Then a loud, shattering Bang and I’d fall out of bed.

But what nobody mentions is that combat also heightens the senses. You found out that you had instincts you never knew you had and after you returned, everything else seemed intensely boring.

It didn’t help that people at home were either indifferent or openly hostile. My fellow workers at Lockheed thought it was great fun to drop a sheet of metal behind me when I wasn’t expecting it and watch me dive towards the ground while they yelled “hit the deck, hit the deck” and laughed.

I was spat upon very a very attractive young woman, and told I deserved the wounds I had for “taking part in an unjust, immoral war”

I drank myself to sleep for a long time until things finally settled down.

Very happy that they treat this generation of veterans than they did mine.

Yes, you and your fellow soldiers really had it coming at you from all directions.

Back in the 60s, nobody knew about PTSD. It was still called “shell shock”, or “battle fatigue” in most quarters.

Effective treatment options were not available. Even seeking treatment was stigmatized.

And compounding the suffering, our troops had to return home to an ungrateful nation that had lost its moral compass, seemingly, overnight.

I am sorry for all you have endured. And, I thank you for your service to our country.

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