MILITARY VETERANS PTSD REFERENCE MANUAL by Inous s. Parrish
The Veterans Administration is currently treating approximately 500,000 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder cases. As of March 1998 a total of 101,978 of those veterans were receiving compensation. There are literally MILLIONS of other combat veterans who suffer from PTSD yet have no idea what is causing their problems or what to do about it.
If you are one of these veterans, you have a choice. You can continue to deny that you have problems (multiple divorces, drinking/drug abuse, un-employability, lack of friends and social activity, flashbacks and nightmares) or seek assistance, with the aid of this manual.
A by-product, not the primary intention, of this book is to assist you, the combat veteran, in securing deserved financial remuneration due you because of your involvement in something so heinous that it will effect you for the rest of your life.
This reference manual for military veterans, medical and professional Service Representatives seeking information on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and how to apply for a disability relating to PTSD. Sources for research and blank forms are provided as well as a comprehensive worksheet.
Chapter 1
History and Definitions of PTSD
Section I. GENERAL
01-01. General. Since you are reading this manual one of the followings things is probably taking place:
a. You think you may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
b. You are being treated for PTSD.
c. You know someone who has PTSD.
Before you begin this journey you need to know what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is. Less than a year ago I did not know what PTSD was and I believed that Veterans who claimed to have PTSD were using their claims to shield them from the consequences of their own stupidity or alcohol/drug abuse. Boy was I wrong. In this chapter I will present a brief history of PTSD and define PTSD in language you can understand so that;
a. You can determine whether or not you may be afflicted with PTSD.
b. When the time comes you will be better equipped to express your symptoms to your doctor, justify your claim in your stress letter, and explain your condition to your interviewer.
Section II. HISTORY
01-02. General. Prior to the studies done on Vietnam veterans, there were very few scientific studies of what we today call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
01-03. The 1800s. During the early 1800s military doctors began diagnosing soldiers with "exhaustion" following the stress of battle. This "exhaustion" was characterized by mental shutdown due to individual or group trauma. Like today, soldiers during the 1800s were not supposed to be afraid or show any fear in the heat of battle. The only treatment for this "exhaustion" was to bring the afflicted soldiers to the rear for a while then send them back into battle. Through extreme and often repeated stress, the soldiers became fatigued as a part of their bodys natural shock reaction.
During that time, in England, there was a syndrome know as "railway spine" or "railway hysteria" that bore a remarkable resemblance to what we call PTSD today, exhibited by people who had been in the catastrophic railway accidents of the period. In 1876 DR. Mendez DaCosta published a paper diagnosing Civil War combat veterans with "Soldiers Heart": The symptoms included startle responses, hyper-vigilance, and heart arrhythmias.
01-04. The 1900s. During WWI overwhelming mental fatigue was diagnosed as "soldiers heart" and "the effort syndrome". An article published on a now restricted Internet web site maintained by Med. Access entitled "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" states that "...some 60,000 of the British forces were diagnosed with the problem and 44,000 of these were retired from the military because they could no longer function in combat". (www.medaccess.com/cfs/cfs_02.htm (this page is no longer accessible without a password)) The term "shell shock" emerged during WWI followed in WWII by the term "combat fatigue." These terms were used to describe those veterans who exhibited stress and anxiety as the result of combat trauma. The official designation of "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" did not come about until 1980 when the Third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published.
The above is only part of chapter one.
Other chapters include: Chapter 2. Causes and Effects
General The Way We Were Memories Brain chemicals Triggers Memory, Concentration, Anger Personal Experiences SITREP 1941-42
Chapter 3. Traditional Treatment
General Lack of Treatment Individual Therapy Group Therapy Family Therapy Rehab VA Programs The Truth of The Matter Personal Experiences SITREP 1943-45
Chapter 4. Non Traditional Treatment: Professionally Assisted
General EMDR Brain wave Altering SITREP 1950-51
Chapter 5. Non Traditional Treatment: Self Help
General Use of Color(s) In therapy Nutritional Healing Sound Wave Therapy Brain Exercises Emotional Memory Management (EMM) Write About It SITREP 1952-53
Chapter 6. Medication
General Symptoms Treated Personal Experiences SITREP 1965-66
Chapter 7. Working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
General Facilities and Services Initial Contact Filing an Application for Disability VA Claims Process Additional Information Appeal of Disability Determination Social Security Benefits Sequence of Events Personal Experiences SITREP 1967-68
Chapter 8. Writing The Stress Letter
General Dangers Supporting Evidence Writing Your Own Letter Getting Help With Writing Your Letter Personal Experiences SITREP 1969-70
Chapter 9. Primary Documentation Sources
General Obtaining Information On Yourself Obtaining Information on Other Soldiers Civilian Archives Additional Sources Personal Experiences SITREP 1971-72
Chapter 10. Letters, Forms, Notices and Statements
General Quick Reference Letters: Actions Not Requiring Forms Standard Forms (SF) Veterans Administration (VA) Forms Personal Experiences SITREP 1973-75
Chapter 11. The Past and Future
General The Past The Future SITREP 1991
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