Combat Veterans with PTSD need to beware of a hack

It gives me no pleasure to read what Sue Frazier has to say about PTSD or veterans. It is because of the harm people like her cause, masquerading as advocates for veterans, that force me once again to address her rants.

From: Sue Frasier
Subject: Re:PTSD: REPLY

PTSD is a real and valid cause
but not the way many of you
are putting it out.

PTSD only effects a small and
teeny percentage of the population
some 17% and getting smaller,
and out of that number, many
are cured or recovered along
they way (the Veterans themselves
say so).

PTSD is not even the leading
psychiatric diagnoses in the
VA system --- schizophrenia
is and that does make a lot
more sense to me as I do
see more of that than any
real PTSD in my travels.
Schizophrenia is organic
and means they either had
it when they were drafted or
acquired it from long term
drug abuse. It's the doper
crowd who are clouding the issue.
take care everybody and
have a nice day.
Sue Frasier, albany ny

combatvetswithptsd : Message: Re: [Combat Vets with PTSD] Who is Susan Frasier ?

Frazier or Frasier, has attacked veterans on the Combat Vets with PTSD group. Think of what she said to them and then think about the truth. Below are the causes of both illnesses, which she has no idea about.

Schizophrenia
Introduction
Experts now agree that schizophrenia develops as a result of interplay between biological predisposition (for example, inheriting certain genes) and the kind of environment a person is exposed to.

These lines of research are converging: brain development disruption is now known to be the result of genetic predisposition and environmental stressors early in development (during pregnancy or early childhood), leading to subtle alterations in the brain that make a person susceptible to developing schizophrenia. Environmental factors later in life (during early childhood and adolescence) can either damage the brain further and thereby increase the risk of schizophrenia, or lessen the expression of genetic or neurodevelopmental defects and decrease the risk of schizophrenia.

The Path to Schizophrenia - The diagram above shows how genetic and prenatal factors are believed to create a vulnerability to schizophrenia. Additional envronmental exposures (for example, frequent or ongoing social stress and/or isolation during childhood, drug abuse, etc.) then further increase the risk or trigger the onset of psychosis and schizophrenia. Early signs of schizophrenia risk include neurocognitive impairments, social anxiety (shyness) and isolation and "odd ideas". (note: "abuse of DA drugs" referes to dopamine affecting (DA) drugs). Source: Presentation by Dr. Ira Glick,"New Schizophrenia Treatments" Read below for an indepth explanation of the genetic and environmental factors linked to schizophrenia.
Neither of these two categories is completely determinant, and there is no specified amount of genetic or environmental input that will ensure someone will or will not develop schizophrenia. Moreover, risk factors may be different for different individuals - while one person may develop schizophrenia due largely to a strong family history of mental illness (i.e. a high level of genetic risk), someone else with much less genetic vulnerability may also develop the disease due to a more significant combination of prepregnancy factors, pregnancy stress, other prenatal factors, social stress, family stress or environmental factors that they experience during their childhood, teen or early adult years.
http://www.schizophrenia.com/hypo.php

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat. More about PTSD »
Signs & Symptoms
People with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to. They may experience sleep problems, feel detached or numb, or be easily startled. More about Signs & Symptoms »
Treatment
Effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with PTSD and other anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. More about Treatment »
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

What she fails to understand is that PTSD is caused by trauma. That is why it's called Post-traumatic-stress-disorder. Obvious to anyone paying even minimal attention to this. It is not caused by the person. I have my suspicions about people like this "advocate" and put her in line with fellow dispensers of bitchery like Sally Satel, who have done more harm to the already wounded than should be forgiven.

When you are attacked by people, telling you that PTSD is not such a big problem, turn to the experts and find the tools you need to help you recover. Hacks will only make it worse for you. Go to the Veteran's Administration for facts.
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp

Do not turn to hacks pretending to give a crap when they end up attacking you.

PTSD is not cured. You can recover and heal your life, but you are never totally free of it.

At least 3.6 percent of U.S. adults (5.2 million Americans) have PTSD during the course of a year.

About 30 percent of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD.

One million war veterans developed PTSD after serving in Vietnam.

PTSD has also been detected among veterans of the Persian Gulf War, with some estimates running as high as 8 percent.
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/ptsd

As you can see the percentage is not tiny and not getting smaller. It is one out of three for combat veterans.

ASD
Acute Stress Disorder
If PTSD is the most severe form of deployment-related stress problem, then the closely related Acute Stress Disorder, ASD, is the second most severe form. Both involve exposure to a significant traumatic event and a response of intense emotions. Overall ASD looks and feels a lot like PTSD. There are, however, a few very important differences.

First, ASD does not last as long as PTSD. In most cases, ASD lasts less than 1 month. If symptoms last longer than that, then the person may have PTSD rather than ASD. Second, in addition to the re-experiencing, avoiding, and being "keyed-up" that is associated with PTSD, people who have ASD also experience "dissociation." Basically, dissociation occurs when the mind and the body part company for a while. Examples of dissociation are listed in the following table.
(click link for table)
http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/deployment/Guides/RedeploymentTri-Fold/Deployment_Related_Stress.pdf

What is also not addressed is that the Army released their own study about the redeployments and they increase the risk of PTSD by 50%.

There are too many people in this country putting out false information for their own reasons, but none of the reasons are good or for the sake of those who serve this country.

Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com