Alaska Veterans Affairs helps with post traumatic stress disorder

Alaska Veterans Affairs helps with post traumatic stress disorder
by Joy Mapaye
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Reports show 18 to 20 percent of veterans in Iraq or Afghanistan will develop post traumatic stress disorder or depression within a year or two after combat.

It's a percentage many health agencies in Alaska are taking very seriously.

Ken Ryther came face to face with war's realities back in 1967, during the Vietnam conflict.

"We had artillery fire. You can hear them shoot it. I saw a lot of death, dying soldiers," said Ryther.

Ryther's job was to help those injured on the front lines. He saw what many others would never want or wish to see. Once his tour was complete, he kept it all bottled up inside.

"So when I came home, yeah, I had major sleep disturbances. I was angry, confused; disillusioned," said Ryther.

For decades, Ryther had problems with his marriage, family and friends. He didn't realize that the war had stayed with him in the form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"When you have PTSD, you don't recognize that you got it. You don't know what's wrong with you. There's a lot dysfunctionality."
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