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Saturday, August 8, 2009

PTSD Still Affecting Vietnam Vets

PTSD Still Affecting Vietnam Vets


Grand Island
Posted: 6:52 PM Aug 7, 2009
Last Updated: 6:57 PM Aug 7, 2009
Reporter: Sara Geake
Email Address: sara.geake@kolnkgin.com

Vietnam Vets & PTSD, Sara Geake reports





More Vietnam War veterans are asking for help for post traumatic stress disorder.

The disorder was a topic at the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion Friday.

Only about three percent of Americans have PTSD, but 30 percent of Vietnam veterans admit they suffer from the disorder.

Another 20 to 25 percent have enough symptoms to affects their life.

But not everyone reports their symptoms, and the symptoms can resurface over time.

More than three decades after the war ended, Vietnam Veterans fill a room at the reunion to learn more about PTSD.

Dr. Krista Krebs says she's seeing more veterans from the era seeking help these days, and many for the first time.
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PTSD Still Affecting Vietnam Vets


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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 8, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    Thanks for your work. I served with the 75th infantry (Rangers) doing recon work. I have not suffered any lingering effects, and I often wonder why not. "There but for the grace of God, go I" is all I can say.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kathie CostosAugust 8, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    I didn't serve but I wondered the same thing most of my life. I have all the characteristics veterans like my husband have, including deeply compassionate. A long list of traumatic, life threatening events in my life, but here I am without suffering from PTSD.

    You are partly right about the grace of God, because that is part of the reason I believe I don't have it. Faith not only sustains me, it renews me and God provides what I need to heal. The other difference is that I also talked a lot after the events until I had nothing more to say. It was not that I escaped being touched by the events in my life, but was able to recover from them with help.

    For combat veterans like you, you didn't receive the help you needed right after the events and had no one to talk to other than God. If you understood His love the right way, then you were able to trust Him to help you heal. Too many stop trusting Him because they never really knew Him. I think you knew Him well enough to not let go of His hand.

    If you know any veterans with PTSD, share what you know about God with them. It may help them to see themselves differently.

    ReplyDelete

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