Former Vietnam Vet Mullen urges appreciation of U.S. military

Former Vietnam Vet Mullen urges appreciation of U.S. military

The chairman, who has spent 41 years in uniform, reflected on his early years of service as a Vietnam War veteran. He said he never wants another servicemember to experience humility and disgrace when wearing their uniform.

"As a Vietnam vet, I have lived and served in a time when America walked away from her military, when wearing the uniform was the last thing you wanted to do in public,” he said. “No returning warrior should ever feel that scorn again."

COSTOS FOR THE LOVE OF JACK


“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand the mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could move mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” St. Paul Corinthians 13:1-2


COSTOS FOR THE LOVE OF JACK

PTSD
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Presented by
Kathie Costos


Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

•The common causes;
–War
–Public services such as police and fire department incidences
–Abuse/rape
–Violence/crime
–Terrorism


–Natural Disasters




Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

•PTSD was once linked to participants of war. Many years ago they called it “shell shock” because those who suffered were visibly seen to twitch or jump while their nerves were uncontrollable.

•Vietnam changed the way the psychiatric community viewed those who suffered. From the research done on Vietnam Veterans guidelines were established that assisted in the treatment of a wide range of mental illnesses.
September 11th 2001

•When this Nation was attacked by terrorists the psychiatric community was prepared and they were rushed to treat the thousands of people traumatized by this unspeakable inhumanity.
•They helped the victims and the first responders who valiantly rushed to their aid.
•Years later we are still feeling the pain from the loss of life and the loss of our sense of security.
Thousands still suffer from PTSD


•The government estimates that 500,000 Vietnam Veterans sufferer from PTSD. Many are no longer with us. They were unable to cope with the illness and the symptoms so severe that it destroyed their families, their ability to work and their ability to find hope. Alcohol and drugs that were used as self-medication no longer killed memories or calmed nerves.
Those who fought in war are joined by thousands of others.


•Terror
–Anyone who has been in a life threatening situation.
–Anyone who has been beaten.
–Anyone who has been raped.
–Anyone who has been involved in something they lost control of.
–Storms, accidents, abuse, gang crimes, and military actions.
–All potential catalysts for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.



National Center for Post-traumatic Stress
Effects of traumatic stress in a disaster situation.


•There are many effects on people with PTSD, emotional as well as physical. These are the major effects associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

•
Effects of Traumatic Stress in a Disaster Situation
National Center of Post Traumatic Stress

Modified from
Disaster Mental Health Response Handbook
Emotional and Cognitive

•Emotional effects
–Shock
–Terror
–Irritability
–Blame




–Anger
–Guilt
–Grief or sadness
–Emotional numbing
–Loss of pleasure
–Difficulty feeling happy
–Difficulty experiencing loving feelings


•Cognitive effects
–Impaired concentration
–Impaired decision making ability
–Memory impairment
–Disbelief
–Confusion
–Nightmares
–Decreased self-esteem
–Decreased self-efficacy
–Self-blame
–Intrusive thoughts and memories
–Worry
–Dissociation
–Dreamlike or spacey feeling


Physical and Interpersonal



•Physical Effects
–Fatigue, exhaustion
–Insomnia
–Cardiovascular strain
–Startle response
–Hyper-arousal
–Increased physical pain
–Reduced immune response
–Headaches
–Gastrointestinal upset
–Decreased appetite
–Decreased libido
–Vulnerability to illness


•Interpersonal Effects
–Increased relational conflict
–Social withdrawal
–Reduced relational intimacy
–Alienation
–Impaired work performance
–Impaired school performance
–Decreased satisfaction
–Distrust
–Externalization of blame





–Feeling abandoned or rejected
–Over protectiveness

–
What to do.

•The best advice I can give is that you first understand what PTSD is. Once you know what you are dealing with, it is easier to deal with.
•Not understanding leads to conclusions that are wrong.
•Not understanding prolongs recovery.
•Understanding leads to healing and finding peace with the past.
5.2 million have PTSD during the course of a year.
•7.8% of Americans deal with PTSD
•According to the National Center for PTSD
•1,700,000 Vietnam Veterans in all have experienced “clinical” serious stress reaction symptoms.
•Nearly 500,000 or roughly 15% Vietnam Theater veterans had PTSD from a survey conducted from 1986-1988.



The numbers are increasing

•The Veterans Administration has seen an increase in the numbers of veterans from Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq seeking treatment.
•September 11th added to the civilian population seeking treatment.
•Weather related issues are also adding to the numbers of people seeking help in this country and around the world.
The new generation

•The new generation of war wounded from Afghanistan to Iraq troops will suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at a rate of one out of five.
•We are seeing the changes in those who return from these missions and already the families are asking “Why?”
•Until the general public has some understanding as to the nature of the illness, more families will ask the same question. We need to start giving answers.
We can and must change attitudes toward mental illness.

•Our attitude toward anyone claiming they have a mental illness keeps them from seeking help.
•Healing is possible with medication and treatment.
•Yet it can only get worse without help.



•Learn all you can and support those who are in need of help.
Author of FOR THE LOVE OF JACK
•FOR THE LOVE OF JACK by Kathie Costos
•In a time when half of all marriages end in divorce, they stayed together. When most were only interested in their own happiness, they remembered what love was. What she did, she did because it was the right thing to do and she did it for the love of Jack.
The book is our story.


•But it could be about anyone who suffers with PTSD. It was written to assist by offering the facts from the standpoint of life and not clinical observations. Although books from this perspective helped to understand what the illness was, they did little to guide in how to live with it.
I am not alone!


•Considering how many people have PTSD and other illnesses because of PTSD I knew I was not alone. You are not alone either. There are many places to go for help, support and understanding.


Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com copy right 2002
Revised

The right to publish and reproduce is expressly granted to the NEW ENGLAND SHELTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS with the best wishes of the author Kathie Costos free of charge. You may share this work with anyone provided you adhere to copy right laws. For further information or permission to reproduce, contact Namguardianangel@aol.com.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast our devils : freely ye have received, freely give.

The words of Christ as direction to His Disciples Matthew 10:8

That part right there is how I got into this mess in the first place. I wanted to do this part time and was very happy doing it back before 9-11. By the time I finished the book, I knew part time wouldn't be possible any more. Now is not the time for me to jump back on my soap box and lament the passing of innocence among the dog eat dog do-goods implanted among the righteous. Now is the time to offer some insight to those who have yet to see.

The shame inflicted on the Vietnam veterans by some to their faces, was not the greatest insult to them. The greatest insult to them was the men in charge, in leadership over them, refusing to fight for them.

I thought long and hard about this but it is being replicated today when leaders untouched by their own deep demons, refused to do anything for their men and women in their command when they were killing themselves suffering from the hounds of hell at their heals. They knew but some refused to acknowledge the same condition their own fathers returned from war with. Today, they do the same when they refuse to see what Vietnam veterans returned from war with ignoring the veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The reports came out years ago about the suicides, the depth of suffering, the numbers rising at the same time redeployments added to the problem. We heard lip service when we were told every measure was being taken to save lives and "heal" the warrior mind. They put out programs to shut the public up for a time while they pretended to do something, but we saw the numbers go up. This wasn't leadership. This was a deadly deception by some. Other generals, commanders, all the way down the line were waiting for real answers and for someone to finally stop more dying after war than died during it, but they are still waiting.

Admiral Mullen, I think is a very nice man and that he really cares, but it's time for him to stop looking at the easy targets of his own regrets and begin to look at what we really got wrong in this country when it came to those we sent to risk their lives. He will find only what he seeks and if he thinks he already has the answers to the problems Vietnam veterans came home with, he'll never look for the truth.

If you want to read my book go herehttp://www.namguardianangel.com/