Waging War on PTSD

When it comes to numbers, the going rate of PTSD is usually one out of three. Some say one out of five. The difference is between a fast change in the survivor or one that comes long after.

They can look back and see it through history but as much as they look back if they do not understand what opens the door to it, they will never really find what works for them to heal.

To "Know your enemy" finds a way to defeat them. This enemy invader will keep winning until the day comes when they understand what makes some changed so drastically while others walk away. The key to this is in their soul. How much they care, how deeply they feel, is the difference between grieving and healing.

Many US veterans have been mentally scarred by recent conflicts

US military wages war on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

After long campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, many US soldiers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, prompting the US military to develop ways to help them, the BBC's Paul Adams in Washington reports.

Twelve soldiers sit on the floor, with eyes closed, focussing on their sacral chakra. They chant in unison.

An audience listens attentively to the words of a Greek tragedy, written 2,500 years ago.

And a young man, mentally scarred, trains a dog to open doors for an injured colleague.

These are surprising scenes from the US military's 21st Century war on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We're looking at skyrocketing suicide rates, and we recently hit the 30-year high Tim Embree, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

It's been more than eight years since the US went to war in Afghanistan, and more than seven since it invaded Iraq.

In that time, almost two million American men and women have been sent to one or other battlefield. Many have been sent to both.

It's hard to know precisely how many have already suffered PTSD, or will do as a result of their traumatic experiences, but experts believe the number is high.

Family distress

Dr Charles Engel, director of the Pentagon's Deployment Health Clinical Center based at the Walter Reed military hospital in Washington, extrapolates on the basis of past experience.



The Theatre of War programme has a huge healing effect, medics say
"What we usually think of in terms of PTSD are numbers of the order of 10-15% of people who've been deployed to theatre being affected," he says.

That would be 200,000-300,000 people.

"I think it's safe to say we haven't grappled with it since Vietnam," says Dr Engel.

Recent surveys have all shown that PTSD is taking its toll on military men and women and their families, with symptoms including depression, substance abuse, domestic violence.

"We're looking at skyrocketing suicide rates," says Tim Embree, of the campaigning group, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, "and we recently hit the 30-year high."
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8634277.stm