PTSD:MTV True Life Tries To Save A Vet

Local veteran of Iraq war to be featured on MTV show
Austin American-Statesman - Austin,TX,USA

Adam Coleman, 26, will share his experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder in 'True Life' episode.
By Joshunda Sanders

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Saturday, December 06, 2008

Round Rock native Adam Coleman, 26, became a Marine to see the world and "do some good," he said. "I thought it'd be an easy way to be proactive and get something accomplished."

Coleman found himself in Iraq three times after he enlisted in 2002. After what he called increasingly violent deployments, Coleman was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when he left the Marines. The disorder develops in some war veterans and survivors of other traumatic experiences and can trigger violent episodes and flashbacks. Coleman is one of three war veterans featured tonight in a new episode of MTV's documentary series "True Life."

MTV executives say the show reflects the state of youth culture at any given moment by documenting the lives of young people from myriad perspectives. Coleman agreed to be on the show, in part, to raise awareness about the increasing number of young war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress.

A recent Pentagon study estimates that one in six veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan reports symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The condition affects an estimated 7.7 million adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

"PTSD is something that people hear about, but they don't really know what it is," Coleman said. "They imagine Tom Cruise on ('Born on) the Fourth of July' or the crazy Vietnam veteran. But there are a lot of people out there — and new, younger guys coming back — with it. This will give people an opportunity to see what it is and what it's like."

Medication didn't seem to work, though he tried several types, he said. He moved to Alaska for a summer to get away, then tried taking sleeping pills to no avail. In July , he and several other veterans started Save a Vet (saveavet.com ), a charity that raises money to build a treatment center that will not require medication for war veterans suffering from PTSD.
click link above for more

"True Life: I Have PTSD” on MTV

I was sent this by email and it is an amazing thing to watch. This is what they are going through and not enough is being done to help them. When they have PTSD, the tears come because the wall that was protecting them from harm is being broken down. When you watch him break down, understand that he in the process of healing from great emotional turmoil.

Here is a clip from the episode that you can share with your readers:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0POxbds4do



And here is a description of the episode:



5pm - “True Life: I Have PTSD”- One in five veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan report symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental illness that causes depression, inability to trust, constant alertness, nightmares and fits of rage. If untreated, severe PTSD can last a lifetime and make it impossible to hold down a job, form a lasting relationship, stay sober or lead a satisfying life. Yet only half of veterans with symptoms seek treatment. In this episode of MTV’s “True Life,” viewers will see what it’s really like to live with PTSD through three young veterans who are struggling to get their lives back on track.

The Think Community at think.mtv.com will help educate and connect viewers with content and provide them with the necessary help with issues featured in the "True Life: I Have PTSD” episode. Viewers will also be able to comment on the show and the issues on think.mtv.com.

NAMI and MTV looking for PTSD veterans

Received from email

MTV True Life: I Have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This hour-long MTV documentary will chronicle the lives of three young veterans of the Iraq War who have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. It will follow them for approximately five months as they attempt to treat or live with the disorder.
We will film and tell these stories with the utmost respect for the veterans and their families. The documentary has no political agenda whatsoever; our goal is to describe PTSD to our young audience and inform them through our subjects' stories.
About True Life:
True Life is a documentary series that's been on MTV for 10 years. Each episode of "True Life" is about a different topic. Most of the topics have some global, social or personal importance, like this one. Some of them are about youth culture, like episodes about gamers or cheerleaders. All episodes aim to tell deeply personal stories. There is no host, reporter or narrator. The young people tell their own stories in their own voices.
Our goal is to put young people across the country in our subjects' shoes. We hope that by portraying our subjects' lives, we will help young people understand complex issues.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for veterans of the Iraq War who appear to be 28 years old or younger and have either been diagnosed with PTSD or have symptoms of PTSD. We're looking for veterans who are willing to share their struggle with PTSD with a national audience.
How We Make "True Life" & How We'll Film This Episode
Once we've determined whom we're going to follow, we begin filming them at moments and events that are important to their story. We don't film them all the time and everywhere – we try to select dates that are relevant to their struggle with PTSD. We try to be as unobtrusive as possible by filming with only a two-person crew and a small digital video camera. Our goal is for people to forget we're even there. We don't influence our subject in any way. We typically film between 25 and 35 hours of each person we're following. We'll get those hours two or three days at a time over the course of three to four months. Our subjects can stop filming if they're uncomfortable or if there's a problem. We edit the stories ourselves, with input from executives at MTV. The executives never ask us to include anything that isn't thoroughly fact-checked.
Punched in the Head Productions
We are a small independent production company that's been contracted by MTV to produce certain episodes of "True Life." We're usually asked to produce the more "weighty" episodes, like "I'm Home from Iraq," "I Have Autism" and "I Have Schizophrenia." Many of our previous episodes are online at truelife.mtv.com in the "Videos" section of the site.
Contact Information
If you or someone you know is interested in speaking with us about participating in this documentary, please contact us at:
ptsd@mtvn.com or tlptsd@gmail.com
718-422-0706
Please include your name, contact information, and a description of your story. Please tell us about your military experience and your current military status. Please tell us if you've been diagnosed or treated for PTSD.


Christine Armstrong
Media Relations Associate
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

christinea@nami.org