tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-223079852009-07-20T00:04:48.781-05:00<a href="http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-ptsd-combat.html">Welcome Home</a>. <br><br>While a wide variety of events can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder, this PTSD blog focuses solely on the <a href="http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2006/03/combat-ptsd-what-are-symptoms.html">combat-related</a> variety. As a new generation of combat vets returns to civilian life and seeks out resources, <b>PTSD Combat</b> is here to help.Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.comBlogger968125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-86825236630133185612009-07-19T21:51:00.024-05:002009-07-19T23:57:45.424-05:00

A real thrill tonight to have a turn as a guest poster for the Netroots For The Troops [on facebook] series over at Daily Kos.NFTT is a collaborative of online bloggers who came together at last years' Netroots Nation Convention, having collected donations and purchased needed care package items in advance, to pack boxes and ship them to soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. By all accounts,

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-68387819794849339562009-07-19T15:43:00.011-05:002009-07-19T16:21:38.668-05:00

Building upon some of the data-rich news clips shared earlier this week, a few more grafs to consider.Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times:About 37% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have mental health problems, a nearly 50% increase from the last time the prevalence was calculated, according to a new study published today analyzing national Department of Veterans Affairs data.The

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-77305379693783689322009-07-17T22:08:00.005-05:002009-07-18T09:48:12.178-05:00

Last month, the perennially self-important showbiz legend-in-his-own-mind Stephen Colbert went to Iraq at the behest of the USO, setting out to both entertain the troops and the folks back home by taping a week's worth of Colbert Report shows.Dubbing his brief tour "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando," the Comedy Central comedian gained at least one fan for his efforts. Christina Everett, NY

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-22331475903960858702009-07-17T19:23:00.016-05:002009-07-18T09:30:31.804-05:00

Nineteen years ago today, on July 17, 1990, as scientists embarked on the mapping of the human genome, Congress and former President George H.W. Bush proclaimed the 1990's to be the 'Decade of the Brain,' stating:The human brain, a 3-pound mass of interwoven nerve cells that controls our activity, is one of the most magnificent--and mysterious--wonders of creation.The seat of human intelligence,

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-34510010797696795072009-07-15T20:43:00.019-05:002009-07-17T13:57:02.182-05:00

I'm always on the look-out for veteran-related stats, and I imagine that many of you are, too. In March 2007, I compiled a master list of data culled from news reports and studies; The War List: OEF/OIF Statistics quickly became (and remains) one of the most popular pages on this blog.Unfortunately, I haven't had as much time as I'd like these past couple of years to return to it and overhaul it

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-55419089938856553012009-07-14T20:58:00.014-05:002009-07-15T07:07:39.040-05:00

While most in Washington have been busily paying attention to the Sotomayor hearings this week, the Senate Veterans Affairs' Committee met Tuesday morning to consider the quality of VA care provided to our nation's 1.8 million female veterans.Some, but certainly not all, of their concerns regarding access to their health benefits reflect the same frustrations felt by their male counterparts.

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-65972327077462023462009-07-14T15:34:00.002-05:002009-07-15T06:08:44.258-05:00

In the Madison, Wisc., Rockford or Chicago, Ill., area and interested in supporting a returning veteran on an inspiring and, frankly, novel home front mission? Well, your chance arrives in early August in the form of Tyler Boudreau's 'The Other Side' Cross-Country Cycle Tour.Currently Boudreau, a former 12-year Marine captain who served in Iraq and later wrote to tell about it in Packing Inferno:

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-44729140249091369692009-06-13T09:27:00.006-05:002009-06-13T09:45:53.753-05:00

Hello, long-neglected readers.Thanks for your patience as my writing here has stopped the past weeks while I completed my studies last month, tended to home and family responsibilities, and taken some vacation time. In the meantime, you're invited to join me at Facebook, where I often share veterans' issue-related links and other various information. I will return to posting here in late June.My

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-2618707471159670172009-05-11T13:18:00.010-05:002009-05-11T13:41:55.975-05:00

Marine Week will be hosted by different cities each year offering residents and visitors a chance to attend any number of free events. It also offers Marines a chance to give back directly to and interact directly with their own communities.Details:Established to recognize the contributions of local Marine heroes, their families, and the cities from which they came, Marine Week also showcases the

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-76455168898773586112009-05-11T09:28:00.073-05:002009-06-10T19:01:25.982-05:00

UPDATE #2 May 12, 10:37 pm -- Added official statements to this tragedy by Steve Robinson, a veteran and advocate, Paul Sullivan, Exec Director of Veterans for Common Sense, and IAVA's Paul Rieckhoff.UPDATE #1 May 11, 2009 12:12 pm -- The New York Times is reporting that the shooter is in custody, and was not among those killed in the incident as early news reports suggested.CBS Evening News [

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-82452686626217870622009-05-10T00:08:00.010-05:002009-05-10T03:13:46.438-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!The most wonderful of spring days to all of you who have put your time and love and energy into caring for your children, making sure they have the tools and confidence to go out into the world and live a full, healthy and productive life. For our military mothers, the pride of seeing her child -- now, all grown up -- in uniform, must be an enormous one. On par with their first

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-55294205947277289792009-04-08T22:39:00.003-05:002009-04-08T22:46:00.763-05:00

The Boston Globe | Dunkin' will help vets with Iced Coffee Day - "Dunkin' Donuts, the Canton-based chain of coffee-and-baked-goods shops, announced an Iced Coffee Day on April 21 that aims to benefit injured veterans. On Iced Coffee Day, the price for a small cup of iced coffee will be reduced to 50 cents at participating shops, the chain said; for every small iced coffee purchased on this day,

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-1315755424283100882009-04-08T21:16:00.011-05:002009-04-08T22:21:06.645-05:00

And now, back to reality.After my glowing post yesterday, nodding to the many Army generals nudging military culture into the 21st century by admitting that anyone can and does get PTSD, it doesn't take long for things to come crashing back down to reality.Michael de Yoanna and Mark Benjamin for Salon:For more than a year he's been seeking treatment at Fort Carson for a brain injury and

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-595561898934799912009-04-06T14:26:00.030-05:002009-04-06T17:53:27.614-05:00

Wisdom. What is it?Something forged out of experience, certainly. Usually that wisdom-forging insight stems from a walk down a challenging or difficult path, and combat experience would surely qualify here, one requiring either cognitive or physical effort (or both) to overcome.Cognitive elements might include grappling with the events of one's own life as well as contemplating the greater

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-22236506513814898092009-04-06T11:19:00.000-05:002009-04-06T11:22:28.183-05:00

Acupuncture Today | Weighing the Costs - "Advocates for the integrated approach in the treatment of PTSD at both Ft. Hood and Ft. Bliss were convinced that the traditional methods of treating PTSD weren't long enough in duration, intense enough or comprehensive enough. A program was created that would address all aspects of PTSD and treat the whole soldier. This integrative approach treats many

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-40015411220344911902009-03-30T00:29:00.005-05:002009-03-30T01:55:32.999-05:00

Recently in the news:The Associated Press | VA hires vets to go find comrades who need help - "Graner is one of 100 former service members hired nationally by the Department of Veterans Affairs as outreach specialists to help get Iraq and Afghanistan veterans into programs aimed at easing their transition back to civilian life. They frequent job fairs, welcome-home events and other places where

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-31343957120900367662009-03-29T22:07:00.030-05:002009-03-30T01:59:29.150-05:00

"It's either her or me in this engine room!"One of my favorite films of all time (a close second to Some Like it Hot) is Operation Petticoat released in 1959 by MGM, featuring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis and a gaggle of Army nurses who have had to hitch a ride on their WWII submarine, the USS Sea Tiger.This weekend, a phenomenal group of gals (along with hundreds of boy scouts on their own

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-28457382615949425342009-03-23T00:29:00.008-05:002009-03-23T02:53:59.314-05:00

CNN | Pentagon to phase out unpopular 'stop-loss' program - "The military will phase out its "stop-loss" program, the contentious practice of holding troops beyond the end of their enlistments, for all but extraordinary situations, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday. Instead, the military will use incentives programs to encourage personnel to extend their service. Starting this

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-78521103548610427952009-03-22T23:48:00.019-05:002009-03-23T17:17:20.731-05:00

This past week has marked the sixth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. As I prepare for my presentation at next weekend's Female Faces of War conference, I'm going through some of my previous writing related to the women warriors of this era. I'm also in the midst of writing my Honors Capstone paper, Combat Veterans, Mass Media and the Advancement of Social Consciousness, that I've been

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-52403532666630683392009-03-18T21:47:00.030-05:002009-04-06T15:58:02.769-05:00

Eearlier today, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) took to the floor of the House of Representatives to talk briefly about 2009's Brain Awareness Week, which began Monday and continues through March 22.Click on 'Article' link below tags for more...In educational interest, article(s) quoted from extensively."This is the week that Society for Neuroscience members spread throughout America to speak

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-2721046213180028042009-03-18T14:39:00.001-05:002009-03-18T15:40:38.557-05:00

USA Today | Veteran on cross-country trek dies - "A disabled Gulf War veteran who left Norman earlier this month on a hand-propelled bicycle headed for Washington D.C. to honor fallen soldiers has died. Kevin Baker suffered a seizure Friday morning in his sleep at the home of some friends in Lake Charles, La., said Norman resident Diane Zellner. He died in an ambulance en route to a local

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-24298937296137976412009-03-17T23:43:00.034-05:002009-04-06T15:56:12.127-05:00

Over the course of the past years, with a notable uptick in tempo over the past few months, we've been witnessing a distressing rise in military suicides. We outside observers haven't been alone in taking note. The military has as well.The Army, for instance, has been undergoing a month long "stand down" meant to put renewed focus on suicide prevention. They now enter the "chain teaching" phase,

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-50155111695559282692009-03-17T00:30:00.007-05:002009-03-17T03:28:42.258-05:00

The Boston Globe | The military's post-traumatic stress dilemma - Iraq vet Tyler Boudreau begins: "WITH ARMY and Marine Corps suicide rates climbing dramatically, surpassing even those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan last month, the nation is increasingly disturbed and demanding treatment for veterans. But these suicide reports highlight an important distinction: A significant portion of those

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-74281599437283347632009-03-16T22:29:00.013-05:002009-03-16T23:59:12.307-05:00

Last Monday, Rep. John Hall [D-NY], the chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on disability assistance and memorial affairs, introduced important legislation that would give vets coping with PTSD easier access to their disability benefits and the treatment they need. Press release:After visiting with veterans at the U.S. Veterans Hospitals at both Montrose and Castle Point,

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22307985.post-73116072433422555182009-03-14T05:30:00.003-05:002009-03-15T10:57:40.511-05:00

US Army | First Lady visits Fort Bragg, vows support for military families - "First Lady Michelle Obama paid a visit to Soldiers and family members at Fort Bragg in what was her first tour outside the White House. During her visit, Obama said she was inspired by the spirit of the Fort Bragg community and said she was fully committed to improving support to all military families."MSNBC | Army

Ilona Meagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623ilona.meagher@gmail.com2