E. Everett McFall

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep

2008-07-08T11:24:00.005-06:00

Wow! We made the front page, and without a big
Post Office "WANTED" Style Poster- LOL
Thanks to Clairice Still and the Staff of the ...
The Veterans Voice Newspaper
www.theveteransvoice.com

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep...
A Journey Into PTSD by E. Everett McFall

We are looking for special guest to appear on our
weekly radio show broadcast, The Veterans' Forum.
Contact us at: getpaid365@sbcglobal.net

If You Value Your FREEDOM-
Thank A VET!!!

Congress Holds Another Hearing on PTSD and Suicide

2008-07-07T01:12:00.003-06:00

VA Oversight Update:
Congress Holds Another Hearing on PTSD and Suicide Among
Veterans on July 9
Printer Friendly Email Article Discuss Article (2) delicious
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House Committee on Veterans Affairs
Jul 02, 2008
Related Articles: At War on the 4th of July - Dialog Between Vietnam
War and Iraq War Veterans
Major League Baseball Honors Veterans on July 4,
July 4, VCS in the News: Vets Mull Wins and Losses in Benefit Fight,
Veterans Celebrate Independence Day in Illinois,
War Photo Brought Dwyer an Unwelcome Fame

News Archives
July 3, 2008 - Why Does the VA Continue to Give a Suicide–
Inducing Drug to Veterans with PTSD

Chairman Bob Filner and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
Schedules New Hearing on Suicide and PTSD.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 10:00 a.m.
334 Cannon House Office Building

Comment here (2 comments).
Veterans for Common SensePost Office Box 15514 Washington, DC 20003
------------------------------------------------->
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number
is: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman
---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep...
A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com
------------------------------------------------>
SAVE ON GAS NOW!!!
http://www.MoreMilesPerGal.Info/
24 Hour Info Call: 1-877-222-6741

Google PTSD ALERT

2008-07-06T09:39:00.003-06:00

Google PTSD Alert: 07-06-08

Hidden Casualties: Suicides, PTSD Haunt US Veterans
By Signs of the Times: A year and a half ago, Scott Eiswert, a
specialist in the Tennessee Army National Guard, returned
from Iraq, only to face an escalating battle with post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). When he learned that his unit would
deploy again... Signs of the Times - http://www.sott.net

Re: Soldier in Nationally Published Photo Dies After
PTSD Struggle
Stories like this make my heart hurt. I have never seen combat, but
I can only imagine the horrors these men and women see in the war.
To have their brothers and sisters in arms falling around them, and
yet they can find it in their...
MyDeathSpace.com - http://mydeathspace.com/smf/index.php

Question: How best to help a loved one with PTSD/Depression?
By Langdon- My question is this: As a carer, what types of creative
things do you do that help encourage a PTSD sufferer who is
dealing with depression? A very important person in my life suffers
from PTSD and has had reoccuring depression at...
PTSD Forum - http://www.ptsdforum.org

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
By Guest - Many people associate Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) with the military, and that is a valid reason to have the
disorder; however, there are many other traumatic experiences
that can cause a person to experience PTSD...
Romow Health & Beauty Blog-http://www.romow.com/health-blog

Virtual War Zone on 4th of July (PTSD)
By Kilong Ung - Unfortunately, the (celabratory use of) fireworks
can easily trigger terrible fear, anxiety, loneliness, horrible
memory, depression and insomnia for those who have lived through
combat zone and now suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)...Blog - http://kilong-ung.blogspot.com/
------------------------------------------------->
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number
is: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman
---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep ...
A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com
------------------------------------------------>
SAVE ON GAS NOW!!!
http://www.MoreMilesPerGal.Info/
24 Hour Info Call: 1-877-222-6741

PTSD - News Updates as of 7JULY 08

2008-07-05T12:48:00.004-06:00

Google News

Echoes of Vietnam: VA Stalls, Dissembles While Vets Suffer and Die
AlterNet - San Francisco, CA, USA It read: "Given that we have
more and more compensation-seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest
that you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out.
...See all stories on this topic

In this war, troops get a rousing welcome home
USA Today - USA By Rick Hampson, USA TODAY WARMINSTER,
Pa. — The young soldier hadn't slept in 48 hours or bathed in 72.
Now that he was finally back from Iraq, ...See all stories on this topic

Soldier in photo dies after PTSD struggle AirForceTimes.com
- Springfield,VA,USABut when he returned from war after three
months in Iraq, he developed the classic, treatable symptoms of
PTSD. like so many other combat vets,
...See all stories on this topic

Fireworks can upset veterans suffering from post-traumatic
stress ...MLive.com
- MI,USASince 2003, about 40000 troops from the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan have been diagnosed with the illness, also known as PTSD,
including 14000 in 2007. ...See all stories on this topic

Bringing the stress of war back home
Newspaper Tree - El Paso,TX,USA
Suicide is the extreme manifestation of PTSD, which can affect
more than a quarter of combat veterans. Gary Larcenaire,
CEO of El Paso Mental Health and ...See all stories on this topic

Obama says America's veterans deserve betterBoston Globe -
United States... Veterans Affairs system with more funding, end
homelessness among veterans, and pay appropriate attention to
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
...See all stories on this topic

The Price of Freedom: Traumatic Brain Injuries Are the 'Invisible
...DiversityInc.com (subscription)
- USAAccording to the study, nearly 20 percent, or 300000 soldiers,
who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan report symptoms of
PTSD or major depression, ...See all stories on this topic

Federal appeals court rules Rehabilitation Act extends to post ...
JURIST - USAFinding that PTSD qualified as a "mental impairment"
and that sleep constituted a "major life activity," the court concluded
that the condition was covered ...See all stories on this topic

Powerful new MRI to benefit area veterans, soldiers
Waco Tribune Herald - Waco,TX, USA By Cindy V. Culp Untold
numbers of veterans and their family members will benefit from
research that will be done using a state-of-the-art machine
unveiled ...See all stories on this topic
------------------------------------------------->
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number
is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman
---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep ...
A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com
------------------------------------------------>

SAVE ON GAS NOW!!!
http://www.moremilespergal.info/

Help For Veterans In PTSD Books!

2008-07-01T12:14:00.004-06:00

PTSD Books Aim to Help Veterans

Jeff St. John
The Fresno Bee Jun 28, 2008

Related Articles:
I Can Still hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep,
By E. Everett McFall

Wounded Iraqi Forces Say They've Been Abandoned,
Congressional Subcommittee Approves Legislation to Help Veterans
Readjust After Military Deployments
Editorial Column: Veterans United for Truth Responds to Court Ruling
Disabled Vets Face Challenges Finding a Job US,

News Archives
June 26, 2008 -

Dr. Lorie DeCarvalho has spent the past 14 years helping
veterans cope with post- traumatic stress disorder-
the anger, depression, disconnectedness and nightmares
that can linger long after veterans have returned home
from the horrors of war.

Now DeCarvalho, the founder and director of Behavioral Health
Services for Adventist Health in Hanford, has co- written two
books meant to help veterans, their families and friends and the
professionals who treat them -- and, sadly, she knows that the
demand for this kind of help is growing.

"There are literally thousands of individuals suffering from this
condition that drastically affects their ability to function in day-
to-day life," said DeCarvalho, who is also an associate clinical
professor of psychiatry at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Active-duty soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan can experience panic attacks or flashbacks of horrific
events they experienced on the battlefield, she said. Veterans may
find it difficult to reconnect with loved ones or to enjoy the
activities that used to bring them happiness.

DeCarvalho has studied post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD,
and has developed techniques to treat it during her previous years
with Veterans Affairs and at the National Center for
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Honolulu.

But the two books she co-wrote with colleagues Dr. Julia Whealin
and Dr. Edward Vega are more practical "how-to" guides than
research tomes, she said.

The first, "Clinician's Guide to Treating Stress After
War," is aimed at the mental health professionals who work with
returning veterans and their families, DeCarvalho said.

The second, "Strategies for Managing Stress After War,"
is written as a "work book" for veterans undergoing treatment,
but it can also be a useful as a resource for people who are trying
to cope with a loved one suffering from PTSD, she said.

"If people want a better understanding of what veterans and
active -duty returning soldiers are dealing with, it's a good book
to pick up," she said.

DeCarvalho said there's a common misconception among some
people that PTSD is overdiagnosed in the military personnel
returning from America's wars abroad. Her experience has
taught her otherwise.

"We really haven't seen very many resources to date that
address all of the needs that veterans are experiencing when
they return from war," she said. "There is a great need."
------------------------------------------------->
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number
is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman
---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep ...
A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com
------------------------------------------------>

SAVE ON GAS NOW!!!
www.MoreMilesPerGal.Info

Returning Troops Encouraged to Seek Mental Health Treatment

2008-06-26T19:04:00.004-06:00

By Senitra Horbrook, Staff Writer

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder often afflicts troops returning
from war. Last year The United States Army had the highest rate
of suicide in 30 years, according to published reports.

That's why, with the help of a half-million dollar grant, the Mental
Health America of Greater Dallas has started a free program to
help troops returning from Iraq or Afghanistan find appropriate
mental health care.

"The main goal is to help the veterans and service members to
relieve the stress issues related to post traumatic stress disorder,"
said Walter Norris, one of two coordinators of "Operation Healthy
Reunions."

Mental Health America of Greater Dallas and the American Red Cross
received a grant in the amount of $553,260 to support mental health
care and case management for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
and family members. Assistance paying for health services over
a two-year period will be provided through the Texas Resources
for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment Fund (TRIAD) of The Dallas
Foundation.

"We don't want to be like Vietnam. Many of them had PTSD and
nothing was done," Norris said.

Troops as well as their families from counties including Dallas,
Denton and Collin are eligible to participate in Operation
Healthy Reunions."

Myself and the other coordinator do a psycho social assessment,
focused on whether they're having post traumatic stress disorder.
If they're experiencing problems due to trauma, we'll refer them
to counseling, to physiatrists, marriage counseling, substance abuse
or anger management counseling," Norris said. "Sometimes the
service member could be in Iraq and their family back here is
experiencing problems because the service member is deployed.

"Many troops don't seek treatment because there has been a
longtime stigma attached to mental health treatment."

For many years in the military, if they started having emotional
issues, they were discharged. In the past, they might lose their
ecurity clearance. The Department of Defense is making some
changes there to loosen up those rules," Norris said. "That culture
has been there many years, so it's hard to come forward and
admit they're having some post traumatic stress issues."

Post traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder, related
to a person witnessing or being involved in a traumatic event,
Norris said. The disorder can go away with proper treatment,
which usually includes therapy and may also include medicine.

Repercussions from not seeking treatment can have great impact
on the service member and his or her family. "They start having
family issues, start having marital problems, children start acting
out," Norris said. "The service member can become isolated,
anger issues arise, drinking, taking drugs. They avoid
talking about the war itself. They become depressed.
Depression is a big consequence of PTSD."

Troops and their families interested in more information on
Operation Healthy Reunions can contact the Mental Health
America of Greater Dallas at 214-871-2420 or visit mhadallas.org.

Contact Senitra Horbrook at 972-628-4074 or
shorbrook@acnpapers.com.

RECAP FACTS:
* The US Army last year had the highest rate of suicide in 30 years
* 25 percent of troops serving more than one deployment need
mental health care
* Up to one-fourth of returning troops struggle with psychological
injuries
* Stigma is the major deterrent for not seeking treatment
* Most all mental health illness is curable with proper treatment
* Care is for the service person and their families
* The Secretary of Defense has stated that mental health treatment
will not become a part of a troop's medical file, contrary to previous
regulations
Source: Mental Health America of Greater Dallas

Copyright © 2008 Star Community Newspapers
624 Krona Drive Suite 170,
Plano, Texas 75074
Contact Star Community Newspapers at 972-398-4200
------------------------------------------------->
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number
is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman
---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep ...
A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com
by E. Everett McFall spotlight this

Veterans 'Betrayed' by Government Chantix Trial

2008-06-19T18:36:00.007-06:00

Google News ptsd
Iraq Vets With PTSD Used as Chantix Guinea Pigs

Veterans 'betrayed' by government Chantix trial
WFAA - Dallas,TX,USABy JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA-TV A
stop smoking drug with potentially psychotic side effects, Chantix
has been the subject of an ongoing News 8 investigation
...See all stories on this topic

VA testing drugs on mentally distressed veterans.
Think Progress - Washington,DC,USABy Satyam at 12:21 pm
A Washington Times/ABC News investigation released today finds
that “mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are
being ...See all stories on this topic

';Wash Times': VA Using Iraq Vets as Guinea Pigs in Drug Tests
Editor & Publisher - USAABC aired an interview today with that man,
James Elliott, an Army sharpshooter who suffers from PTSD after
serving 15 months in Iraq. ...See all stories on this topic

VA launches PTSD helpline for veterans
WZZM - Grand Rapids,MI,USAWashington - The Veteran's
Administration announced it has created a new hotline for current
and former military members suffering severe emotional crisis
...See all stories on this topic

Obama Opposes Drug Testing on Soldiers RushPRnews.com
(press release) - Montreal, Quebec,Canada;
Chicago, IL (RUSHPNEWS) 06/19/2008 —
Below is a statement from Barack Obama on disturbing reports
that 'mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and
...See all stories on this topic
--------------------------------------------------------
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number is
1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman
and---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep ...
A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

Iraq Vets With PTSD Used as Chantix Guinea Pigs

2008-06-18T18:56:00.008-06:00

Why Is The VA Is Using A Known Dangerous Drug On Our Troops?

Posted by: Scott Kappes

June 17, 2008 - 05:48 PM Edited by: E. Everett McFall

Category: FDA & Prescription Drugs
Tags: Chantix, PTSD,

Today the Washington Times and ABC News are reporting
that our Combat Units-Marines and soldiers returning from Iraq
are being used as test patients for medications that have been
linked to serious adverse reactions.

According to reports, the Veterans Adiministration is offering cash
incentives to entice returning soldiers to participate in studies.
In one of the most disturbing cases, it took the VA over three
months to notify the veterans of a link to severe
nueropsychiatric events associated with Pfizer’s controversial
anti-smoking medication Chantix. The warning was not issued
until after one veteran taking the medication was nearly gunned
down by police while suffering from a psychotic episode allegedly
induced by Chantix.

Many of the soldiers / Marines returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and are in a very fragile state of mind when the initially get back
to the US. Taking advantage of soldiers in this condition is
simply unacceptable. The label of Chantix was updated in
February to advise patients that the drug may induce
thoughts of suicide and trigger even latent mental
health conditions to resurface.

To subject veterans in such delicate mental condition to a
medication that has been linked to mental problems is
tragedy waiting to happen.

In all, nearly 1,000 veterans with PTSD were enrolled in the
study to test different methods of ending smoking, with 143
using Chantix. Twenty-one veterans reported adverse effects
from the drug, including one who suffered suicidal thoughts,
the three-month investigation by The Times and ABC News found.

[Arthur] Caplan, who reviewed the consent and notification
forms for the study at the request of The Times and ABC News,
said the VA deserved an "F" and that it has an obligation to end
the study, given the vulnerability of veterans with PTSD and the
known side effects of Chantix. "Continuing it doesn't make
any ethical sense," he said.

Late last month Chantix was removed from the list acceptable
medications for pilots and air traffic controllers after a non-profit
foundation released a study further affirming suspected
adverse reactions associated with the drug.

RELATED:
Chantix Tested on Vets with PTSD
The Veterans Administration has recruited veterans with PTSD
for Chantix clinical trials, but did not inform trial participants of the
drug's link to suicide until late February. Digg / Health / upcoming - http://digg.com/health
Government is Testing Drugs on Vets with PTSD
By Michael Connery ABC News is reporting that the government is
testing drugs with possible violent and suicidal side effects on
veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD. Worse, it failed to
notify those veterans of these possible side effects:
Future Majority - - blogging... - http://www.futuremajority.com ----------------------------------------------------- For more information: The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/ Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/

--------------------------------------------> Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and the Lessons of WAR ---> by Penny Coleman I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep.. A Journey Into PTSD By E. Everett McFall Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

FAREWELL DEAR FRIEND !

2008-06-13T16:39:00.004-06:00

Tim Russert Dead At 58

This blog is and will continue to be dedicated to the needs of Veterans. However, Today I felt that we should offer a few words in memorandum to an honest, courageous champion of the "common man", as well as a patriot and fighter of & for the rights of those who had no voice... including the Veteran.

by Poliwonk USA
June 13, 2008 04:37 PM EDT

Whether you agreed with him or not, it will be hard not to remember Tim Russert. Today in the middle of recording a segment in the job he loved the most. Russert was in what is known as a tracking booth, recording voice-overs for the upcoming show, and started having problems breathing. He apparently collapsed and an ambulance was called.

He was unconscious as he left and never revived. He was the longest host of Meet The Press, but more importantly he was a beloved father and husband. He touched every network, and caused them all to be better. This is noted that every network ran coverage of his death. (CNN, MSNBC,CNBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS) Tom Brokaw came out of retirement to break the news. You could visibly notice Brokaw choking back tears and trying not to cry while reading the announcement.

Russert grew up in Buffalo, which Brokaw said Russert had just visited last week to assist in moving his father to a new home. Russert had hosted "Meet the Press" since 1991, taking the seat from Garrick Utley. Russert also authored two best-sellers, including "Big Russ and Me," which focused on the relationship with his father, and the "Wisdom of Our Fathers." Russert honed his hard-hitting interviewing style over the years, and became a make-or-break appearance for any major American politician, as well as must-see television for political observers, in and outside government.

He regularly interviewed the biggest names in domestic and international politics, and moderated presidential debates, including at least three during the 2008 presidential campaign cycle.

Russert, who also was an attorney and a former aide to New York former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., and Gov. Mario Cuomo (D), had a distinctive on-air style that included posting well-documented quotes and charts on air. During the 2000 election, Russert received light ribbing for repeated references to a white dry-erase board he continued to write on while explaining the ongoing tallies.

Our condolences and prayers to the family, and our thanks in knowing that he is at rest in heaven.

He will be greatly missed by both sides of the isle. The World has lost one of its brightest lights.

The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/ Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/ ------------------------------------------------> Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman and---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep ... A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

GOOGLE Blogs Alert for: ptsd

2008-06-07T02:02:00.004-06:00

Blogs Alert for: ptsd
Senate probes VA on PTSD
Daniel Akaka's accusations of “systemic indifference to
invisible wounds” in its handling of disability claims for PTSD.
During Senate committee hearings, Dr. Norma Perez, Central
Texas Veterans Health Care System, was persistently

...MIWatch.org - http://www.miwatch.org/
PTSD and self harm behaviorsBy Rachael O.(Rachael O.) http://ptsd.about.com/od/relatedconditions/a/DSHandPTSD.htm.

On gangstalking - http://ongangstalking.blogspot.com/
CONFIDENTIAL // PTSD "PTSD Research"By TVV1 Currently,
PTSD is understood as a condition affecting hundreds of thousands
of American men and women. Combat exposure, sexual assault,
abuse, accidents and natural disasters are a few of the events that
can trigger PTSD.

The Veterans' Voice -
http://thenma.org/blogs/index.php/theveteransvoice
VA Lawsuit: Judge orders hearing on internal PTSD email
By Iraq Veteran Project
The plaintiffs asked Conti to reopen the case in light of the e-mail
discovered after the trial ended. The judge agreed, saying
"the e-mail raises potentially serious questions that may warrant
further attention."
Swords to Plowshares - http://swords-to-plowshares.org

Support Groups for PTSD Survivors Can Help - Wellness Coach
By Darlene Siddons
Trauma of any kind has a long lasting effect on individuals and it
is important that PTSD (Post Trauma Stress Disorder) survivors
know that there is help and to be ok with asking for help.
Shame plays a large role in PTSD and many
...- http://www.spiritedboutique.com

Judge to consider VA e-mail about PTSD diagnoses
The plaintiffs asked Conti to reopen the case in light of the e-mail
discovered after the trial ended.Digg / upcoming - http://digg.com/

VA e-mail on PTSD catches court attention
By thedrifter
“Given that we are having more and more compensation-seeking
veterans, I’d like to suggest that you refrain from giving a diagnosis
of PTSD straight out,” Perez wrote to VA counselors. “We really don’t
or have time to do the extensive
...Marine Corps Community for USMC Veterans -
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CHIEF LIKENS PTSD TO
"HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ...By Bill Corcoran(Bill Corcoran)
When I interviewed Josh about his difficulties seeking help for
his PTSD, he recounted the whole horrific process with a smile
on his face and a self-effacing laugh. It took me a while to realize
that Josh laughed about his troubles
...CORKSPHERE - http://corksphere.blogspot.com/

VA Official Testifies on PTSD Stance in Latest Email Flap http://feeds.wsjonline.com/wsj/health/feed
in veterans got a chance to explain herself to Congress yesterday.
“Several veterans expressed to my staff their frustration after
receiving a diagnosis of PTSD from a team member … when they
had not received that diagnosis during
MyDailyApple News Alert: Personal-
http://www.mydailyapple.com/news

Fellow Friend & Forum Member in Hospital
By goingonhope
I imagine he, like myself recognize that we are not the only two
PTSD sufferers, who suffer alcoholism simultaneous with PTSD.
And, I'm not speaking of suffering the drink, I'm referring to
accepting and living with the three-fold
...PTSD Forum - http://www.ptsdforum.org
--------------------------------------------------------
For more information:
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number is
1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR by Penny Coleman
and---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep
.. A Journey Into PTSD By E. Everett McFall

Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

Nearby Firing Ranges Complicate Soldiers' Recovery From Stress

2008-06-03T16:43:00.014-06:00

Our Thanks to:
Walker Bennett, SF Author
June 03, 2008 03:54 PM EDT

"A loud noise still makes me dive for cover 36 years later. When I
lived in Louisville, Ft. Knox was 40 miles away. When they had
tank target practice, I'd spend a lot of time under the table."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2008/05/30/VI2008053002640.html?sid=ST2008060203019

By Ann Scott Tyson
W ashington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 3, 2008; Page A01

Wounded Soldiers Housed Next to Firing Range
More than 170 soldiers with physical and mental wounds such as
post-traumatic stress disorder are housed across the street from
a string of firing ranges at Fort Benning, Ga., one of the Army's main
training bases. Several soldiers with PTSD said the loud gunfire at
day and night startles them and keeps them on edge and wake,
harming their recovery.

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Army Sgt. Jonathan Strickland sits in his
room at noon with the blinds drawn, seeking the sleep that has
eluded him since he was knocked out by the blast of a Baghdad car
bomb.

Like many of the wounded soldiers living in the newly built "warrior
transition" barracks here, the soft-spoken 25-year-old suffers from
post-traumatic stress disorder. But even as Strickland and his
comrades struggle with nightmares, anxiety and flashbacks from
their wartime experiences, the sounds of gunfire have followed them
here, just outside their windows.

Across the street from their assigned housing, about 200 yards
away, are some of the Army infantry's main firing ranges, and
day and night, several days each week, barrages from rifles and
machine guns echo around Strickland's building. The noise makes
the wounded cringe, startle in their formations, and stay awake
and on edge, according to several soldiers interviewed at the
barracks last month. The gunfire recently sent one soldier to the
emergency room with an anxiety attack, they said.

"You hear a lot of shots, it puts you in a defensive mode," said
Strickland, who spent a year with an infantry platoon in Baghdad
and has since received a diagnosis of PTSD from the military. He
now takes medicine for anxiety and insomnia. "My heart
starts racing and I get all excited and irritable," he said, adding
that the adrenaline surge "puts me back in that mind frame that I
am actually there."

"Fort Benning is a training unit, so there is gunfire around us all
the time," said Elaine Kelley, a behavioral health supervisor at the
base hospital. If a soldier had a severe problem, it would have
been identified, she said.

Lt. Col. Sean Mulcahey, who recently took command of the
Warrior Transition Battalion, where wounded soldiers are
assigned, said: "No soldier has talked with me about the ranges."
If it is an issue, "we will address it," he said, stressing that the
battalion's mission is " getting those soldiers to heal."

Under Army rules, commanders of warrior transition units are
supposed to enforce "quiet hours." Officials said the location of the
barracks for wounded soldiers, along with a $1.2 million Soldier and
Family Assistance Center, was chosen for its proximity to central
facilities such as the hospital. About 350 soldiers are assigned to the
battalion--including 176 who live in the barracks near the ranges--
where they stay an average of eight months, Mulcahey said. An
estimated 10 to 15 percent of the soldiers have PTSD, he said.

Soldiers interviewed said complaints to medical personnel at
Fort Benning's Martin Army Community Hospital and officers in
their chain of command have brought no relief, prompting one
soldier's father to contact The Washington Post. Fort Benning
officials said that they were unaware of specific complaints but that
decisions about housing and treatment for soldiers with PTSD
depend on the severity of each case. They said day and night
training must continue as new soldiers arrive and the Army grows.

The soldiers are part of a growing group of an estimated 150,000
combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have
PTSD symptoms. The mental disorder has been diagnosed in
nearly 40,000 of them.

PTSD symptoms include flashbacks and anxiety, and noises such as
fireworks or a car backfiring can make sufferers feel as though they
are back in combat. Health experts say that housing soldiers near a
firing range subjects them to a continual trigger for PTSD.

"It would definitely traumatize them," said Harold McRae, a
psychotherapist in Columbus, Ga., who counsels dozens of soldiers
with PTSD who are at Fort Benning. "It would be like you having
a major car wreck on the interstate" and then living in a home
overlooking the freeway, he said. "Every time you hear a wreck
or the brakes lock up, you are traumatized."

Fort Benning, which covers more than 180,000 acres, is one of
the Army's main training bases, with 67 live-fire ranges. The base
has thousands of housing and barracks units. "There is no excuse"
for the housing situation, said Paul Ragan, an associate professor
of psychology at Vanderbilt University, who treats veterans with
PTSD. "Charitably put, it's very untherapeutic."

CONTINUED Next >

For more information
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number
is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://www.iava.org/
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR-- by Penny Coleman
and---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep
... A Journey Into PTSD --By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

Post-war Trauma Cases Up !!!

2008-06-02T14:44:00.006-06:00

Post-war Trauma Cases Up
Inadequate care blamed for suicide spike...
By William Johnson • wjohnson@dailyworld.com • June 2, 2008

Read Comments(3) E-mail this article
Del.icio.us , Facebook , Digg , Reddit , Newsvine

Last week's Opelousas Memorial Day observance paid special
tribute to Sgt. Joseph Ronald Barnaba II, who was severely injured
in Iraq and was found dead at his home in St. Landry Parish two
weeks ago.

His first cousin, Dexter Scott Freeman, said it may have been
terrorists who attacked him, but it was a lack of adequate
care at home that killed him.

"The insurgents didn't kill him. Our government killed him. Everbody
wants to wave the flag but the truth is so much more. These guys are
coming home with so much pain, many have lost their jobs, their homes.

They are in so much pain most people can't fathom it," Freeman said.
While critical of the treatment his cousin received, Freeman is
no critic of the military. Freeman, a 10-year military veteran,
said he and Barnaba grew up in the same house - a house with
a strong military tradition. Freeman's brother is still in the
National Guard, and other family members serve in the Marines
and Air Force.

According to Freeman, his cousin was suffering from post-
traumatic stress disorder. Local mental health care
professional Paula Carriere said Barnaba was not alone. She said
she is seeing many veterans who are having trouble adjusting.
"One in eight is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.
It is affecting not just them but their families," Carriere told the
Opelousas Noon Rotary Club last week.

(This Vietnam Veteran, strongly believes it's
closer to Six in Eight- that are suffering with
PTSD!)

"A lot aren't getting the mental health counseling they need. They
are dealing with a lot anger, feeling out of control, they are impatient,
constantly on guard," Carriere said. "They have a tremendous set of
issues." In a report released this month, the military said newly
diagnosed cases of PSTD among U.S. troops sent to Iraq and
Afghanistan surged 46.4 percent in 2007.

The numbers are especially troubling concerning the National Guard.
While Guard and Reserve troops make up less than a third of soldiers
serving in the war, they make up more than half of veterans who
commit suicide after returning home.

Officially, the military only acknowledges about 40,000 PTSD cases.
A recent study by the RAND Corporation, a military think tank, called
that number low. It estimates about 300,000 troops, or 18.5 percent,
of the more than 1.5 million troops sent into the war zones exhibit
symptoms of either PTSD or depression.

The government is trying to correct the problem. In November,
President Bush signed a suicide prevention bill, which directed the VA
to improve its mental health training for staff and do a better job of
screening and treating veterans.

As a result, the VA has started its own suicide hotline. The VA and
the military have also made other improvements in suicide
prevention care, such as hiring more counselors and increasing
mental health screening. Despite these efforts, soldiers, veterans
and their families are running into what veterans advocates deem
excessive red tape and roadblocks when they try to use their
military insurance.

The deployment of hundreds of doctors and therapists to Iraq and
Afghanistan and the shortage of military health care providers has
forced patients at veteran's clinics and hospitals to wait months for
appointments - longer if they need to see a specialist.

Meanwhile, civilian doctors and psychiatrists say they're often faced
with tough decisions about whether to turn away patients on Tricare,
the Defense Department program that insures 9.2 million current
and former service members and their dependents. Its
reimbursement rates are low and its claims process cumbersome.

The problem is expected to only get worse. Tricare's reimbursement
rate are linked to Medicare levels. Health care providers who treat
patients on both programs will take a 10 percent pay cut on July 1
and a second, 5 percent, pay cut on Jan. 1, 2009.

In the meantime, Freeman urges family members of veterans to
surround their loved ones with support.

"To those of you who do have family members serving, please make
sure you can surround that individual with the help he or she she
needs because, I have to be frank, this story is going to repeat itself
again and again," Freeman said.

For more information
The toll-free Veterans Affairs Department Suicide hotline number is

1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans Affairs Department: va.gov
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: iava.org
------------------------------------------------>
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR by Penny Coleman
and---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep
... A Journey Into PTSD By E. Everett McFall
Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

Combat PTSD or Adjustment Disorder? Saving Money, Not Lives

2008-05-19T18:24:00.007-06:00

Stress Management and Relief

Last year, a firestorm erupted when it was found that 24,000 or
more OEF/OIF veterans had been booted out of the military
with Personality Disorder discharges. PD (once labeled "Section 8")
discharges are a quicker and more cost-efficient way of dealing with
service members who are exhibiting problematic behavior.

The problem, of course, was that some of the discharged were
combat-injured Purple Heart recipients who may have instead been
coping with PTSD, a fact that would allow them access to VA health
care benefits to treat their condition.

This week, we've moved from the military's diagnoses of Personality
Disorder over PTSD to a Texas VAMC PTSD program coordinator
advising that Adjustment Disorder diagnoses should be handed out
over that of PTSD. The reason given? Saving money.

From the Washington Post:
"Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking
veterans, I'd like to suggest that you refrain from giving a diagnosis
of PTSD straight out," Norma Perez wrote in a March 20 e-mail to
mental-health specialists and social workers at the Department of
Veterans Affairs' Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center in Temple, Tex.
Instead, she recommended that they "consider a diagnosis of
Adjustment Disorder." VA staff members "really don't . . . have time
to do the extensive testing that should be done to determine PTSD,"
Perez wrote.

"Adjustment disorder is a less severe reaction to stress than PTSD
and has a shorter duration, usually no longer than six months, said
Anthony T. Ng, a psychiatrist and member of Mental Health America,
a nonprofit professional association.

"Veterans diagnosed with PTSD can be eligible for disability
compensation of up to $2,527 a month, depending on the severity of
the condition, said Alison Aikele, a VA spokeswoman. Those found to
have adjustment disorder generally are not offered such payments,
though veterans can receive medical treatment for either condition. ...

"Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake said in a statement that
Perez's e-mail was "inappropriate" and does not reflect VA policy. It
has been "repudiated at the highest level of our health care organization,"
he said. "VA's leadership will strongly remind all medical staff that trust,
accuracy and transparency is paramount to maintaining our relationships
with our veteran patients," Peake said."

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and VoteVets
released a copy of the email on Thursday.

### of Part One
PART TWO TOMORROW
------------------------------------>

The VA has set up a 24-hour suicide hotline round-the-clock access to mental health professionals. The number is 1-800-273- 8255 (TALK). To learn more about PTSD-- visit the National Center for PTSD website. -----------------------------------> Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and the Lessons of WAR by Penny Coleman

and---> I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep... A Journey Into PTSD By E. Everett McFall

Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

ILL Gov. Urges Federal VA To Improve Care For Vets with Traumatic Brain Injuries!!!

2008-05-14T22:37:00.006-06:00

ILL Gov. Blagojevich urges Federal VA to improve continuation
of care for Vets with traumatic brain injuries. New Federal VA
Inspector General Illinois Warrior Assistance Program
offers 24-hour assistance for Veterans in Illinois through
toll-free helpline at 1-866-554-IWAP (4927)

CHICAGO - Governor Rod R. Blogojevich called on the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs today to improve continuation
of care for Vets with traumatic brain injuries in light of their
Inspector General's report released yesterday finding Veterans
in long term recovery for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are
not getting the assistance they need. In fact the report found
that Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain
injuries were receing inadequate follow-up care.

For Veterans in Illinois, the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program
is available and offers 24-hour assistance through a toll-free
helpline for Illinois Veterans suffering from symptoms
associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
or TBI.

"The effects of war remain long after our brave men and women
return home to their families and friends. The U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs has to do more for the men and women
injured in combat. In Illinois, we are doing everything in our
power to make sure that the people who risked their lives overseas
defending our freedom have the opportunity to lead healthy, stable
lives," said Gov. Blagojevich. "The Illinois Warrior Assistance
Program will help our returning Veterans make the transition from
their tour of duty to everyday life. I am proud that Illinois is the
first state in the nation to develop this type of program, and I hope
to see other states develop similar programs to help our brave
Veterans across the country."

The report found that for Veterans of the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan with TBIs, "long-term case management is not
uniformly provided for these patients, and significant needs
remain unmet." These were the findings even though and earlier
report found that, "specific attention to the long-term needs of
those living with TBI is warranted in part because cognitive and
emotional impairments compromise patients' capacity to seek
help on their own. Unlike other types of injury, brain injury often
causes long lasting emotional difficulties and behavioral problems.
Further, in contrast to amputations and other disabilities, these
problems are often not apparent to casual observers even though
they exact a huge toll on patients and families."

"So many of the men and women serving in the armed forces are
deployed overseas multiple times as the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan continue," said Illinois Department of Veterans'
Affairs Director L. Tammy Duckworth. "We must make sure
that our soldiers returning from combat are able to make the
difficult transition from combat life to civilian life, and the
llinois Warrior Assistance Program provides the assistance
Veterans need to make their daily life easier."

The Illinois Warrior Assistance Program confidential helpline,
1-866-554-IWAP (4927), is available and staffed around
the clock by health professionals to assist Veterans, day or night,
with the symptoms associated with PTSD and to screen for a
possible TBI. Information about the program can also be found at http://www.illinoiswarrior.com/.

The Illinois Warrior Assistance Program provides confidential
assistance for Illinois Veterans as they transition back to their
everyday lives after serving our country. Its goal is to help
service members and their families deal with the emotional
and psychological challenges they may be facing. The program
has three major parts: It offers a 24-hour, toll-free helpline at
1-866-554-IWAP (4927), which is staffed by health
professionals to assist veterans, day or night, with the
symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD).

It also provides Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) screening to
all interested Illinois veterans over the phone via the helpline
or through the State of Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs
(IDVA) Veteran Service Officers (VSOs).It makes TBI
screenings mandatory for all returning members of the Illinois
Army National Guard and Air National Guard.
----------------------------------->

The VA has set up a 24-hour suicide hotline
round-the-clock access to mental health professionals.
The number is 1-800-273- 8255 (TALK).
To learn more about PTSD-- visit the
National Center for PTSD website.
----------------------------------->
Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,
and the Lessons of WAR by Penny Coleman
and--->I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep
...A Journey Into PTSD By E. Everett McFall

Both Books are Available on Amazon.com

YES, YOU CAN! Online

2008-05-13T14:29:00.006-06:00

YES, YOU CAN! Online

by Speedy - Support Veterans
May 13, 2008 11:26 AM EDT

comments: 3

Popular SCI self-care guide now freely available on the web
Washington, DC-YES, YOU CAN!, Paralyzed Veterans of America's

(Paralyzed Veterans) popular self-care guide for people with spinal

cord injury (SCI), is now accessible online for free.

"Making vital self-help information accessible to millions of people

with disabilities, their families and their caregivers is an important

part of Paralyzed Veterans' mission," said Randy L. Pleva, Sr,

National President of Paralyzed Veterans. "Information is power

and Yes, You Can! has helped to empower so many disabled

people by giving them the information they need to help themselves.

Now this essential resource can be accessed by anyone who has a

computer with an Internet connection."
YES, YOU CAN!, A Guide to Self-Care for Persons with Spinal Cord

Injury, is written and edited by experts. This third edition includes

six new chapters on pain, substance abuse, exercise, alternative

medicine, equipment, and staying healthy.

It is the most comprehensive self-care guide for people with SCI,

including newly injured patients in our nation's SCI units and SCI

patients who are out of the hospital. Family members of people with

SCI will also find this a useful resource.

With this online version of YES, YOU CAN!, you'll be able to:
•· Download the book for free
•· Email the book to a friend
•· Take an online tutorial on how to use the book
•· Conduct keyword searches
•· Bookmark any page
•· Print any page
•· Instantly click on dozens of website references that are all hot-linked
To access YES, YOU CAN! online and to purchase print copies.

please visit http://www.pva.org/.
***************************************************************

Sounds like valiant measures have been taken to ensure betterment

for our paralyzed veterans. I'm so glad to hear this!
Kimberly Ripley, May 13, 2008, 12:05pm EDT

I'm with Kimberly. For years now we haven't done enough for those

who protect us. Any improvement is welcome.
Pamela L., May 13, 2008, 1:13pm EDT

Sometimes "they" attempt to do the right things. Thanks for the info.
Marilyn M., May 13, 2008, 3:19pm EDT
***************************************************************

The VA has set up a 24-hour suicide hotline

round-the-clock access to mental health professionals.

The number is 1-800-273- 8255 (TALK).

To learn more about PTSD-- visit the

National Center for PTSD website.

------------------------------------>

Flashback, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide,

and the Lessons of WAR by Penny Coleman

and--->I Can Still Hear Thier Cries, Even In My Sleep

...A Journey Into PTSD By E. Everett McFall

Both Books are Available on Amazon.com