Tuesday 23 January 2007

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Website Launched in US



Barbara Romberg, a psychologist with a private practice in Washington, D.C., has created a single website to link licensed counsellors with U.S. troops affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from serving Afghanistan and Iraq. So far, 120 providers have signed up on the Give an Hour website, agreeing to donate an hour of free care a week. Romberg said she hopes for 500 to 1,000 before launching the program in the spring. Those who join must agree to stay with Give an Hour for a least a year. At least in the US there are resources availiable to help serviceman & woman with PTSD, in the UK serviceman are sometimes ridiculed for simply being ill. As I told someone the other day if a fire-fighter goes to work and during a fire he finds the badly burnt remains of some children in a wardrobe and as a result he started to become withdraw, loose sleep, drink heavily, become aggressive to his friends and family, he would be given leave and counselling without question, he certainly wouldn’t be called a whiner and after compensation, I doubt if he would get hate mail like I have received in the past saying that he should hang himself. I suppose if the British military cant even find a military hospital to treat bullet wounds there is not much hope of them taking PTSD seriously.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can occur following a life-threatening event like military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people have stress reactions that don't go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD.

People who suffer from PTSD often suffer from nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and feeling emotionally numb. These symptoms can significantly impair a person's daily life.

PTSD is marked by clear physical and psychological symptoms. It often has symptoms like depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other physical and mental health problems. The disorder is also associated with difficulties in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems, family discord, and difficulties in parenting.

Visit Give An Hour Website




© Mack (RG) The thoughts of a Falklands War Veteran.

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