Comments on: PTSD: just how common is it?

By: Isaac Nahakuelua

Isaac Nahakuelua — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:48:47 +0000

Chris,
Yes, adaptable when recognized and effective with practice.
I believe so far, that the trivializing of human suffering and experience by “qualified” medical personnel gives the majority a reference point to tolerate a uniquely evolved human state of mind as a kind of excepted normality; albeit trusting the “experts” in knowing what is right. And so the human animal will adapt to it’s social environment in the way nature has built us to adapt.
Knowing who we really are, or what really is from a medicalized stand-point is extremely subjective; particularly in western medicine versus asian medicine and all the other beliefs in the middle.
National leaders set a certain standard for living by shaping their people the best way they can through rewards/punishments/modeling untill a habitual normality pervades through the hearts and minds. Untill someone comes in and changes things–that is what we really are.

By: B. Christopher Frueh

B. Christopher Frueh — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:34:29 +0000

Isaac,

Thank you for your insightful comment. You raise a very good point, which I think might be summarized another way: there is a distinction between a “disorder” and a reaction to a profound experience. As a combat veteran you have directly experienced the intensity and power of war, which results in a range of thoughts, emotions, and biological changes for most warriors. If would strike me as unusual if such an experience did not affect you in powerful ways. As for your question, I would not suggest any reaction is “wrong” per se, but would ask you in return is it adaptive and effective for you?

Perhaps another question we might ponder in the course of this discussion is: Have we “medicalized” human suffering and experience in some way that perhaps trivializes it or distorts perception of who we really are?

Thank you for your comment and more, for your service to country.

By: Isaac Nahakuelua

Isaac Nahakuelua — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:39:22 +0000

I agree with your assertion that many veterans do not have combat PTSD. It is much more profitable to be making 5 -7 k a month as a “crazy-vet” rather than participating in the gauntlet of the undisciplined citizen for 1.5 – 4k a month. Many veterans do fake certain symptoms to get the benefits.
However though, there are many combat veterans out there whom saw another side of life—a side that many people are aware of, but have not had that experience burn into their soul. Those combat veterans who saw the other-side of life have endured a kind of unique stress that can only be acquired from war. Some of these veterans crave this kind of stress and want more of a particular scenario to complement a Neuro-physiological need that can only be induced by a high-stress producing stimuli such as a war environment.
Once the veteran is out from the war environment and in the abnormal world of the undisciplined citizen; then the veteran may cause certain events to happen in exchange for that quick fix of dopamine and serotonin levals proportionate to those levals while in combat.
Is the veteran wrong for doing this, or is the veteran subjected by nature’s gift of human-adaptation?

Airborne Infantry soldier (6 yrs)
Afghanistan, March 2004-2005

By: Lisa Richardson

Lisa Richardson — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:07:33 +0000

Dr Frueh writes compassionately (and boldly) about combat related PTSD, and the brave men and women who struggle with this incredibly destructive disorder. For those who use the support services and those who provide them, they will know how socio-politically charged the issues of PTSD assessment and treatment are. Within the combat-related PTSD research arena, good science is not always popular science and emotion can run high. Regardless, Dr Frueh’s message is an important one; namely, be grateful for the sacrifice and support the sufferers by listening without judgement or assumption, and encouraging those who need help, to get help. As ANZAC Day nears, and Australian troops are increasingly brought home from the Middle East, his blogs are a timely reminder of how much we owe to so few and how important family and friends, as well as the wider community, are to those who have experienced trauma.

By: PTSD: the pitfalls of stigma and stereotypes

PTSD: the pitfalls of stigma and stereotypes — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:00:05 +0000

[...] some of them will need help adjusting to civilian life—and yes, some of them will suffer posttraumatic reactions that will require mental health [...]