This is something I am hoping to address more in the future. Secondary PTSD is not unheard of. I know that there are many military families who experience vicarious or “shadow” type symptoms of PTSD. I was shocked to recognize some of the behaviors in me when my son was in Iraq (hyper-vigilance, sleep disturbances, replaying pictures or sounds of war scenes I have watched on shows, etc.) I could not shut some of this stuff out. No matter how hard I tried, and when I got news that he had taken shrapnel, or with each announcement of a fallen friend, the symptoms increased.
A friend posted the following on a board I frequent. It’s a good intro and primer. Secondary PTSD is not officially recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM (insert most recent, but soon to be revised again, and again, and again edition here). There has been, however, a lot of research done regarding this in the field of social work and working with abused children or other populations where intense trauma and stress causes a PTSD type of a syndrome. When I revisit this topic I will also touch on something called “shadow” syndromes. It was something we explored a lot when I worked in mental health.
Walking on Eggshells
By Mary Tendall and Jan Fishler
Secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD: (Not a defined mental disorder within the DSM-IV) occurs when a person has an indirect exposure to risk or trauma, resulting in many of the same symptoms as a full-blown diagnosis of PTSD.
Based on the many letters we have received, we know our readers can relate to the issues that post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, raises among veterans and their families. While it is clear that combat veterans who have witnessed or experienced severe trauma are the primary recipients of this disorder, family members can also be affected by this condition. Although PTSD is not contagious like a bad cold or the flu, it can also affect the mental health and life satisfaction of partners. Over time, without intervention, it can become a vicious cycle. Here is an example of how this cycle might occur.
Although he knows it agitates him, Gary,* a combat veteran, watches the news every night at 6 o’clock. The news about the war in Iraq is upsetting, and by the time the program is over, Gary is angry and agitated. His wife, who has been in the kitchen making dinner, has no idea what her husband has just witnessed. She knows only that he is detached and uninterested in talking to her during their meal. When she asks if something is wrong, Gary accuses her of nagging him, leaves the table, and spends the rest of the evening in his shop, where he continues to have intrusive thoughts about the war. His wife, on the other hand, is upset by behavior she does not understand. If this situation continues, several things might occur: Gary’s wife could become depressed, alienated, and betrayed by her husband’s lack of communication; she could start drinking before dinner to numb her feelings of despair; or she might constantly be on the lookout for various cues and triggers that bring on her husband’s reactivity. Eventually, her behavior – especially her hyper vigilance – could become a stressor to Gary. The result is a dysfunctional and unhappy couple.
For the past 29 years, Darlene* has lived with Bob,* a Vietnam veteran diagnosed with PTSD. She describes this time as “walking on eggshells, never knowing when he’ll blow.” Over the years, to deal with her husband’s reactivity, Darlene has increased her own vigilance. She says that when her children were little, she often sided with them against Bob – especially when he had unrealistic expectations of them. Many times she had to leave public gatherings due to her husband’s confrontations. As their marriage progressed, Darlene’s continual vigilance took its toll, leaving her with many of the same symptoms as her husband. Her anticipation of “a blowup at any moment” created distance in her relationships – not only with family members, but also with friends. She complains that she has had no social life.
Because this aspect of trauma is not commonly addressed, Darlene and Bob were unable to take the necessary steps to communicate safely and act in ways that could have created a healthy family dynamic. Instead, they focused on blaming each other, and their marriage and their children suffered.
As one wife of a combat veteran who has attended several support groups over the years explained, “A few months ago, my husband told me he felt like he was ‘walking on eggshells,’ and I had to laugh. Apparently, my secondary PTSD had affected him.”
Secondary PTSD is not a defined mental disorder within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association and serving as the main diagnostic reference used by mental health professionals in the United States. However, the condition does occur when a person has an indirect exposure to risk or trauma, resulting in many of the same symptoms as a full-blown diagnosis of PTSD. These symptoms can include depression, suicidal thoughts and feelings, substance abuse, feelings of alienation and isolation, feelings of mistrust and betrayal, anger and irritability, or severe impairment in daily functioning.
Many Vietnam veterans grew up in households with fathers who had served in combat. Consequently, some veterans entered combat already having PTSD symptoms. After treatment, these veterans often acquire a new awareness about their parents, and it is not uncommon to hear statements such as, “Now I understand why my dad was so demanding. He was a workaholic and had no friends. I am like that, too!”
Tonight we have another great show full of patriotic people. Our first guest is a civilian nurse who works at a military hospital and has cared for many of our wounded troops. Then, we’re bringing back Eve Chase to close the loop on last week’s aborted show.
During the 8pm hour we’ll be talking with Aaron Gaudet, Director/Editor/Director of Photography of the film “The Way We Get By”. Check out the trailer at http://www.thewaywegetbymovie.com/
We’ll also have SFC Angela McKinzie on as our Tribute to Freedom Soldier this week. I can’t think of a better place to be this week!
Air Force Chief of Staff, Norton Schwartz, told reporters today that having more F-22 Raptors is a “requirement” for the Air Force and that they are willing to scale back other purchases in order to attain more of the fighter jets.
I found a couple of articles on the subject. Our fighter jets are aging fast, especially with the war. They were old before the War on Terrorism kicked off and operations have only served to add to their wearout. Air Force officials are even going to the point of giving up other programs to get their much needed fighters.
It used to be that only military officers and civilians were given the opportunity to be assigned as a congressional aide. Times are changing. For those that aren’t aware, the Army has declared 2009 as “Year of the NCO”. Of the many changes occurring to commemorate this event, Senior NCOs can participate in the Army Congressional Fellowship Program and the Army Congressional Orientation Program.
The fellowship program is a year-long program to help Soldiers and civilians learn how Congress works. ACOP is an 89-day program to familiarize members of the Army staff with Congress and both programs expose congressmen and senators to the Army.
Maj. Gen. Bernie Champoux announced that in honor of the Year of the NCO, two senior NCOs have been selected to take part in the year-long fellows program and work in Congressional and Senate offices as part of their staffs.
When I returned from Iraq, our plane stopped in Bangor, Maine for refueling or something (can’t remember, too many explosions). What I do remember are the living angels that greeted me as I deplaned. Tears were impossible to fight back as I looked down two solid lines of Americans who wanted to ensure that we knew we were appreciated and loved.
I’m sure a day has gone by when I didn’t think back to that day, but I can’t remember which one it was. Those images are as emblazoned in my mind as any firefight I had to struggle to live through. In one instant, my mind was free of its pain and wonder about how we would be received.
This video is another of the many “great” videos you’ll find on Great Americans. I’m going to plug these guys a lot because their message is positive and patriotic. They off a forum for great stories about the heroes of this country, both at home and abroad.
Inside a small airport in central Maine, a group of senior citizens are making history by using handshakes and hugs to play a critical role in the Iraq war. The Way We Get By is an inspirational story about how these handshakes can change a person’s life. Since March 2003, nearly one million soldiers and marines from across the country have been greeted at the Bangor International Airport. With each flight, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, these volunteers have been there to send them off and welcome them home. The Way We Get By follows three senior citizens, Bill Knight, Joan Gaudet, and Jerry Mundy as they battle with the critical issues common to the nation’s ever-growing aging population. Through their candid and moving stories, viewers are provided with a truthful look at what millions of Americans are facing across the country. The film will have its East Coast premier at the GI Film Festival, May 13-17, 2009. Please visit: www.GIFilmFestival.com.
If this doesn’t swell your heart with pride, just check your pulse. Or better yet, have someone else do it. You’re probably already dead!
This is another example of the patriotic Americans we have living in this country. From the Dallas News:
By DAVID TARRANT / The Dallas Morning News
dtarrant@dallasnews.com
Within days of the 9/11 attacks, Jerrold Grodin responded in a way thousands of other Americans did: He marched into an Army recruiter’s office and enlisted.
But Grodin wasn’t your typical fresh-faced recruit. He was a 50-something doctor, a board-certified cardiologist with a long-established group practice at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital. And he had three college-age daughters and a wife of 26 years, whom he hadn’t yet told of his plans to enlist.At a time when his peers were thinking ahead to retirement, Grodin was about to trade in his blue scrubs for green Army fatigues.
Now, approaching the end of his commitment with the Army Reserve, he is being called a hero for his service, which included two tours in Iraq as an internist and critical care doctor.
But eight years ago, his decision caught even those closest to him by surprise. His family thought he was heedlessly putting his life at risk. Friends and colleagues wondered if he was having a midlife crisis.
What would cause a doctor, with a prestigious and lucrative practice, a family man with deep roots in his community, to willingly turn his life upside down and throw himself into the most dangerous place on earth?
The decision brought a feeling of release from an old burden: Grodin was finally answering a calling avoided for decades. The only thing he wasn’t certain of was how the Army would react.
“I wasn’t sure they would take a 52-year-old guy,” he said. “And I wasn’t in the best shape.”
Most of us recognize the phrase “in sickness and in health” because we have either uttered those words when we took our wedding vows, or we have heard others say them in a ceremony. Every couple goes through trials that will take them back to the very words they spoke as a promise their spouse.
That’s exactly what these women have walked through. They promised to love their husband; for better or worse, for richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health.
These ladies heard the words that every wife of a deployed soldier fears.
“Your husband was injured in combat.”
“It was an IED… he took a direct hit.”
“He has been severely wounded.”
“He is being airlifted.”
“We don’t know the extent of his injuries.”
“It’s life threatening.”
“It’s life altering.”
“I’m sorry.”
What do you do when the man you love, the man you made those vows to is severely wounded in combat? If you are a woman of principle, what you do is stay by his side, love him, comfort him, and you make good on the promise you spoke to him the day you were married.
That’s exactly what these ladies have done.
They took the call. They stood in the gap for their husbands. They remained faithful and strong and they are ready to share their stories.
Keep your eyes open for the announcement of when we will air the first You Served Blog Talk Radio program, Spouse Edition. Our first show will be on wives of wounded warriors. They will share their stories, their struggles, their triumphs, and the challenges that lie before them.
On tonight’s Blog Talk Radio You Served show hosted by CJ and Troy we will be talking with Eve Chase, who is a soldier, veteran of OEF, and currently very active in soldier issues on Capital Hill. She is also trying to start up a group that focuses exclusively on the concerns and issues with women veteran issues. She is also a member of Team Charlie at http://stormthehill.org/. CJ and Troy will also be talking about the current topics in the news dealing with soldiers to include the new report on obesity in the military and the current happenings in Afghanistan and why you are hearing nothing out of Iraq.
I tried to find a way to embed the video but I can’t. So, please check out this great video of the crew of the USS Lincoln honoring our 16th President’s date of birth by reciting the Gettysbug Address HERE.
The field of electronic warfare has become an urgent focus. With more and more terrorist cowards using the frequency spectrum to rain destruction on our troops, it has become more important to the military to counter those affects. Many years ago, the military recognized a need for electronic warfare in the area of Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and as a more passive, collection platform. Now, the military must again be agile in finding a solution to the problem of remotely detonated IEDs.
To answer that need, the Army has created the new 29-series military occupational specialty (MOS) for officers, warrant officers and enlisted personnel. I recently took part in a roundtable discussion with COL Laurie Buckhout, head of the Electronic Warfare Division. This new electronic warfare would be more than SIGINT and collection, COL Buckhout said. It would also encompass electronic attack, electronic protect, as well as incorporating the SIGINT and targeting side of operations. It was stood up in May 2006 and immediately began working up solutions. The branch was recently approved to maintain a full-time cadre with approximately 1600 personnel.
