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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview
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, now known as Military Sexual Trauma (MST). 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, disassociating, 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.If you are suffering from PTSD, or know someone who is, the following list of resources and information will help you find help in dealing with PTSD and related conditions.
Military Sexual Trauma & PTSD
Military sexual trauma (MST) refers to sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment experienced during military service. Military sexual trauma can happen to anyone.
The VA provides free treatment for any physical or mental health conditions related to your experiences of MST. You DO NOT need to have reported the MST at the time or have other proof that the MST occurred to get care.
The VA has a dedicated team to assist with helping and providing you with these free resources.
Click here to find your nearest MST Coordinator
FREE Resources available to you via the VA:
- MST-related outpatient services at every VA medical center and many VA community-based outpatient clinics. These services include psychological assessment and evaluation, medication evaluation and treatment, and individual and group psychotherapy for mental health conditions associated with MST. Treatment for physical health conditions related to MST is also available.
- MST-related outpatient counseling through VA’s community-based Vet Centers.
- MST-related treatment in VA’s residential (live-in) or inpatient programs for individuals who need more intensive treatment and support.
- You can request to meet with a clinician of a particular sex if it helps you feel more comfortable.
- You don’t need to discuss or disclose your MST experience when registering with VA. Just ask to meet with a VA health care professional for a clinical evaluation. The provider can discuss your health concerns and help refer you to the MST-related mental health or medical care you need.
Featured PTSD News
Center for Psychological Health and TBI Opens
The Department of Defense today announced the opening of a 24-hour outreach center to provide information and referrals to military service members, veterans, their families and others with questions about psychological health and traumatic brain injury. More
- PTSD News
- National Center for PTSD
- PTSD FAQs
- PTSD Discussion Forum
- PTSD Resources.org
- What You Need to Know About PTSD
- Readjustment Counseling Resources
- PTSD Facts for Veterans
- PTSD Information for Guard and Reserve Members
- Military Severly Injured Center Articles
- Military OneSource
- Army Behavioral Health Website
NURSING HOMES UPDATE
All states have a Nursing Facility Medicaid program that provides general health coverage plus coverage for nursing home services. These services include room and board, nursing care, personal care and therapy services.
Nursing Facility Medicaid may pay for a stay in a nursing home if you need a “nursing-home level of care” or meet nursing home “functional eligibility criteria; and have income and assets below certain guidelines.
RESOURCES
Below are web-sites that provide information on Veterans benefits and how to file/ask for them.
- Board of Veteran's Appeals http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/
- Center for Minority Veterans http://www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/
- Center for Women Veterans http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/
- Compensation Rate Tables, 12-1-03 http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm
- Directory of Veterans Service Organizations http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view
- Disability Examination Worksheets Index, Comp http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/index.htm
- Geriatrics and Extended Care http://www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg/
- Hearings http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch04.doc
- Veterans Legal and Benefits Information http://valaw.org/
- Online version http://www1.va.gov/OPA/vadocs/current_benefits.asp
- PDF Download in English http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf
- VA War-Related Illness and Injury Center http://www.vagov/WRIICSC-DC
- Homeless Veterans http://www.va.gov/homeless
- VA National HIV/AIDS Program http://www.hiv.va.gov
- VA Public Health Smoking Cessation Program http://www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking
- VA Mental Health http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov
- National Cemetery Administration (Burial and Memorials) http://www.cem.va.gov
- Center for Women Veterans and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov/womenvet
- National Foundation for Women Legislations (www.womenlegislators.org)
VIETNAM WOMEN VETERANS
Almost ten thousand women were there.
For a list of not only the women who gaves their lives in Vietnam but the start of a complete women's casualty list see: They Gave Their Lives
Salon.com has featured an interesting story about female Vietnam Veterans, entitled "Unarmed and Under Fire: An Oral History of Female Vietnam Vets."
Women in Vietnam
The Vietnam Womens Memorial Project's new website is at: VWMP
