Read the "qualifications" the V.A. uses to award a PTSD disability. It relies on a word the government seems to have invented. "Stressors" include "fear of military or terrorist action" or some type of sexual encounter. Granted there are real accounts of witnessing horrific wounds but PTSD isn't limited to actual combat activity. It specifies fear of combat. If the Wounded Warriors program specified that PTSD awards were limited to actual combat or even better, the award of a Purple Heart I would be personally satisfied that the fund doesn't squander my donation on a wife beating drug abuser who can't hold a job.
Look, there's one simple solution to your so-called dilemma -
DON'T CONTRIBUTE!
Yeah but that's not good enough. Wounded Warriors (long) ads feature heartbreaking little stories about horrific wounds suffered by genuine heroes who have been wounded by snipers and sappers in a conflict that the U.S. obviously chooses not to win (but that's another story). The fine print in the Wounded Warrior well done ads includes stated support for Veterans suffering from PTSD. It's no secret that PTSD has been used as a criminal defense in cases from DUI to drug possession and even murder. Since the federal guidelines for PTSD pensions don't even require the "stressor" of actual combat but only the fear of combat or (in the case of female Soldiers) a sexual assault, somebody in the Wounded Warrior program should be required to clarify the situation.
Hello Everyone, I just singed up here after reading all the posts related to the "Wounded Warrior Program' and "PTSD," )Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
PART 1
At the end of WWII, all the "Shell Shocked" combatants had been funnelled into Northern New York to a medical centre, where an army of medical personnel arrived for evaluating the mental health issues of those military combatants. The US Army Signal Corps, Capt. John Houston (Hollywood director) and his Army film ream were brought there for filming the entire program for historical and medical recording. Needless to say that Capt. Houston and his team did an excellent job of recording everything.
When political and military leaders watched that film, they were shocked to see just how terrible an affect that WWII had on those combatants. So, they graded that film with a "Top Secrete" classification and then buried it deep under ground. Thus the reason that when we came back from the Korean and Vietnam wars, there was "NO ONE" in the mental health field in the US who had any idea or knowledge of war related mental health issues, such as PTSD!
Around about 1989-1990 time period that film was finally down graded in it's security classification and transferred onto VHS video tape. I know this because in 1994, I watched a video of that film at the El Paso, TX, Vet Centre and I now have that same movie on DVD here at home.
The US government does not regulate the medical guidelines for diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental health issue(s). Mental health issues are regulated and provided guide lines in the "DSM-IV," which is regulated by the APA (American Psychiatric Association).
PART 2
Two types of wounded warriors (men & women)
A: Wounds with blood coming out of the person.
Legs, Arms, and other parts of body parts gone missing.
Group A regulates to the "Purple Heart Medal" being awarded to the combatant.
B: Unseen wounds such as PTSD, other mental health issues.
Seen or unseen wounds such as TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
Unseen wounds such as PTSD, other mental health issues related to "Sexual Assault"
in or out of the war zone(s).
Stressors of PTSD
Depression
Anxiety
Fight or Flight
Nightmares
Flashbacks
Paranoia
Anger
Self Medicating (med drugs, street drugs, alcohol, etc.
Survival Guilt
PART 3
National Medical Research Evaluation that was conducted in 1978 showed that troops on bases were actually more prone to attaining PTSD in comparison to their troop counterparts out in the bush fighting the enemy. The unknowing of when "In-coming Rounds," were going to hit their base was far more stressful in comparison being out in the bush as those combatants fully knew what to expect when encountering the enemy. But, realize that these are only examples in comparison to the real world of combat. And that evaluation most likely has changed a lot with the amount of TBI related IED's.
Part 4
Expecting any man or woman diagnosed with PTSD to dealing with it on their own and or getting a grip on it, is quite "STUPID" a mentality from anyone who has never walked a mile in the boots of anyone with PTSD.
"Nightmares," are "REAL" and all too many veterans live with them 24/7, thus the reasoning why so many victims do resort to "Self Medicating" themselves, as they try blocking those dreams and memories completely out of their minds.
YES! There have been and most likely will be even more coming down the road who are faking in having PTSD. Just a nature of some sub-humans (hit Happens). But, most clinicians can often see through those people as all too often they tip themselves off to the clinician(s), while going through the complete diagnosis procedure. We also have a few intensive mental health tests that also help in identifying the REAL from the Unreal individuals. I won't state what they are as it will come up if the clinical evaluator chooses to utilize any of them.
Do understand a very important part here in reference to the PTSD or other mental health issues diagnosis procedure conducted by the Dept. of VA, Vet Centres and other mental health facilities; the entire military personal field file and military medical records are reviewed by the clinician conducting that diagnosis as well. So, even when a soldier is on the military base all year in a combat zone, he or she may have served one or more tours of duty in various locations of the combat zones as well as Iraq and or Afghanistan as examples. So, the buddies of that combatant will never really know all that was involved in that military service member being awarded SC (Service Connection) for disability related to military service.
I have had vet clients who had traumatic events happen to them while on military leave, which is not near any combat zone. So, I would encourage everyone here to learn more about traumatic events and how they relate to the Dept. of VA awards for SC!
5.
As for who I am, here is the following info on me:
1. US Army Retired (SFC/E-7)-----Vietnam and Operations Desert Shield/Storm.
2. M60A1, M60A3 & M1A1 Abrams Battle Tank.
3. MSW (masters degree social worker) primary focus, Mental Health & Medical retired.
4. Dept. of VA clinical therapist.
5. VFW Service Officer & Chaplain
Have a great day guys!
