Category: Health and Well-Being

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Talking about Sexual Abuse

 PTSD AND SEXUAL ABUSE

In the last year, many women and men have spoken up publicly about being sexually assaulted or sexually harassed.

Many Veterans of all backgrounds have had unwanted sexual experiences during their military service or at other times. Because of this, public discussions about these topics may bring up painful memories and feelings. Even if you think the public discussion is a good thing, it may still be difficult.

Common Reactions to the Public Discussion

You may notice more sudden, strong emotions; images of your own sexual assault or sexual harassment experiences; trouble concentrating; poor sleep or nightmares; feeling helpless, anxious, or depressed; or other changes. This is normal, and it does not mean there has been a setback in your recovery.

Remind yourself it is okay to feel upset.

It is very normal to have more struggles than usual, and you may need to spend more time doing things that help you support and care for yourself. You might consider downloading a smartphone app that teaches coping strategies. See examples at the LINK VA App Store.

Limit exposure to media.

Notice how the news or social media stories are affecting you, and if need be, limit how much you look at them. You can also focus on reading the stories that give you hope or make you feel supported and avoid the rest.

Get support.

Spend time with people you enjoy. This helps everyone get through tough times. Even if you do not tell others about your own experiences of sexual assault or sexual harassment, it can still help to be with others. You can say, “I’m having a rough time right now,” without sharing details if that feels right. Or, you can spend time with someone without telling them that you are struggling.

Get Help.

There are many resources available to you:

·        Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network* (RAINN) carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

·        DoD Safe Helpline. provides confidential one-on-one assistance for individuals who have experienced military sexual trauma, rape, or domestic violence. Call or text 1-877-995-5247 to talk with someone 24/7.

·        Free VA Services for Veterans who have experienced MST (regardless of whether they have a VA disability rating).

·        Every VA health care facility has a MST Coordinator who can answer any questions Veterans might have about VA’s MST-related issues and help Veterans access VA services and programs.

·        Find VA PTSD Treatment programs with our PTSD Program Locator.

PTSD and the VA

Today and tomorrow

PTSD is no longer an anxiety disorder. PTSD is sometimes associated with other mood states (for example, depression) and with angry or reckless behavior rather than anxiety. So, PTSD is now in a new category, Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. PTSD includes four different types of symptoms: reliving the traumatic event (also called re-experiencing or intrusion); avoiding situations that are reminders of the event; negative changes in beliefs and feelings; and feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal or over-reactive to situations). Most people experience some of these symptoms after a traumatic event, so PTSD is not diagnosed unless all four types of symptoms last for at least a month and cause significant distress or problems with day-to-day functioning.

Today VA operates more than 200 specialized programs for the treatment of PTSD. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, more than a half million Veterans diagnosed with PTSD received treatment at VA medical centers and clinics.

VA is committed to provide the most effective, evidence-based care for PTSD. It has created programs to ensure VA clinicians receive training in state-of-the-art treatments for PTSD. At of the end of FY 2013, VA had trained more than 5000 of its clinicians to use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure (PE), which are cited by the Institute of Medicine Committee on Treatment of PTSD as proven to be effective treatments for PTSD.

VA’s National Center for PTSD was created in 1989 by an act of Congress and celebrated its 25th anniversary on August 29, 2014. We continue to be at the forefront of progress in the scientific understanding and treatment of PTSD. In addition to improving upon existing treatments, we are researching effective new treatments. We are also developing new educational products such as our What is PTSD? whiteboard video.

Epidemiology of PTSD

What is epidemiology?

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in a population. Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence of PTSD across different populations. Below is a brief review of some of the major studies that have assessed the prevalence of PTSD in nationally representative samples as well as in samples of Veterans.

What is prevalence?

Prevalence is the proportion of people in a population that have a given disorder at a given time. It represents the existing cases of a disorder in a population or group. Prevalence estimates can be influenced by many factors including disorder occurrence (if new disorder occurrences increase, prevalence will increase) and the duration of the disorder (the longer people live with a disorder, the higher the prevalence). These estimates can also differ by demographic factors such as age and gender. It is important to qualify prevalence estimates with the time at which they were measured, as prevalence estimates can shift over time. Similarly, when interpreting prevalence estimates, it is important to keep in mind that prevalence is dynamic – it can change over people, places, and time.

Often prevalence is discussed in terms of lifetime prevalence. Other times, statistics will be given on current prevalence of PTSD in a given time frame, usually one year. At the end of this fact sheet you will find descriptions of other terms commonly used in epidemiology.

Prevalence of PTSD in the Community

 

Prevalence of PTSD in Veterans

National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study

The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS) , conducted between November 1986 and February 1988, comprised interviews of 3,016 American Veterans selected to provide a representative sample of those who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam era. The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among these Veterans was 30.9% for men and 26.9% for women. Of Vietnam theater Veterans, 15.2% of males and 8.1% of females were currently diagnosed with PTSD at the time the study was conducted (8).

Gulf War Veterans

Kang and others conducted a study to estimate the prevalence of PTSD in a population-based sample of 11,441 Gulf War Veterans from 1995 to 1997. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist (PCL;9) rather than interviews, with those scoring 50 or higher considered to have met criteria for PTSD. The prevalence of current PTSD in this sample of Gulf War Veterans was 12.1%. Further, the authors estimated the prevalence of PTSD among the total Gulf War Veteran population to be 10.1% (10).

Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom

In 2008, the RAND Corporation, Center for Military Health Policy Research, published a population-based study that examined the prevalence of PTSD among previously deployed Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Afghanistan and Iraq) service members (11). PTSD was assessed using the PCL, as in the Gulf War Veterans study. Among the 1,938 participants, the prevalence of current PTSD was 13.8%.

 

 

Vickii Parmenter‎ to Warriors of The Nam

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The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America’s honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. Inscribed on the black granite walls are the names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing. The Memorial is dedicated to honor the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of all who answered the call to serve during one of the most divisive wars in U.S. history.

It’s the most-visited memorial on the National Mall in Washington, attracting more than 5 million people each year – the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The most prominent feature of the memorial is a massive wall that lists the names of the more than 58,000 servicemen and women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.

The memorial also features the Three Servicemen statue, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, the In Memory plaque, and a flagpole with an etching of the insignia of what were then the country’s five military branches.

Don’t Leave Them Behind

 

You Can Overcome Past Trauma

Posttraumatic stress disorder, also called PTSD, was first thought of as a mental illness caused by wartime experiences. Yet, PTSD impacts thousands of people who have never been in combat. Posttraumatic stress disorder is the body’s enduring physical and emotional response to extreme stress. That stress can be triggered by life-threatening or extremely difficult events—either a single incident, such as a car accident or sexual assault, or chronic trauma, such as battle, abuse, or chaotic relationships.

Following a trauma, you may want to withdraw from others, but isolation only makes things worse. Connecting to others face to face will help you heal, so make an effort to maintain your relationships and avoid spending too much time alone.

You don’t have to talk about the trauma. Connecting with others doesn’t have to involve talking about the trauma. In fact, for some people, that can just make things worse. Comfort comes from feeling engaged and accepted by others.

Ask for support. While you don’t have to talk about the trauma itself, it is important that you have someone to share your feelings with face to face, someone who will listen attentively without judging you. Turn to a trusted family member, friend, counselor, or clergyman.

Participate in social activities, even if you don’t feel like it. Do “normal” activities with other people, activities that have nothing to do with the traumatic experience.

Reconnect with old friends. If you’ve retreated from relationships that were once important to you, make the effort to reconnect.

Source:  helpguide.org©

Seriously Still Alive

How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive?

2.7 million, the estimated number of veterans who actually served in Vietnam, rather than at home or in some other theater. This made it appear that nearly one-third of those veterans were dead in 2000 and that they were dying at a rate of almost 400 a day. That would have meant more than 100,000 deaths a year, or nearly two million between 2000 and 2015 — a path to near-total disappearance.

But I remain…

PTSD Survivor

Symptoms of PTSD in Survivors

PTSD symptoms typically fall into four categories:
  • Intrusive memories: flashbacks, nightmares, or distressing recollections of the trauma
  • Avoidance: evading reminders, places, or conversations related to the trauma
  • Negative changes in cognition and mood: hopelessness, low self-worth, emotional numbness
  • Changes in arousal and reactivity: hypervigilance, irritability, sleep disturbances, or exaggerated startle responses 
     
    Survivors may also experience emotional swings, difficulty maintaining relationships, and challenges in professional or social settings

 

Post-Traumatic Growth

Many PTSD survivors experience post-traumatic growth, developing deeper self-awareness, stronger relationships, renewed purpose, and resilience. 
 
This growth coexists with ongoing challenges, highlighting the survivor’s capacity to transform trauma into personal strength.
 
Here is an article that can help one cope with PTSD.
 

PTSD Survivor

 

Trauma impacts everyone in a different way. Post-traumatic stress disorder is not an indication of how “strong” or “weak” you are. It’s simply a reflection of your natural attempts to process what’s going on. This condition forms when a traumatic event, such as abuse, violence or a disaster, overwhelms your ability to manage it — and that capacity is different for everyone. Even seemingly less significant events can have a profound and painful impact on you.

PTSD often co-occurs with addiction and other mental health disorders. This condition can also lead to addiction, as trauma sufferers sometimes use alcohol and other substances to self-soothe painful symptoms and emotions.

Get help today!

 

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Medications for PTSD, Explained

Sometimes, meds are the only way to go.

 

The symptoms of PTSD can affect every area of your life. The good news is that there are treatment options that can help. While psychotherapy, sometimes called “counseling”, has been shown to be the most effective treatment for PTSD, certain medications have also been proven to help decrease many of the core symptoms.

Is Medication Right for Me?

Medication may be a good choice if you don’t want to try talk therapy now or if you can’t fit weekly therapy appointments into your life. Some people find that taking certain medication for PTSD while they are in therapy makes the process easier. Talk to your health care provider about which medications are right for you.

What Medications Work Best?

Recommended medications for PTSD are called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or Selective Norepinephrine/Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). They are both types of antidepressant medicine. These can help you feel less sad, worried, and improve your overall functioning. SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) or fluoxetine (such as Prozac), and the SNRI venlafaxine (Effexor).

Do I Need to be Cautious about Certain Medications?

Some doctors have prescribed medications known as benzodiazepines for patients with PTSD to help with symptoms such as anxiety or insomnia. These medications may be known as Valium, Xanax, Klonopin or Ativan.

Benzodiazepines may help these symptoms in the short term, but we now know that they do not improve the overall symptoms of PTSD. Their helpful effects do not last and they come with possible safety concerns.

Atypical antipsychotics are another class of medication occasionally used for symptoms of PTSD. They also can have concerning side effects and are not typically recommended to treat PTSD.

What Medications Can I Take to Improve my Insomnia or Anxiety?

The first-line medication recommendations for PTSD, the antidepressants, are effective in treating your anxiety and insomnia symptoms. You also can benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. Talk to your provider about safer, more effective treatment options.

Prazosin is a medication that works by decreasing the adrenaline produced by your body when you are stressed and has been shown to help some Veterans with trauma-related nightmares. Ask your health care provider if it may be right for you.

How To Handle Stress, Anxiety and Fears

Anxiety can cause many different symptoms. It might affect how you feel physically, mentally and how you behave.  It’s not always easy to recognize when anxiety is the reason you’re feeling or acting differently.

 

Everyone experiences stress, which is your body’s physical and emotional response to new or challenging situations. This can occur when you face problems such as those related to work, school, health, and relationships. Feeling stress can be a normal coping response and can forge a healthy sense of our ability to solve problems. However, when the stress is long term, known as chronic stress, it can lead to worsening health problems.

Healthy ways to cope with stress

Learning to cope in a healthy way can help reduce your stress. Taking small steps in your daily life to manage stress can have a big impact. Everyone manages stress differently. You can find and manage what triggers your stress and the right combination of healthy techniques that work for you.

 

1.  The behavioral-environmental part of the problem–

  • Exposure–confront the scary situation over and over.
  •  Analyze the situation–log and assess the possible causes.
  •  Avoid the stressful situation or person, change your environment.
  •  Seek support from friends, counselors, self-help groups, etc.

2.  The emotional part–

  • Learn to relax–counter the tension directly.
  •  Desensitization–reduce the fear or anxiety response.
  •  Flooding or venting feelings–get strong emotions off your chest.
  •  Stress inoculation–learn to “stay calm” or to “talk yourself down.”
  •  Channel “nervous energy” into fruitful activities.
  •  Develop psychological toughness–take on stressful challenges.

3.  Skills for reducing insecurity–

  • Actually, having more skills makes you feel more competent…you are!

4.   Cognitive part–

  • Observe and model a person successfully handling the scary situation.
  •  Recognize that faulty thinking may be the cause of your stress.
  •  Correct misperceptions–consult with others; test out your views.
  •  Challenge irrational beliefs and demands of how things “should” be.
  •  Right wrong conclusions–check with others, test your reasoning, learn to think     logically.
  •  Intentional thorough planning of how to cope.
  •  Healthy attitudes–face problems squarely, commit yourself to action.
  •  Build your faith in your ability to handle stress and other problems.
  •  Find an inspiring mission in life and nurture an optimistic attitude.

5.  Unconscious factors–

  • Explore your history–for traumas, stressful emotions, and beliefs.
  •  Utilize natural curiosity–ask relatives and friends about childhood.
  •  Read psychological literature and case studies: Q: “True of me too?”

Now you are prepared to plan your attack on tension and fears that hold you back. Based on what you know, select the best two or three methods and give them an honest try. If they don’t work, try something else.  Good luck.

Graphic by mohamed hassan on Pixabay

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