Health
- Mental Health
Finding
and Choosing a Therapist
PTSD Treatment for Combat Veterans
PTSD is a major
problem for veterans today and is going to become a bigger
problem over time. That's not speculation it's a fact, based
on the enormous number of troops that have been in combat
in recent years.
In fact, more than 2.0 million American and coalition troops
have served in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
since 2003, with thousands deployed multiple times. Recent
surveys found that 20% of soldiers who served in Afghanistan
now suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major
depression.
PTSD
and Veterans
PTSD treatment is common in veterans. With the returning of
soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq, treatment facilities across
the country are seeing a rise in the number of PTSD cases.
PTSD stands for post traumatic stress disorder, a mental health
condition that occurs after a traumatic event such as a natural
disaster, repeated physical or sexual abuse or war. You don't
need to be a war veteran to suffer from PTSD, but approximately
12.5% of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from
the condition.
VA
Issues New Report on Suicide Data
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
released a comprehensive report on Veterans who die by suicide.
In the past, data on Veterans who died by suicide was only
available for those who had sought VA health care services.
Today’s report also includes state data for Veterans
who had not received health care services from VA, which will
help VA strengthen its aggressive suicide prevention activities.
The
Importance Of Dealing With Anxiety Problems
The problems faced due to anxiety are
very common. Many individuals undergo such kind of problems.
This is basically due to the life style adopted by people
in today's times. The number of people falling prey to such
problems is thus found to be ever increasing.
Understanding
Mental Health
Mental
health is as important as physical health. Still, millions
of Americans suffer with various types of mental illness and
mental health problems, such as social anxiety, obsessive
compulsive disorder, addiction to drugs and alcohol, and personality
disorders. Mental illness and psychological disorders have
good treatment options with medications, psychotherapy, or
other treatments.
VA
Using Technology to Improve Access to Mental Health Care
In
an effort to improve Veterans’ access to mental health
care and perhaps lower the suicide rate among the Veteran
population, VA is striving to provide 200,000 video conferencing
consultations—also known as telemental health —
before the end of the year. VA has also decided that it will
no longer charge Veterans a co-payment for any telehealth
services it provides.
Grief
and Grieving
Losing
a loved one is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone
can face. Grief is the natural response to loss. The stages
of grief are: denial or disbelief, anger and blaming others,
bargaining, depression, and eventually, acceptance. Not everyone
experiences all these stages, nor does everyone experience
them in a particular order. Some people go through crying
spells and trouble sleeping. Others are less productive at
work. Studies show that the most painful phase of grief usually
lasts up to 2 months, with milder phases lasting a year or
longer.
Online
Toolkit Aims to Support Mental Health Providers Serving Veterans
in the Community
The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed a new
online Community Provider Toolkit aimed at delivering support,
therapeutic tools, and resources to community providers treating
Veterans for mental health concerns. “Many
Veterans seek mental health care at VA, yet many also choose
to go to providers in their community,” said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “VA is committed
to helping Veterans wherever they may seek care...”
VA
and DoD to Fund $100 Million PTSD and TBI Study
The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense
(DoD) are investing more than $100 million in research to
improve diagnosis and treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury
(mTBI) and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
How
to Help a Family Member With Anxiety and Panic Attacks
If
you've been wondering how to help a family member with anxiety
and panic attacks but didn't know where to go, continue reading
on to get some easy tips to help out your suffering family
member.
A
Simple Guide To Meditation To Help You Deal With Stress
Meditation is one of the techniques
used in stress management. A person who is riddled with problems
often finds it hard to focus; which often leads to more problems
cropping up due to their mistakes. Meditation techniques helps
a person achieve a calm state of mind without having to resort
to drugs or relaxation tools and implements. Every step to
meditation is done in the mind.
VA
Research Expands Knowledge of Brain Injuries, Robotics
Two studies announced last week by Department
of Veterans Affairs may help develop new diagnostics, therapeutics,
and rehabilitation strategies for treating blast-related traumatic
brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), while
improving technology that restores independence and mobility
for people with paralysis or limb-loss. Research indicates
the use of an investigational brain-computer interface system
provided two people with paralyzed limbs the power of mind
over body.
VA Continues PTSD Outreach with
AboutFace Campaign
In
observance of June as PTSD Awareness Month, the Department
of Veterans Affairs National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) has begun a new online initiative, AboutFace,
focused on helping Veterans recognize PTSD symptoms and motivating
them to seek treatment. “We must do all we can to help
Veterans identify possible indicators that they may be suffering
from PTSD,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric
K. Shinseki. “It requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted
approach to be effective. We hope that this initiative, while
just one aspect of our program, will play an important role
in that effort.”
Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Offers Improvements
in Symptoms Over Three Years
Patients
with Parkinson’s disease who undergo deep brain stimulation
(DBS)—a treatment in which a pacemaker-like device sends
pulses to electrodes implanted in the brain—can expect
stable improvement in muscle symptoms for at least three years,
according to a Department of Veterans Affairs study appearing
in the most recent issue of the journal Neurology.
VA-Army
Agreement Helping Transform Health Care for Patients
The Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of the Army are working
together to provide cutting-edge simulation-based training
for medical staff to enhance the quality of patient care at
VA medical facilities across the Nation. “This
agreement between the VA and the U.S. Army strengthens an
important relationship that helps VA deliver better health
care and value for all of our Nation’s Veterans. It
also allows VA to make the best and most cost-effective purchases
of simulation equipment, while also moving us toward system-wide
standardized simulation training,” said Dr. Robert A.
Petzel, VA Under Secretary for Health.
Brain
Stimulation for Parkinson’s Offers Improvements in Symptoms
Over Three Years
Patients
with Parkinson’s disease who undergo deep brain stimulation
(DBS)—a treatment in which a pacemaker-like device sends
pulses to electrodes implanted in the brain—can expect
stable improvement in muscle symptoms for at least three years,
according to a Department of Veterans Affairs study appearing
in the most recent issue of the journal Neurology.
Keeping
Our Brains Healthy
We
all know how important keeping active is for a longer and
healthier life, but it's not just our body that is important.
Keeping our mind healthy is crucial to aging well and living
a better life as we grow older. We have talked about academic
learning and its importance for keeping our brains active
but there is so much more to understand about our brain as
it ages. By engaging in activities that require us to think
quickly, we help stretch our brain muscles and strengthen
our memory and cognitive skills which can significantly keep
decline in check.
VA
Research Expands Knowledge of Brain Injuries, Robotics
Two studies announced last week by Department
of Veterans Affairs may help develop new diagnostics, therapeutics,
and rehabilitation strategies for treating blast-related traumatic
brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), while
improving technology that restores independence and mobility
for people with paralysis or limb-loss. Research indicates
the use of an investigational brain-computer interface system
provided two people with paralyzed limbs the power of mind
over body.
A Veteran Dies By Suicide Every
80 Minutes, Study Reveals from the Center For A New American
Security
A veteran
commits suicide every 80 minutes, according to a study published
November 1, 2011 from a Center
for a New American Security. Since
the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military suicides
have increased. From 2005 to 2010, approximately one service
member committed suicide every 36 hours, the CNAS study revealed.
The report also mentions that soilders who deploy according
to Army data, are 1.5 times more likely to die from suicide.
They
Should Have Beat Me More? - The Cycle of Physical Abuse
I
conducted a two-day workshop with men who had recently been
released from prison for domestic violence. With the men were
their wives, as well as the father of a batterer who was still
in prison. The father, Douglas, sat in front of me, sharing
his childhood experiences. "My momma was a very loving
woman, a big-hearted, hard working loving woman." He
told me. From my many years of counseling, I knew that my
definition of love and his definition of love were likely
very different.
Family
Dinners Essential to Communication
You've
heard the research. You know that establishing the habit of
sitting down together for dinner as a family is critical to
building and maintaining healthy communication with your children.
But then you look at your calendar and wonder how in the world
you can make time to squeeze in a family dinner every night.
Would
You Like To Overcome Fear? 10 Quick And Easy Tips
Fear
is one of the top culprits for making people unhappy. It has
been the cause of wars, bitter rivalries, tyranny and despair
for people all over the world. People have suffered in untold
numbers because they let fear rule their lives while those
who overcome fear have met with great success and accomplishment.
If fear is keeping you from living the kind of life you've
always wanted, you can change that. Here's how to improve
your life skills:
Forgiving
Yourself and Others
At
some point in our lives, all of us have been wronged by another
person and felt hurt, angry or resentful. This is a natural
reaction and part of being human. However, if we do not resolve
or come to terms with these hurts, they drive our actions
and create a negative way of life. By harboring past hurts,
we have the potential to do far more harm to ourselves than
anyone else can possibly do.
VA
Expands Medical Forms Program to Support Faster Claims Processing
The
Department of Veterans Affairs announced today the release
of 68 new forms that will help speed the processing of Veterans’
disability compensation and pension claims. “VA employees
will be able to more quickly process disability claims, since
disability benefits questionnaires capture important medical
information needed to accurately evaluate Veterans’
claims,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki. “Disability benefits questionnaires are just
one of many changes VA is implementing to address the backlog
of claims.”
VA Creates Women Veterans Call
Center
Major Outreach Effort Launched. The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) has embarked on a major initiative to reach out
to women Veterans in order to solicit their input on ways
to enhance the health care services VA provides to women Veterans.
10 Things Everyone Should Know
About Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder used to be called 'shell shock'.
The condition was first recognised in soldiers returning from
WW2 who had gone through shocking and overwhelming experiences
at war. Many of these soldiers had strong feelings of grief,
anxiety and anger which wouldn't go away, had flashbacks of
horrific scenes and felt compelled to avoid anything associated
with their traumatic experiences.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) App Helps Thousands
WASHINGTON – The PTSD Coach smartphone
application (app), launched in April by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD),
has already helped more than 5,000 users connect with important
mental health information and resources.
Brain Training is the Ultimate
Tool in Improving Your Mental Health
You often use the words 'pea brain',
'brainless' etc to describing somebody who cannot take decisions
on their own. Those with superior mental prowess are the decision
makers while those who lack it always remain underdogs. All
our successful leaders and business honchos are people who
are endowed with stupendous mental strength and ability to
take decisions instantly. Genetic reasons, age, diseases etc
can affect mental strength, but brain training can improve
and regenerate your mental vigor continuously.
VA/DOD Smart Phone App Helps
Veterans Manage PTSD
Veterans dealing with symptoms of
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can turn to their smart
phones for help anytime with the PTSD Coach application created
by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department
of Defense.
VA Web Site Helps College Counselors
Aid Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) has launched a new Web site to strengthen the connection
between college and university mental health professionals
and the Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts now
studying on their campuses.
VA Reopening Health Care Enrollment
to Thousands of Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA), which now has nearly 8 million Veterans enrolled in
its award-winning health care system, is poised to welcome
nearly 266,000 more Veterans into its medical centers and
clinics across the country by expanding access to health care
enrollment for certain Veterans who had been excluded due
to their income.
Returning Soldiers And The
Aftermath Of War On Society
There are more suicides today from the Iraq war than from
any other war we have ever been involved in. Of the more than
30,000 suicides in this country each year, 20 percent of them
are acts by veterans. Meaning on average 18 veterans commit
suicide each day" (Statistics Released by Veterans Affairs
(VA)
Suicide and Ptsd: Post-war Torture
There seems to be a general pattern for war veterans suffering
PTSD. They experience recurring nightmares and flashbacks
followed by a recourse to heavy drinking or drugs then crime.
A lot of war veterans ended up in prison often for violence
and some of them killed themselves in their cells. While many
veterans have been.
Combat Operational Stress Control:
The Many Realms of Trauma
During the recent “Current Approaches to the
Treatment of Trauma” conference held at UCLA, reference
was made to a variety of environmental realms of experience
and psychophysiological states that can precipitate trauma
and may result in PTSD. The body’s neural relationship
to the brain received considerable attention...
Psychological Crisis Intervention
for Iraq War Veterans.
Psychological crisis intervention for Iraq
war veterans is a project dedicated to raising awareness of
the plight of USA military personnel and families affected
by the various conflicts in Iraq. There are a number of ways
in which care for veterans differ from our usual context of
war.
PTSD Treatment for Combat Veterans
PTSD is a major problem for veterans
today and is going to become a bigger problem over time. That's
not speculation it's a fact, based on the enormous number
of troops that have been in combat in recent years.
Potential Solution to Military
Veteran Suicides Discussed
No,
certainly not all, but the numbers of mentally afflicted individuals
is serious enough to cause us grave concerns. The other day,
I was considering all this, and doing a little research and
wondering if perhaps, there was more we could be doing. There
was indeed, an interesting article Pysorg [dot] com the other
day titled; "Rebooting the brain helps stop the ring
of tinnitus in rats," published on January 12, 2011 and
in the article it indicated that; "Researchers were able
to eliminate tinnitus in a group of rats by stimulating a
nerve in the neck while simultaneously playing a variety of
sound tones over an extended period of time, says a study
published today in the advance online publication of the journal
Nature."
PTSD – A Debilitating
Mental Condition.
PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is a
debilitating
mental condition. PTSD sufferers may feel like they can never
return to their normal self because of an inability to move
past the distressing incident that triggered the trauma. Traumatized
people whether affected by PTSD or not, have a higher tendency
towards using alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and towards developing
Eating Disorders, OCD, and Dissociative Disorders.
Army officials work to treat
invisible wounds of war
Military leaders and troops alike need
more time at home between deployments to help diagnose and
receive treatment for the "invisible" wounds of
war such as post-traumatic stress, a senior Army officer said
today.
The National Action Alliance
for Suicide Prevention Offers Much-Needed Assistance
The establishment of the National Action
Alliance for Suicide Prevention needs to continue to be commended,
as there has been no better time than now to see such a project
take shape. When announced by Health and Human Services Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius and Department of Defense Secretary Robert
M. Gates, it brought a major step towards developing the most
effective solutions for preventing such tragedies.
What
To Do If Your Loved One Becomes Suicidal
Depression, characterized by erratic mood
swings, loss of interest in hobbies and activities is a very
serious emotional disorder affecting about 9.5 per cent of
the nation. Needless to say, it is could be a lot more fatal
if a depressed person is heading towards suicide. Therefore,
here are some signs to know if your loved one is considering
suicide as a result of depression.
Foiling Suicides With Acupuncture
Until this day, it is quite difficult
to comprehend why some people would resort to taking their
own lives to get away from their problems. Is it just a psychological
problem or has something gone wrong in their system that makes
them suicidal?
Improve
Veteran Mental Health
"Increasing numbers of Veterans are being diagnosed with
mental health conditions, often coexisting with other medical
problems. More than 1.5 million of the 5.5 million Veterans
seen last year had a mental health diagnosis.
The Veteran Suicide Rate
Compared to the General Population.
The largest and most comprehensive
study on veterans who sought treatment for depression in the
government's health care system was conducted by the Department
of Veterans Affairs and University of Michigan. The joint
effort detailed records from more than 800,000 veterans, including
troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, revealed that
veterans receiving treatment for depression are no more likely
to take their own lives as compared with civilian patients.
Meditating veterans experience
reduced PTSD symptoms
Like so many others his age, David George
enlisted in the U.S. Army with a desire to serve his country.
“It’s what I always wanted to do, so I went down
to the recruiter and signed up.” After serving in Iraq,
David returned home suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder,
or PTSD. Now he is involved in a study on the effects of the
Transcendental Meditation technique on traumatic stress.
Energy Therapy Yields Promising
Results For American Combat Veterans
With American soldiers fighting wars
on two fronts subjected to extended and repeated tours of
duty, it's no wonder that so many return with Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD). Psychotherapy has been traditionally
utilized to treat this disorder in vets and disaster survivors.
Success rates vary widely, but one treatment that is showing
promise in treating PTSD is energy therapy.
Learn How to Control your
Panic Attack PTSD and Start Living a Normal Life Again?
Those who have to put up with panic attack
PTSD can tell you this condition isn't a joke, and that merely
"snapping out of it", as numerous non-sufferers
recommend, isn't as easy as it might appear. In the following
paragraphs I'll talk about what it really means to put up
with this kind of devastating ailment and several methods
to better handle it.
PTSD - Treating Trauma and
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Hypnotherapy
Trauma is one of those things that most
of us will be forced to deal with at one time or another on
our life's journey. In fact, it's thought that between 50%
to 90% of us will experience it sooner or later.
American
Soldiers Turning To Alcohol
The War in Iraq started out as a war on Terror and troops
went overseas willingly to protect American’s honor,
but things have changed in the years that have passed. Troops
who have returned from active duty in Iraq after years in
a war are coming home with suffering from depression and PTSD.
Self Help in a New Way
My wife and I are sitting at the white patio table under the
green umbrella at the Riverside Restaurant in Grants Pass,
Oregon. We are at the bottom of a three level veranda facing
the Rogue River. The Rogue is one of our few nationally protected
wild rivers. I can hear the gurgling flow of the current rapidly
moving down stream. The warm sun today hits the rippling water
with thousands of light refractions that gleam like tiny,
twinkling stars.
Suicide
and Ptsd: Post-war Torture
Three hundred
miles off the Argentina coast in the South Atlantic lay the
Falkland Islands, also known to the Argentines as Islas Malvinas.
It consists of two main islands, East and West Falklands which
lie 300 miles east of the Argentina coast. There are about
200 smaller islands that form a total land area of approximately
4,700 square miles. The only town and capital is Port Stanley.
PTSD
Sufferers Dealing with the Memories of War
"What difference does it make
to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad
destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or
the holy name of liberty and democracy?" Gandhi
could have not been more right when he said his piece about
the futility of a war that brings bloodshed and chaos. Nobody
really wins but everyone is a losing victim of man's atrocities
and evil doings against each other.
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