Military Struggles With Response To PTSD

CBS Evening News: Beneath A Brave Solider's Suicide, Cracks In the Mental Health System

(CBS)  The Pentagon says 1 in 5 service members who come home from Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress.

Some find their experiences too much to bear. There were 115 military suicides last year, and 93 through just August of this year.

The biggest obstacle to getting those numbers down may be the military culture itself, reports CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier.

First Sergeant Jeff McKinney was a model soldier, a newlywed, and a new father.

Now, his family says, he's a casualty of war. Two wars really: the war in Iraq, where he served honorably, and the war within the military over how to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

On July 11, 2007, McKinney, serving on his second tour, killed himself in front of his men. He had endured months of sleeplessness, nightmares and guilt over losing so many of the soldiers he commanded.

"I think he felt like he couldn't send one more broken body home, one more dead person home," Jeff McKinney's father, Charles McKinney, said.

McKinney's personal battle mirrors the war within the U.S. Army, between those who call combat stress a killer, and those who call it an excuse.

In McKinney's case, there had been troubling signs, but he hadn't been taking the medication given to help him cope -- and his captain feared taking him off duty would destroy his career.

Commanders like First Sergeant McKinney are often the hardest to convince they need help.

"We've got a rough and tough, sort of macho culture that says none of that soft squishy touchy feely stuff," said Brigadeer General Loree Sutton, director of the military's Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. "Well, we need to bring the brain out of what has been a black box."

But that's fighting Army tradition.

Commanders at one army base posted a fake "Hurt Feelings Report" -- portraying a crying cartoon face -- to mock soldiers seeking help for combat stress. Selections on the form included: "I am a crybaby," "I want my mommy" and "All of the above." It was tacked on the barracks bulletin board, next to the sign-up sheet, for the mental health clinic.

Sutton says the military's challenge is to teach soldiers - and commanders - that the nightmares or flashbacks aren't signs of weakness.

"It's about starting a different dialogue, giving folks permission to talk," she said.

The military is testing promising pilot programs.

Instructor and former Army ranger Steve Robinson, who works for the organization OneFreedom.org says it's about training the brain to cope with traumatic memories: "Teaching soldiers skills like visualization, event resolution, breath work, quiet time so they can process what happened."

But for First Sergeant McKinney, there were no such tools to cope. His wife says she knows what she'll tell her son.

"He needed help and nobody helped him," Chrissy McKinney said. "And that's the reason why he died."

But, she said, "He died a hero."

[Ahulani]

Dear blughat20,
I just read your e-mail and your story is so similar to a friend of mine, who was buried for hours under a crashed helicopter in Vietnam. He too lived for years with a life damaged by PTSD. However,a few years ago, he has found a very simple technique called TAT that has made his memories like a movie, but without the emotional charge on them any more. He can be with what happened and not have a diminished life. In fact, he is an amazing guy, full of the life and love that everyone wants and deserves.

Please, look at his story at http://www.tatlife.com/ where he talks about what happened. and also look at this Youtube video with a vet who just finisned a short workshop last summer.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFvB_YpgOpk

I am sure there is help for you there. You do not need to relive anything, but you are able to let the trauma dissolve into the past and not have it negatively affect your present life.

I know this sounds amazing, but now he does work with Vets with similar issues. He and other TAT professionals are there for all combat vets and their families who have been traumatized. PTSD is a brain injury and it can be helped. This group did a workshop with combat vets last summer for a few days and their lives have been changed in beautiful, astounding ways. There are testimonials on the site and ways to contact people trained to help you.

Whatever you decide, bless you and may you find all the help you need. And thank you for your life as a warrior.

[psychjerry]

The Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Practice Guidelines have placed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in the highest category, recommended for all trauma populations, at all times.

Nonetheless, I believe that it is imperative that any lingering misconceptions surrounding its effective use be dispelled, in order that more soldiers are afforded the opportunity to ease their suffering, by applying this remarkable therapeutic approach. EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that assists patients in resolving disturbing memories.

As a Pennsylvania psychologist, I have been using EMDR since 1995, after having completed my formal EMDR training, under the direction of Dr. Shapiro, EMDR''s originator. Most of today%u2019s concerns about this therapy seem to be centered on the notion that there exists little evidence for its use as one of psychotherapy''s empirically supported treatments. In so much as it is vital that no health care provider do patient harm, my question is to consider the harm that could occur, however, if EMDR is not offered as a timely treatment option.

Throughout the years, it has been my experience that EMDR helps patients to make a link between what they "know" to what they "feel." This "break-through" is vital, especially with the trauma patient who is finally able to resolve their disturbing memories. Numerous studies also appear to support this same contention.

Psychologist Gerald A. Solfanelli
http://www.ThePsychologist.com

[harp1963]

I work with a really good guy who tried to get FMLA at work for PTSD and was denied. He told me sometimes what he experienced really bothers him, but he can''t get his doctor at the VA to do the paperwork for the FMLA.

[blughst20]

The lack of knowledge in the comments to this aricle is astounding. I am 100% disabled from PTSD. I was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and spent 18 mos in combat. Numerous medals, missions ect. ect. I can tell you for 24 years my life was a nightmare. Then I found a friend who understood me and got me into a treatment program. After 10 weeks of intensive inpatient treatment and I had some understanding of what caused all my self destructive habits. Since it was 24 years to late for a "cure". I now live with PTSD and try to regulate my life best I can. It is the people like many of the postings here that made my life even worse."get over it" "it was a long time ago". You don''t get over it. You don''t forget. You can''t most combat vets can''t. So lest you''ve been there and examined your life after word best is just to listen and learn. And a side note: It not political unless the politicians refuse to do something to help soldiers who return from combat.

[renonv5]

morphndol8: Did something awful happen to you? You seem to be in a very dark place....
Posted by willo1301

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I was hoping if we all ignored it, it might go away.

[ingabowyer]

Rest in Peace soldier. Jeff, you were a good man. This story did not truly capture all you were and all you did. The Army (and your fellow countrymen) let you down, because they/we can''t or won''t recognize that mental health is as important as physical health. Our fighting troops experience trauma that can''t be wiped away by the glib reproach: "grow a pair."

Bush and Chaney may be responsible for getting us into this assinine war, but we are responsible for helping 1st Sgt. Jeff McKinney and his fellow troops face the trauma of war.

[jokon1]

Hello first im a atomic veteran who came down with hairey cell leukemia because of the tests in 1955 i took part in yucca flats nevada operation tea pot.Now that said lets get down to the real problem fixing the va and the many problems it has taking care of our veterans old and new Instead of blaiming this one and that one for our present problems lets start to straighten them out.We have many concerns in oucountry today and taking care of those who protect us as far as im concern is one the the most important one. In 2009 we face issues that all americans must pull together to solve. Lets concern our selfs with that and stop looking for fault it will not change anything As a people working as one we can change anything that is thrown at us lets start thank you for reading this note joe cohen hastings-on-hudson new york

[runningralph]

In order to relieve stress the military should re-institute the draft. Volunteers make better soldiers, but most draftees will do well. The officer corps should always communicate what they are fighting for. If an officer vacillates or gives the impression that the war is about bloodlust or showing how brave he is the soldiers will have doubts. Doubt leads to stress.

[woodjd42]

these guys get the best care in the world,they get good pay for what they do, and knew from the start what they were getting into.like at any job there
are risk,occupational hazards is the term.I was in Vietnam in 70,I don''''t look back but through my rear view mirror.I do not wor-ship war or my time in it.
these men should just grow a pair and be grate-ful
they walk among the living.


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Posted by decotoguy

What did you do in nam and where were you?

I could not disagree more with you statement. I too am a VV and have seen many of good men become casualties of war after the fact just because of thinking like yours.

[neo269]

Soldiers aren''t stupid. They know that the Liberals and Dems not only don''t support them or their mission, but have actively the Terrorists who have been murdering them. If this country really supported the troops there would be a lot fewer problems with PTSD - and a lot fewer dead soldiers.

[decotoguy]

these guys get the best care in the world,they get good pay for what they do, and knew from the start what they were getting into.like at any job there
are risk,occupational hazards is the term.I was in Vietnam in 70,I don''t look back but through my rear view mirror.I do not wor-ship war or my time in it.
these men should just grow a pair and be grate-ful
they walk among the living.

[dakotaclark]

Usually, delayed stress is a subconscious issue involving reaction to certain traumatic or stressful events or experiences in life. These events might happen from experiences during childhood, the military, during combat, or life after the military.

NOTE: it is not necessary to experience combat for a person to have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD. Many veterans who never served in combat, have military connected PTSD. In addition, many civilians have PTSD.

Having PTSD does not mean you are crazy. It simply means that you need some help with an unresolved, subconscious, mental health issue. No one is going to hog tie you and drag you off to the nearest mental hospital.

Instead, PTSD is a very natural reaction to whatever YOUR brain perceives as a traumatic or stressful situation. In order to deal with this, and in some cases, survive, many people repress all their feelings, thoughts, fears, or memories about their past stressful or traumatic experiences. Yet with some veterans, the repression of certain events is subconscious, and the veteran is not aware that it is happening.

[dakotaclark]

Typically, the signs of PTSD vary from person to person. What is traumatic or stressful to me, might not be to you.

However, here are some of, but not all, the signs of PTSD:
Difficulty sleeping
Easy to anger
Being depressed
Experiencing survivor guilt
Having fits of rage
Experiencing anxiety
Memory impairment
Alcohol or drug use and abuse
Flashbacks to the incident or incidents
Negative self image
Loss of interest in work or regular recreational activities
Suicidal thoughts and or feelings
Difficulty with authority figures, particularly the police
Problems with intimate relationships
Fantasies of retaliation and destruction
Emotional distancing from others
Unable to talk about war or other stressful experiences
Reacting with survival tactics
Distrust or cynicism of the government, particularly the VA
Avoiding certain activities because they bring back memories of the stressful or traumatic events.

If you do recognize some of the above, you owe it to yourself to consider getting a mental health evaluation, to rule out PTSD, and to learn whether or not you have some issues needing help. If things have not been working out by doing it on your own, maybe that%u2019s a sign you need someone to show you how to do it. Remember, IT IS OK TO ASK FOR SOME HELP!

[recowger]

I was in the Korean war, that was in 1952/1953. I still have problems with PTSD, but then we called it "combat fatigue". Anyone who was in a bad auto accident, or lost children suffers from PTSD. And it never never goes away.

[jlp7819]

ISALERNO51 About Your son Peter SALERNO..Please contact [e-mail]

[debinok1]

When these men and women who serve their country come home and commit crimes, the government they served turns its back on them, no matter their awards, no matter their repeated tours of duty, they are hung out to dry. Our service people are expendable, sadly so. My son after going to Iraq, was returned to the states for a mental evaluation(possible PTSD) after assaulting an officer, he was found fit for duty and will redeploy with his unit when called up.

[kenhamlett]

Bear in mind that this travesty is the direct result of the lies told by military brass and their psychiatric units. They basically said it would be acceptable to have the soldiers uprooted repeatedly to serve multiple tours of duty. They lied.
The worst part is that those that seek help will get lip service from the same shrinks that put them in this situation. The shrinks will not be able to understand the problems, will not care to rehabilitate the injured minds of the soldiers, and would not do so if they could. The goal is to keep the injured in their corrupt system for as long as possible and provide no help.
There are alternatives. Soldiers through out time have been helped by their fellow soldiers. These are people who have been at the front lines and found ways to cope. Maybe the answer is to allow time to "decompress" by talking with those who have been there and learned to cope. It may not be a solution for everyone and it is a shame that they are victims of our corrupt military and medical leaders, but maybe the VFW or other military related institutions can open their doors once again to help their peers.

[closethippy1]

The US has been diagnosed with PTSD after 8 years of Bush.
It''s going to be a long, long time before the US gets over this psychological malfunction.

[laadypister]

I have talked with many WWII, Korea, & VietNam veterans over the years. Every one of them tell me the same thing - "If" they were offered help they talked with someone who had never been on the front lines. The "shrink" they were assigned to had never been on the business end of a gun, had never been fired upon, they had never seen a buddy killed next to them, had never heard the bombs coming in to their camp in the middle of the night. If the "Dr." has never had to experience what these brave men and women have gone through, then how the heck are they to help those who have? So the soldier who needs help to get through these horrific times, walks out and isn''t helped because the person sent to help them hasn''t a clue.

Get professionals who have been in the trenches with these tramatised men and women to help them, not some mamby pamby PHD that hasn''t a clue as to what these Heros have gone through.

God Bless all of our Heros out there in the field in the past, now and in the future.

[hsuwukuei]

I am a decorated Vietnam war veteran and I''ve struggled with PTSD for almost forty years. PTSD cost me my career, my family, my friends, my happiness and life''s success to date. At age 57, I only now am beginning to grasp what happened. I joined the Army in 1968 at age seventeen and I was promoted to Sgt. E-5 on the battlefield a few days shy of my nineteenth birthday. I can only say that understanding, sympathy, proper care and treatment are almost non-existent within the VA and outside in society. PTSD is not a "mental illness" but a brain chemical disorder caused by exposure to traumatic events. With the help of a few strong and courageous people at the Denver VA Medical Center, I am finally on the path back to myself. I suggest everyone with the ailment and family or friends of those stricken by it read "War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation''s Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" by Edward Tick. PTSD is now for me my %u201CPath Toward Spiritual Development.%u201D My thoughts are with you.