POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDRONE

Does anyone have friends or relatives with this disorder?

My brother has a disabling case of it stemming from Viet Nam. He should have been treated years ago, but wasn't.

I tried in vain to get help for him. Does anyone have any ideas of what can be done?

Many years ago I had a friend with severe PTSD. He participated in a special program for Viet Nam Vets and their significant others at the local university. Unfortunately, the prescribed drugs changed his personality so much that he preferred crazy to sane and lethargic. He chose to medicate with alcohol instead of prescribed medications. Unless the person is willing to go through the therapy and medical supervision until what works is finally found, it is very difficult to treat. His emotions went from none to violent and from tears to cold hate. his sleeping patterns did not provide proper rest, plagued by nightmares and flashbacks. He had paranoia and phobias. Under all of that was a boy who lied about his age to get into the war before it really began and was a trained assassin. He remained "in country" even after the war was over but he was drug addicted when he returned to the U.S. He broke that addiction in exchange for alcohol. Many homeless are still from that era; the addictions to cope with the impact of that war on their psyche were insurmountable and normal society doesn't work for them very long. While medications with therapy can provide help, they are adults and often choose not to take prescriptions properly and feel "unique" and that therapy is for the weak, not them.

The Iraq war has sensitised VA hospitals and more programs are available. That's the best place to start for help if the vet is wanting help.

Thank you, DK. My brother wants no help. He knows everything about everything and does not pay his property taxes and just about lost his garbage strewn, ratty place. Fortunately,
we were informed and paid his back taxes out of inheritance money he had not utilized

I tried for a long time to get him help. Unfortunately the sickest will not voluntarily seek help.

I don't know anyone personally, Alice, but Audie Murphy suffered from it, and I did a lot or research on the disorder at that time. I will try to answer any questions, or give you some ideas as to where to look. If you still have a copy of my book, check out the chapter called "San Antonio to Farmersville," the first chapter of "Book II: The return."

Ann

Ann,

Thank you so much.

As a psychiatrist told me, "It is not your fault; they are an adult with choice. Continue to love them and help when you can but know their mind is not functioning consistently and forgive them their lapses. The world they see is not the same one we see. It's as though they took off the 3D glasses and everything is blurred. Adults have a right to choose their lifestyle."

True, but I don't deem a mentally ill person an adult.