|
Feedback ForumSend us your opinions, reactions, and ideas about "Veterans of PTSD"Submissions for this question are no longer being accepted. Previously submitted comments appear below. Comments may have been edited for content or space. Poster: James Comment: I'm one of the guys who fell through the cracks. I sit at home every day wondering why my life is now like the movie Groundhog Day. Disability pays our rent and feeds my kids. Even though I did not lose my arms or legs serving 18 years in the Marines (up until 2005), my mind is a fraction of what it once was. If you're lucky enough to serve under a commander who is educated about mental health, you've got a shot at recovery. If your commander is not educated, your career is over and you are hammered away until they can get you on something and then wash their hands of you. Semper Fi. Poster: Dennis Vernacchia Comment: Thanks for reporting on PTSD and how the VA is underfunded for taking care of the afflicted Vets. Coincidently I received my VET Benefits and Info newsletter today via e-mail and this info: VA BUDGET 2008 UPDATE 07: As they have for the better part of a decade, Congress has failed to pass an on-time budget for VA. The government's new fiscal year begins on 1 OCT, and instead of pressing forward on the VA Appropriations bill, each chamber has passed a stopgap funding measure while will fund VA and the rest of the government through 16 NOV. This means that, in the short term, VA will be funded on last year's level – a level that does not account for the growing numbers of veterans seeking care. The stopgap budget they have approved is roughly $6.7 billion less than what Congress itself has decided what VA needs, and will hamper VA's efforts to recruit and retain the highest quality doctors, nurses and health care professionals. It will also delay VA's ability to hire and train disability compensation claims processors, impairing VA's ability to manage the ever-growing backlog. The differences between the House and Senate versions are negligible, and the bipartisan support for the bill would ensure its success if it had come up for a vote. Congressional leaders, however, decided to use the broad support for it to attach less politically popular provisions, turning it into a large omnibus bill and delaying its passage. Veteran organizations are calling on Congress to end the political games and do what is right for this nation's veterans, especially those wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. This nation's 24 million veterans are looking to them to do the right thing. [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 28 Sep 07 ++] Poster: Jan Look Comment: My husband is also a Viet Nahm Veteran who was finally diagnosed with PTSD after our marriage fell apart after 29 years. Only when he was faced with a need to attend to his own health care needs, did he seek help from the VA. In his attempt to address this as a part of physical and emotional health needs, the VA Administration has failed to meet their responsibility to him. The effects his PTSD has had on everyone in our family is almost a textbook affirmation of what we know. How our family can heal is yet unknown. The VA offers almost nothing to meet our needs. Society barely speaks of the secrets so many families hold about how the wars rule our lives. Poster: Kathy Blackwelder Comment: Excellent show! My heart goes out to these men and the women in their lives. Poster: tillie Krieger Comment: Despite all the hype from the administration and the Defense Secretary especially, they only talk and pretend to do something beneficial about the veterans, why don't media people visit the problems and monitor what they say is being down with what is actually happening. I'm tired of being lied to, aaren't you? Poster: Lily G. Casura Comment: That was intense. It's clear there's a long road ahead for veterans, and that a priority should be not delaying or denying treatment, lest we make the situation worse. This topic interests me greatly, and I've been blogging about it for several years, at http://www.healingcombattrauma.com. The theme of the blog is resources for and about healing combat trauma. The focus is on effective medical and psychological care, and the slant is apolitical. Thanks. Poster: L. Henry Comment: As a former US Marine who served in combat during the Korean war, I was really insulted by the fact that it was not mentioned in you opening statement. What makes WWII, Vietnam and Iraq more worthy? Men were killed and wounded in Kores too. Poster: John Comment: PTSD, they called it when stress landed me in care for a breakdown, It was confusion people returning from Desert Storm got hurrah's. We served and when we realized the truth hid rather than honor the colors morning and night. Some of us never got home really. In 2004 I spent a week in my home State, because of lack of work in the midwest, that was my longest return since 1971 as I was released on 10% disability. i've gone to the VA, had a real workup a few years ago. My insurance says they are not an authorized provider and said I would be billed large co-pays, the VA has yet to send a bill, and don't tell me they won't . I was schulded to get clinical help, but the fee was not worth creating the nightmare's. I have suppressed so far. Fireworks bring tears and the parachute flares that lit up Vung Tao, and the night runs as jets zoom flailing lead with tracers at the targets. I think I get close to some resolution as tears spontainously appear when there should be none. I am a lucky one, got a carreer, and now a pension, but always will want to know why I got rid of my hunting rifle and seeked a religeous committment. Poster: Nancy Fioritto Patete Comment: I watched your piece on PTSD while stewing over a dilemma I don't know that I can fix. I am an attorney representing a client who has been afflicted with PTSD since his time in Vietnam amost 40 years ago. He was fired from his job for having attacked his supervisor. I know he experienced a flashback. His story would take up too much space here. Today he lives on disability. He lost his lifeline to society--his ability to work. I learned much by taking on his case, more than I ever knew--or thought I knew-- during the turmoil of the 60s. The more I delved into his history, the war, the illness--and our country's profound indifference to it--the more I wanted to do for him. My proccupation is that I need an expert witness to make the connection between his PTSD and his actions. Any I've found are very expensive, and he has no money. This has turned out to be pro-bono. Without money, no expert. No expert, no day in court. And no justice. I feel bad for him. I am glad the malady is gaining such exposure. This will sound crazy, but I have reached the conclusion that the cure is to eliminate trauma. This is done by ridding ourselves of war. I think most civilians and humanitarians are so enlightened. To admit to this trauma is to acknowledge failure and set aside shame. A big step for civilization. I'm not crazy enough to say out leaders are in sync with this, however. Poster: Mark Phillips Comment: I come from a military family; two generations of West Point graduates, yet I see the government abandon its promises to the military over and over again. From the post-WWI riots to the broken promises made to Vietnam Veterans and Gulf War veterans; the conduct of our government is shameful with regard to those we have asked to protect us. I pray to God that the next President, (who will be a Democrat) hear the cries of those who were lied to, and respond in compassion and gratitude for the sacrifices they made. Mark Phillips Poster: Fred Wills Comment: Please tell me if American troopers are the only people who are suffering from PTSD or have other armies from Australia, England, Korea & others been diagnoised with any of these problems relating to Viet Nam or Iraq. The French should have had equal or near the same mental problems steming from Dien Bien Phu. Is the root of the problem possibly our own isolated culture? |
Who's Helping Our Wounded Vets?
Elizabeth Warren on the Economy
Nurses Needed
Electric Car Dreams
PBS Special Report: Health Care Reform
