Posts Tagged Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
Spouses Hold Front Line on Detecting Depression
Posted by ldaniel in Family Matters on September 5, 2012
By Lisa Daniel
Sept. 5, 2012
Military leaders all the way to the commander in chief are drawing attention to the importance of good mental health and putting resources into programs to help veterans, service members and their families. Read more.
But when it comes to recognizing and treating mental health problems, such as depression, spouses are the first line of defense, some treatment professionals say.
“The spouse knows the patient better than I do; they’ve been living with them for years,” Dr. James Bender, a clinical psychologist with the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, told me today. “They’re kind of at the front line of this.”
Symptoms of depression can be subtle and hard to detect, said Bender, a former Army captain and an expert on stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. “Feeling sad or having a depressed mood is only one of the symptoms of depression,” he said.
Other signs of depression include:
– Trouble concentrating;
– Changes in eating and sleeping – either too much, or barely at all;
– Anger or irritability;
– Low sex drive;
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– Social withdrawal; and
– “The hallmark symptom” of losing interest in activities he or she used to enjoy.
“He may be lying on the couch watching TV all the time and gaining weight,” Bender said.
Sometimes there is one traumatic event that triggers depression, making symptoms more sudden and easier to identify, Bender said. “But usually it’s a cumulative effect that gets a little worse day by day, and sometimes the spouse just gets used to it.”
Indeed, Bender said, “I’ve had patients who have been depressed and didn’t really know it.” Read the rest of this entry »
Taking Stress Out of Reintegration
Posted by ldaniel in Uncategorized on July 2, 2012
By Lisa Daniel
The Defense Department is working to “fundamentally transform” the nation’s understanding of the invisible wounds of war, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has said, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological and Traumatic Brain Injury.
DCoE is out in front on recognizing psychological problems among service members and recently began reaching out to military members and their families through social networking.
One event, now common in military family life — that also can be largely misunderstood — is a service member’s redeployment home. Public Health Service Lt. Cmdr. Dana Lee, a licensed clinical social worker in reintegration and deployment health at DCoE in Silver Spring, Md., recently took part in a Facebook chat with families about how to give service members a smooth transition back into their home life.
People often have unrealistic views of how a redeployment will be, Lee told me in a follow-up interview. “A lot of people think of it as a series of positive events,” she said. “You’re reunited with your family and friends, you’re going back to your favorite restaurants and activities.”
But returning to the routine of home life after war also can be a “period of extended stressors,” she added. “There are expectations that come with coming back. When you’re deployed, you’re focused on mission completion. There are different routines at home.”
A lot of things happen in the months that a service member is away, Lee explained. The kids have grown and changed, maybe the house is different, there may be a new car, and the couple’s relationship may have changed. Read the rest of this entry »
Dogs Help Heal the Heart
Posted by ldaniel in Uncategorized on June 6, 2012
Guest blogger Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly, of U.S. Pacific Command, is the owner of Hawaii Military Pets, which provides pet resources for military families. She’s offered to share her pet-related knowledge in a series of blogs for Family Matters.
By Theresa Donnelly
With the uncertainty in military families due to constant moves and deployments, our four-legged family members provide comfort and stability in stressful times. These loyal, furry companions not only help those serving our nation, but are ideal friends to anyone in need.
In fact, a growing body of research is backing up what pet lovers already know – canines provide therapeutic benefits for those suffering from life’s invisible scars.
In the U.S. Army Medical Department Journal, Canine-Assisted Therapy in Military Medicine April –June 2012, authors retired Marine Corps Col. Elspeth C. Ritchie and Army Col. Robinette J. Amaker write that the “acceptance of canines in Army medicine and in the civilian world has virtually exploded.” They are the chief clinical officer of Washington, D.C., Department of Mental Health, and the assistant chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corps and occupational therapy consultant to the Army Surgeon General, respectively.
The authors cite several examples, such as canines being used to help children cope with autism, shelter dogs trained as services dogs and therapy dogs that help soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress.
Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Fox, a patient at Naval Medical Center San Diego's Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care, pets Tommy, a service dog for physical therapy patients, March 14, 2012. The four-year-old black lab and golden retriever mix provides emotional support to patients during their physical therapy appointments. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John O'Neill Herrera
Now, there is a difference between animal-assisted therapy dogs and service dogs. In 2010, The American with Disabilities Act revised its definition of service animalsto be “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”
This regulation on service animals contains no stipulations on breed and even allows miniature horses under special circumstances. There’s no regulatory body for certifying service animals, nor can businesses ask for medical paperwork and/or an identification card for the dog. They can ask if the dog is required because of a disability and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform.
According to the American Humane Association, an animal-assisted therapy dog is designed to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Pet therapy is used in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, mental institutions and prisons. It also is used in wounded warrior clinics, and veterans’ centers.
Researchers have documented the positive benefits of animal-assisted therapy. In a 2005 study, the American Heart Association found that a 12-minute visit with a therapy dog reduced blood pressure and levels of stress hormones and eased anxiety among hospitalized heart failure patients. There have been additional studies with Alzheimer’s patients, school children in reading programs and even an ongoing study at The Department of Defense’s National Intrepid Center of Excellence where at least 100 service members have participated in the canine therapy program.
Susan Luehrs is the founder of Hawaii Fi-Do, a not-for-profit that sponsors trained therapy dogs’ visits to troops at Marine and Army Wounded Warrior battalions. Here’s how she describes the dogs’ healing effects when asked about the program.
“It’s the unconditional love of the dog that makes this all possible,” Luehrs said. “They don’t care what color you are, if you can read, if you have a missing limb — they’re just there for that touch and [the dogs] give that back.”
Many organizations provide a qualifying process for pet owners to begin therapy work. One example is Tripler Army Medical Center’s Human Animal Bond Program, which collaborates with The American Red Cross and Army Veterinary Services to screen dogs through a series of temperament and health tests to verify that they’ll make good candidates for visiting hospital patients.
The growing field of pet therapy shows that professionals are seeking alternative therapies to help patients deal with stressful circumstances. As this treatment gains acceptance, more pet owners can enjoy pet therapy as a way to bond with their pets and the people they’re helping.
If you’re interested in having your family pet become a therapy animal, ask your military veterinarian if they know of any local programs or contact a few hospitals, schools, the local Humane Society or a veterans’ center. There may be several programs to choose from for just the right fit.
Medical Colleges Step Up Care for Troops, Families
Posted by in Family Matters on January 12, 2012
Jan. 12, 2012
The nation’s medical colleges are the latest to join forces with First Lady Michelle Obama to ensure the best care for troops, veterans and their families.
The first lady yesterday announced the commitment, which is aimed at improving training for civilian health care providers so they can better care for veterans and their families. It also calls for more research on combat-related injuries.
The Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, with a combined 130 schools between them, have signed on to use their expertise in education, research and clinical care to better serve the military population.
“Today the nation’s medical colleges are committing to create a new generation of doctors, medical schools and research facilities to make sure our heroes receive the care worthy of their military service,” Obama said in an article written by my AFPS colleague Lisa Daniel.
As part of the initiative, Daniel reported, the associations pledged to:
– Train their medical students as well as their current physicians, faculty and staff to better diagnose and treat veterans and military families;
– Develop new research and clinical trials on traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder;
– Share their information and best practices with each other through a collaborative Web forum; and
– Coordinate with the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.
This new commitment is one of many spurred by the Joining Forces campaign. The first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched Joining Forces last year to raise awareness of troops, veterans and their families, and to call on all sectors of society to support them.
“In a time of war, when our troops and their families are sacrificing so much, we all should be doing everything we can to serve them as well as they are serving this country,” Obama said yesterday. “It’s an obligation that extends to every single American. And, it’s an obligation that does not end when a war ends and troops return home. In many ways, that’s when it begins.”
Obama acknowledged the difficulties troops and their families sometimes face when they return home from war.
An estimated one in six Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans return home with post-traumatic stress or depression, and at least 4,000 have had at least a moderate-grade brain injury, the first lady said. While some seek treatment, the stigma of seeking mental health care stops many troops in their tracks.
“I want to be very clear today: these mental health challenges are not a sign of weakness,” Obama said. “They should never again be a source of shame. They are a natural reaction to the challenges of war, and it has been that way throughout the ages.”
For more on this commitment, read the AFPS article, “Medical Colleges Pledge to Care for Troops, Families,” written by my colleague, Lisa Daniel.
Spouse Combats Army Husband’s PTSD
Posted by in Family Matters on December 2, 2011
By Elaine Sanchez
Dec. 1, 2011
Army Sgt. John Tomsich and his wife, Catrina, talk about the emotional journey they made as a couple following Tomsich's injuries and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder at the Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
I met an Army wife a few weeks ago who truly embodies the marriage vow “for better or for worse.”
Catrina Tomsich stuck by her soldier husband through a war injury, severe post-combat stress and emotional abuse — not because she condoned the behavior, but because she had an unwavering belief that with time and care, he could find emotional healing.
“I believe you should never give up,” she told me while I was visiting with her at the Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio. “No matter what we’re given in life, we can choose how we deal with it.”
Army Sgt. John Tomsich had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since his first deployment in 2005. Catrina encouraged him to get help, but he refused. He believed at the time that discussing issues such as anger or depression would be a sign of weakness to the soldiers serving under him. Instead, he told me, “You try and fight it and not tell anyone you have problems.”
While he maintained a stoic front on duty, he couldn’t contain his rage at home. “For five years I heard, ‘I hate you; I don’t love you anymore’ every day,” Catrina said. “That can definitely take an emotional toll on someone.”
Tomsich deployed again in 2009, this time in Iraq. About six months in, he suffered a spinal injury to his neck that caused him to lose the use of his right arm. He was flown to Brooke Army Medical Center for treatment, and Catrina drove down on weekends to see him. But when he developed a stomach illness that required surgery, she knew he’d need a full-time caregiver.
It was with trepidation that Catrina left her life in Houston behind to take on that role. She shut down her financial education business, left behind a network of friends and uprooted their then-5-year-old son.
Tomsich’s physical injuries were under control – in time, he regained the use of his arm with medication — but the abuse worsened. After a particularly bad episode one weekend, Catrina decided enough was enough.
“He had so much anger and rage,” she said, “and that weekend our son saw it, and was crying and scared of Daddy.
I wasn’t about to let that happen anymore. I put my foot down.”
Catrina marched into a trailer where she knew behavioral health specialists worked and demanded to speak to a counselor. A week later, Tomsich was placed in counseling for severe PTSD.
With medication and counseling, her husband has come a long way, she said. He’s still not where he was when they got married, she added, but “he’s 100 times better than in 2005.”
Given Tomsich’s initial reluctance to seek help, I was surprised they had decided to go public with their story. But it’s their hope, they told me, that their story will encourage others to seek the help they need.
Catrina said she’s seen enough marriages break under the pressure of a spouse’s physical and emotional wounds. “Women come and tell me, ‘He’s not the man he used to be.’ I tell them, ‘Never give up.’ If I had, we wouldn’t be here together now.”
If you are struggling with PTSD or other issues or know someone who is, the Defense Department offers a host of resources to help. Here are just a few:
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
Afterdeployment.org
Real Warriors
Military OneSource
Keeping Relationships Healthy
Posted by in Family Matters on September 29, 2011
By Dr. Kate McGraw
Clinical Psychologist, Defense Centers of Excellence
Sept. 29, 2011
If you could have the ideal loving relationship, what would that look like? For some couples, it would involve a lot of time together and shared interests, and for others, it may include more space and time spent separately. There are many ways to be a loving partner, and the key is discovering what your partner needs from you, rather than what they aren’t giving to you.
Often, loving your partner means putting yourself in their place and imagining what would bring them happiness.
Military couples face incredibly challenging stressors together. Those couples who remain resilient often find themselves with stronger relationships when the dust settles. However, many of the unique stressors imposed on military couples may chip away at the fabric of safety and peace within the relationship. What can you and your partner do to help protect your relationship from the stress of military life?
Here are some ideas to enrich your relationship so it serves as a vessel of comfort for both of you:
– Ask your partner what he (or she) needs. Also, you should be able to identify what you need and how your needs can be met. If you both develop empathy for each other’s needs, than you both will be satisfied with what you can create together in your relationship.
– Eliminate all sarcasm, name calling, belittling or other types of verbal and emotional abuse, and make a pact not to tolerate displays of temper such as slamming objects or doors. These behaviors cause significant damage to the trust and safety between you and may lead to physical abuse. If you’re able to say at least five positive comments to every negative comment, your relationship will feel much more loving and supportive.
– Nurture the bond between you. One way is to foster and keep open, regular communication about the important things in your life, as well as the small daily matters.
– Develop a homecoming ritual upon your partner’s return from deployment. This ritual can serve as a line of demarcation — a dividing point from their being away at war, to being here, at peace.
– Often service members returning from deployment need a period of readjustment to their old lifestyle and familiar surroundings. They may want to talk but are unable to find words to express their experiences or feelings about what they’ve been through. They may need time to themselves, which you should respect. Nonmilitary partners also can play an important role in the relationship’s stress management by lovingly encouraging their military loved one to seek help for severe post-deployment problems.
– Service members should remember that their partners want to help and reconnect with them, and should have compassion for the stresses their partners experienced during their time away. It’s OK to share your feelings about your deployment experiences without sharing details about what you saw or did. In this way you can reconnect emotionally, lean on your partner for support, and feel less isolated while protecting them from the harsh realities of what you experienced.
Be alert for signs of traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. If you find yourself unable to cope, talk to your partner about it and seek professional help. If you have suicidal thoughts, always seek professional help, as you may be experiencing depression, which resolves with proper treatment.
In the end, our relationships reflect the amount of energy and devotion we put into them. If you give your relationship the gifts of compassion and empathy, regardless of what the external world heaps upon you, you will reap the rewards of contentment and love within your relationship.
Are you familiar with some of the risk factors for suicide, which include relationship issues? Find out more about suicide prevention information and resources on the DCoE website.
(This post was reprinted from the Defense Centers of Excellence Blog.)
Blogger Learns to Deal With Kids’ Fears
Posted by in Family Matters on September 19, 2011
By Elaine Sanchez
Elaine.sanchez@dma.mil
Sept. 19, 2011
My husband called me down to our laundry room the other night to show me water damage from the recent deluge of rain. Between the earthquake, hurricane and ongoing downpours, I would have been surprised if we had walked away from it all damage-free.
But while I was concerned about our waterlogged wall and the potentially hefty repair costs, I was relieved the damage could be easily fixed.
I wish I could say the same about my son.
The combined weather events recently not only spurred floods and extensive home damage across the Northeast, they also triggered a deep-seated fear of natural disasters in my 8-year-old son.
It started with the Aug. 23 earthquake. The power went out at school, and he came home that day crying and shaking with anxiety. I tried to soothe his fears, and my pep talk seemed to help for a while — until he heard about the impending hurricane. He began to complain constantly of stomachaches and begged me to let him stay home from school.
His mood lifted when the sun came out, but he still obsessively checks the weather to see if a thunderstorm or heavy rain is in the forecast.
Desperate for answers, I spoke to the school counselor, his teacher, and brought him in to the doctor three times. It could be allergies or a virus, she said at each appointment, but we both suspected that anxiety was behind his chronic pain.
She suggested we contact a psychologist to help him work through his fears, and that’s what I plan to do.
Meanwhile, I turned to the Web for some answers and learned that childhood anxiety and fear are much more common than I thought.
According to Kidshealth.org, anxiety and fears are normal and necessary. Dealing with anxieties can help prepare kids to handle the challenging situations of life. However, ongoing anxiety can affect a child’s sense of well-being, the site explained.
Common childhood fears are fear of strangers, heights, darkness, animals, blood, insects and being left alone. Kids also can develop a fear of a specific object or situation after an unpleasant experience, such as a dog bite or an accident, the site said.
Children from military families may have those fears along with a set that’s unique to their circumstances. According to the National Center for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, researchers have found that children with parents who are deployed to war tend to worry more. They may feel their world is less safe and predictable, the site said, or fear that a deployed parent or other loved one may be injured or die.
Kidshealth.org cited the typical signs of anxiety, which sounded very familiar to me after dealing with my son. They include becoming clingy, impulsive or distracted; nervous movements, such as twitches; sleep issues; sweaty hands; accelerated heart rate and breathing; nausea; headaches; and stomachache.
In some kids, anxieties can elevate to phobias, which are fears that are extreme, severe and persistent. Parents should look for patterns, the site recommended, If it’s an isolated incident, don’t overplay it. But if it’s persistent and pervasive, parents should contact their doctor or a mental-health professional.
The site also offers some tips to help parents deal with their kids’ fears, including:
– Don’t trivialize the fear. Encourage kids to talk about it, which can help take some of the power out of the negative feelings;
– Never belittle the fear. For example, don’t say, “Don’t be ridiculous. There are no monsters in your closet.” It won’t make the fear go away;
– Don’t cater to fears. If your child is afraid of dogs, don’t avoid them deliberately, which can reinforce the fear. But be supportive as you approach the feared object or situation; and
– Teach coping strategies. Try relaxation techniques such as visualization — floating on a cloud or lying on a beach — and deep breathing, such as imagining the lungs are balloons and letting them slowly deflate.
I hope, with some help from a professional and these tips, that I can allay my son’s fears. Some things aren’t as easy to fix as a wall, but I’m hoping with time and support, the damage can be undone.
(Note: Military families seeking help can contact their primary care physician, a mental health specialist or call a Military OneSource consultant at 1-800-342-9647.)
My Husband’s Reintegration
Posted by in Family Matters on August 29, 2011
Aug. 29, 2011
In this post, Sheri Hall answers questions about how she supported her family while her husband, Army Maj. Jeff Hall, struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after his second tour in Iraq, and shares how she encouraged him to seek help through the Deployment Health Clinical Center’s specialized care program. The center is part of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, and offers care for those experiencing PTSD and reintegration concerns.
Q. What was your reaction when your husband returned home?
A. I noticed he had a deep, dark, hollow look in his eyes. I asked him if he needed to talk to someone. I let him know that I was supportive but he wasn’t receptive at the time. I think he felt he needed to be the “macho” soldier.
Q. What was the impact of his post-combat stress on you?
A. I was never fearful for Jeff’s life while he was in combat, since I knew that he trained himself well. When Jeff returned and was having suicidal thoughts, I couldn’t sleep. I was so worried I would sit in bed and watch him. I feared he would just leave. I lost 15 pounds in two weeks. When I’d take the kids to school, I would race home to make sure Jeff was where I last saw him.
Q. How did you try to communicate with your husband during this time?
A. I told him that while I didn’t know the effects of combat, I knew that something was wrong. It was hard because he kind of pushed me and the girls away. Finally, I sat down with him and said, “If you kill yourself, how do I explain it to your daughters, your mother and father, and my family?” It was like a light bulb went on, and that’s when we looked into the DHCC program.
Q. What would you tell military parents about how to communicate with their children?
A. Encourage children to be vocal; tell us what’s bothering you. I put on a big front when Jeff was experiencing PTSD and never told the girls about my sleepless nights. If I had, we could have communicated better.
Q. What advice would you give a military spouse experiencing similar challenges?
A. I tell military wives to keep that line of communication as open as possible. Then, if something is wrong, a spouse will immediately know. I wish I had stood firmer with Jeff and said, “No, you’re going to get help” when he resisted. Don’t just let things be.
Hall recommends people dealing with reintegration check out the free resources offered through the Real Warriors Campaign and the Defense Centers of Excellence, such as the Outreach Center’s live chat. The feature instantly connects users with trained health resource consultants who can help with psychological health concerns.
Click here to view the Real Warriors and Families video profile featuring the Hall family.
(This post originally appeared on the Defense Centers of Excellence blog.)
My Discovery of Mild TBI
Posted by in Family Matters on July 28, 2011
By Heather Marsh
Defense Centers of Excellence Strategic Communications
July 28, 2011
The phrase, “can’t see the forest through the trees” seems to describe a bout of cluelessness I recently experienced. Or perhaps, the more common “if it was a snake, it would have bit me” is truly the best fit.
Either way, the fact is I work at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury with top subject matter experts in the field of traumatic brain injury, and I couldn’t even recognize that the weird symptoms I had, after a recent good bump to the head, were symptoms of a concussion. How’s that for irony?
Put a name to the pain
In March, I spent about 10 days of feeling a little disoriented and helpless — having no clue as to what was going on with me. After a few conversations with a variety of military health care providers, to include an emergency room resident and former chief of neurology, I finally was able to “put a name to the pain.” It turns out I had sustained a mild TBI as a result of a recent fall — hardwood floor, meet Heather’s face. It wasn’t a pleasant introduction and resulted in five stitches and a severely bruised ego.
With a huge sigh of relief and several deep breaths later, I began my recovery process by talking to friends and family, and combing through resources and facts. The first tidbit that jumped off one fact sheet — courtesy of Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center — was that falls are the leading cause of a traumatic brain injury.
I know much more about mild TBI now, like the fact that you should give yourself a little slack and let your brain heal, which can take one to three months in most cases. But, as my neurologist insists, that doesn’t mean you should stop doing routine tasks, like reading. He reminded me how amazing the brain is and it’s important to keep working it because, in time, it will learn new tricks to help self-correct.
Gratitude
I also have a newfound appreciation for deployed service members who have sustained not one, but multiple concussions, and yet they still continue to put themselves in harm’s way when they’ve recovered. This gratitude was even more apparent during a recent commute.
I was driving home from work one day, not too long after my diagnosis, taking my usual route along a scenic parkway. I drove along my curvy path and watched the sunlight flicker through the trees and shimmer off the flanking river crests — this sounds like a tranquil moment until I mention that the flickering light quickly caused my brain to hiccup and feel overloaded — like someone pushed the pause button. I felt a sudden rush of panic as if I was intoxicated; I felt disoriented and blinded all at once. Luckily, I was able to pull over to the side of the road — thank goodness for a nearby outlet — and regroup.
Almost as quickly as I thought that maybe I shouldn’t be driving, my thoughts shifted to our nation’s warriors. As a patriot and veteran, I feel a connection to our service members and their families frequently. I’ve lived the life and still do as a military spouse. I had visions of uniformed service members and wondered what it must be like to have the responsibilities they have down range. I imagined them walking around on patrol, on high alert, charged with keeping their unit, local civilians and themselves safe in the middle of an unfamiliar, wartorn city, catching glimpses of sparkling metal or debris that just seem “off.”
Sound like an intense scenario? Let’s make it more realistic by mentioning that the group of service members experienced a jarring blast from an improvised explosive device during a convoy to deliver supplies a few days prior. Oh, and it’s the third blast this month. Wow.
So, I’m pulled over on the side of a picturesque road worried about driving impaired while there are men and women, with guns, fighting to keep my family safe who may be experiencing the symptoms I have right at this moment? Again, wow. Another TBI fact: In the military, the leading causes of TBI are bullets, fragments and blasts.
Lessons learned
Fortunately, my story has a happy ending, and I learned some stuff too. I made it home safely that day and as I write this, almost all of my concussion symptoms are gone. I learned that people use different words to describe the way they feel, so it’s important to talk to someone who can help decipher when a response or feeling is normal and when it’s not. I also know a lot more about the human brain than I ever thought I would, which is pretty cool.
I’ve found among all that I have learned, the two things I want to share from my experience are:
1) I discovered simply knowing what was wrong with me offered relief and comfort — proof that it’s crucial to talk to others and reach out for help.
2) Because of the amazing people I work with at the Defense Centers of Excellence, things are changing on the battlefield for men and women who experience TBIs. New guidance and research are helping health care providers ensure injured service members get the right treatment at the right time, when it’s absolutely critical to their mission, the lives of others and themselves.
I feel I can’t end without offering a sincere “thank you” to those who continue to fight. I’m thankful for the men and women who sacrifice their lives to fight for freedom and just as importantly, for the people at home who fight to ensure deployed service members, returning veterans and their families have access to high-quality treatment, support and information. Thank you and keep fighting!
(Note: This post originally appeared on the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury blog.)
My Husband’s PTSD
Posted by in Family Matters on May 13, 2011
Diana Veseth-Nelson’s husband, retired Army Capt. Adrian Veseth-Nelson, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received treatment through the Deployment Health Clinical Center’s specialized care program. Here’s Diana’s story of coping with PTSD as a military wife, supporting her husband throughout his treatment and her desire to reach out to other military spouses.
By Diana Veseth-Nelson
May 13, 2011
Diana Veseth-Nelson poses with her husband, retired Army Capt. Adrian Veseth-Nelson, and their dog, Loki. Courtesy photo
My husband’s PTSD manifested itself in different ways. I remember Fourth of July at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., when we were all standing outside listening to the band, enjoying the picnic and listening to fireworks. The fireworks bothered Adrian because they sounded so much like gunfire. It made other soldiers upset too, and we all went inside. I thought it was ironic because the celebration was supposed to be for the American soldiers; they couldn’t even enjoy it.
He’d see a can on the side of the road and swerve, thinking it was an improvised explosive device. When he’d go out to dinner with other soldiers, I’d say it looked like a “The Last Supper” painting because they’d all sit there with their backs against the wall. If a room became too busy, he’d want to leave. He’d suddenly become unfriendly or unapproachable. At first, I confused his behavior with depression, or I thought maybe he was just tired. I also couldn’t help but think it had to do with me; I’m only human.
I was fortunate that Adrian was willing to get help once he got back. Once he was diagnosed, I knew we’d know better how to deal with his symptoms. I educated myself on PTSD; I went to his group therapist and reached out to the Real Warriors Campaign for information. But the most important thing I did was to listen to Adrian.
After he took part in the DHCC program, I could tell there was a stark improvement in his ability to manage his PTSD symptoms. The program taught him different ways to manage the symptoms. I never thought he would be into activities like yoga or acupuncture — now he’s a convert!
I think because Adrian and I communicate well we’ve been fortunate. When a soldier comes home, there’s usually a highly anticipated arrival and perception that everything’s going to be OK now. The truth is, everything may not be OK and getting to that desired state may be more of a process. But in the end, it’s worth it.
We recently moved outside Washington, D.C., and I’m looking to start a support group for significant others since we’re so close to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other bases. I think spouses need a support network just like service members, especially since some soldiers are not as open as my husband. Some families may have to cope with someone who is in complete denial — being involved in a support network may help. My hope is to lead a group that does just that, provide support to military families.
(Note: This post originally appeared on the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury blog. Diana’s husband also wrote a post about his experiences for the DCoE blog. You can read the post here.)