Wednesday, December 28, 2005
PTSD
There's a useful discussion on the nature of PTSD and how its diagnosis has become politicized over at Doctor Helen's.
H/T to Glenn
I've worked as a counselor in psychiatric inpatient settings for a few years - running group therapy sessions, etc. Not with much formal training other than self-study, but enough to have made some independent observations.
I've also been an infantry officer in a combat unit in Ramadi.
I've also read (most of) Burkett's book "Stolen Valor," which details the rise of the PTSD industry "supporting" (read: enabling) Viet Nam veterans - many of whom are fake.
My own perception is that PTSD really does exist, but like other diagnoses one can build a practice on, vastly overdiagnosed. The symptoms of PTSD are often conflated with preexisting tendencies towards depression or anxiety. War - and the stresses of family separation that accompany it - certainly exacerbates these tendencies. But many troops who have sought counseling or medication specifically for PTSD had some issues before the war as well.
And therapists who constantly tell patients "you are this way because you have PTSD" tend to reinforce a certain self-image. It's much better, I think, to focus on cognitive skills designed to help people manage the symptoms, and maybe treat the underlying anxiety or depression, if warranted.
One doctor notes, however, a physical difference between garden-variety depression and PTSD-related depression. This might be useful to know and help treat it, but the focus should be on a return to normalcy. The fact that we have so many professional PTSD victims among veterans and others should be a mark of shame to the helping professions.
Splash, out
Jason
H/T to Glenn
I've worked as a counselor in psychiatric inpatient settings for a few years - running group therapy sessions, etc. Not with much formal training other than self-study, but enough to have made some independent observations.
I've also been an infantry officer in a combat unit in Ramadi.
I've also read (most of) Burkett's book "Stolen Valor," which details the rise of the PTSD industry "supporting" (read: enabling) Viet Nam veterans - many of whom are fake.
My own perception is that PTSD really does exist, but like other diagnoses one can build a practice on, vastly overdiagnosed. The symptoms of PTSD are often conflated with preexisting tendencies towards depression or anxiety. War - and the stresses of family separation that accompany it - certainly exacerbates these tendencies. But many troops who have sought counseling or medication specifically for PTSD had some issues before the war as well.
And therapists who constantly tell patients "you are this way because you have PTSD" tend to reinforce a certain self-image. It's much better, I think, to focus on cognitive skills designed to help people manage the symptoms, and maybe treat the underlying anxiety or depression, if warranted.
One doctor notes, however, a physical difference between garden-variety depression and PTSD-related depression. This might be useful to know and help treat it, but the focus should be on a return to normalcy. The fact that we have so many professional PTSD victims among veterans and others should be a mark of shame to the helping professions.
Splash, out
Jason
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Thanks for your link, "in one doctor notes," to my blog. Unfortunatley, my reference to treatment had been only in my comments on Dr. Helen. It is now in my blog also. In case it gets lost due to subsequent posts, the specific post is http://irvingpsychiatrist.blogspot.com/2005/12/thanks-for-link.html
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: 1:17 PM
: 1:17 PM
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# posted by : 12:30 AM
: 12:30 AMThe death of a loved one is the most difficult and emotional time of your life. When a loved one passes away, family members are faced with a number of important decisions that must be made in a relatively short period of time. It is our hope that the information provided below will assist you in your decision making. Thank you for the trust and confidence you are placing in our Company.
It is our goal to:
Provide you with compassionate and professional service.
Present you with options available so that you can make informed and educated decisions concerning the loss of your loved one.
Assure you that our service does not end at the completion of the arrangement or when your loved one has reached it's final destination place. We are committed to provide support and assistance.
Bayareafuneralservice.com
# posted by : 9:55 PM
: 9:55 PM
