A QUIET INJURY: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Most people have heard of PTSD. This is a common response to an event like being in a battle in Iraq, being shot by a criminal, being raped or surviving a serious car accident. For many people these types of events begin an extended period of pain and require a lot of recovery. PTSD can take months, years or decades to subside and can lead to innumerable of problems with relationships, careers, marriages, alcohol abuse and life.
What many people do not know is that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial basically evolved due to PTSD. I was in Vietnam as a teen ager with the Army. I saw some combat and tragic deaths there from accidents , including an explosion in 1970 that killed a dozen of my fellow soldiers who were unloading a truck filled with ammunition. I was troubled by many memories of my year there.
After the military I went to college and began to investigate what was then not quite accepted as a disorder. I did some research independently and testified before the Senate on the subject in 1977. My research found elevated rates of divorce and other signs of mal adjustment among veterans with heavy exposure to combat. I wrote an article on the subject for the Washington Post and a journal known as Military Medicine.
The House and Senate ultimately developed the Vet Centers to reach out to veterans struggling with psychological injuries. Veterans of Vietnam were the primary users. Yet veterans of World War II and Korea also took part. Today the Vet Centers are helping vets especially from Iraq and Afghanistan
I had an interesting idea – suppose there was a memorial on the Mall in Washington DC engraved with the names of those who perished in the Vietnam War? Would this help those suffering from PTSD? Would the survivors guilt felt by many be helped by seeing the names honored there?
In 1979 the idea became more than that. I took two weeks off of work and developed the idea working day and night . I came upon some thoughts from college- writings of Carl Jung, a student of Sigmund Freud. Jung theorized that Collective Psychological States exist among communities, schools and nations. My theory developed further. There were profound societal impacts from that divisive era.
Just as the veterans needed healing, so too did the nation. The Memorial, I hoped, would do something to help both.
I began the effort in 1979. I will spare you from reading a long and boring story of how the Wall got completed in only three years. Many people helped. But this Blog is about PTSD.
PTSD usually begins by observing or being a victim of violence. PTSD occurs when certain symptoms, such as reliving the event, loss of sleep, hyper-vigiliance, last for over a month. Soldiers, journalists, police officers and convenience store clerks are among those who come into contact with traumatic events. Yet this can happen to anyone. I know someone who had to defend himself and mortally wounded , legally I should add, his attacker. Most people do not recover from this sort of thing quickly. These types of events come out of nowhere and can many times take a toll on our lives. Think about the students who survived the carnage of Virginia Tech. All were experiencing a normal day of college when a mad man brought about chaos.
- A famous statue which shows soldiers who have seen a fair amount of combat that they will never forget.
Many thousands of soldiers are now returning who have witnessed graphic and bloody scenes with civilians and/ or US soldiers killed by terrorist bombs or other causes. Many have taken lives in combat and struggle with the memories. War is gruesome. Experiencing horrific scenes leaves an indelible mark on the psyche. Some are debilitated by the trauma that did not have the same impact on other soldiers who saw the same thing. The science of the mind is not as scientific as we might like it to be. There is much that those in the area need to know about the causes. Yet there is plenty known about ways to aid recovery.
Veterans of Vietnam and, more recently, Iraq, have taken their own lives from events flowing from PTSD. And many of these people could have been saved by seeking help.
Whatever the causes, there is good treatment available from civilian and government mental health professionals. Some of the best research done on PTSD is by the National Institute for Mental Health. I like this poem by Veterans Administration psychiatrist Mary Rorro. She treats many veterans with PTSD. She also encourages them to do what she does. Mary enjoys playing musical instruments.
Clean Slate
Years not long
a story untold
all that remains
is a name
etched in stone
My fallen brother
you answered the call
If only I could
erase your name
from this wall
Written by c. Mary C. Rorro
November 2010
If you know someone who seems to be experiencing PTSD please encourage them to get help. There is plenty available. And get them to do something like learn to play the guitar. That is my advice!
To learn more about the Education Center at The Wall and to help us build it, go to: www.buildthecenter.org
By Jan Craig Scruggs, M. Ed and Esq.
Jan, thank you for keeping this – and other important topics – in the forefront of our dialog. I have worked with individuals and groups ranging from veterans to police and firefighters who have coped with their individual situations by telling their stories and sharing their experiences (some privately and some publicly). In an effort to continually help our veterans, I would be happy to share how we have helped others using our methods and the http://www.Told4Ever.com website.
I have been diagnosed with severe PTSD since 2007 after the VA trauma people called me in with no request from me. ASfter the classes I was sent to a Vet Center where the person running the center was most often not there to meet our appt. I can remeber him asking if I knew anyone who was killed frok any unit I was with and I named 2 and their units. He disavowed my claim of their deaths because I could not remember their real full names only nicknames which we all used more than not. I have found that many of the Vet Centers are nothing more than a job income for far too many of the staff. My calim for TSD was disallowed for one reason. I was Airwing, and the board disavowed my claim because I did not carry a combat action ribbon which in the Corps is an Infantry badge.
Mr. Scruggs, I am enjoying the many articles you have written about your experience and those of other soldiers in Vietnam. I appreciate the Vietnam Memorial and the fact that there will now be
an Education Center too. You have commented on the War, on those who did not return, on
PTSD, but have left out those who returned very ill (some suffering for many, many years with
AO cancer, like my brother, John. I enrolled him in the In Memory program in 2005 and that has
brought some healing to our family. However, the Plaque for In Memory lays on the ground and I understand visitors walk on it. Why was this not raised up so that people would see and know what it is about and not just walk on it. Those who suffered with the AO cancers gave a lot too as did their families. I think some recognition at the Education Center should also be made.
Maureen
Chris DeSpain
Greetings Maureen,
I am 100% disabled from PTSD by the VA. It stemmed from my service in Vietnam in the Marine Corps. It took me 5 years of trials and tribulations with the VA before they finally agreed. Now I am being treated for the larengectomy they preformed. The cause of the cancer was agent orage exposure. They gave me another 100% disbility for that. I am still having problems with the PTSD and post cancer treatment. I often feel that the VC or NVA couldn’t kill me but Uncle Sam had a sient way of doing the job. I am still very patriotic but only God knows why. Hang in there and never give up. Thanks for your service to our Country.
My Father was an Army combat veteran of WWII and sufferer terribly from the horrors he had witnessed and taken part in. He was tormented while sleeping and haunted when awake. PTSD was not part of the English language in those days so Dad was “undiagnosed” and never received any counseling or therapy for his condition. His suffering had a direct effect on his family and friends and we were also “undiagnosed”. Dad tried to escape from his demons via the whiskey bottle but that only created a whole new world of demons which only worsened matters… Fast forward to the early 1970’s and now his son has his own full blown dose of PTSD and also crawled into a whiskey bottle in order to get some relief from the demons in his world. Like his Dad, the son only found new demons in the bottle. Flash forward to the early 1980’s and the son had sobered up and in the process discovered the source of his maladjustment. He joined a support group at the nearest Vet Center and began the process of recovery and understanding. The son finally understood his Father’s suffering and together they were able to put to rest the monster that had so deeply hurt them both. The PTSD is never “cured” but, with help, guidance, awareness and understanding it can be dealt with in a constructive manner. “The Wall” has been a great help to the son and many of his brothers in arms and the “Education Center” can only be of help when it is constructed. May it soon become a reality and may we all gain something good from it. God Bless America!
Jan-Thank you so much for so clearly explaining how this issue can persist after all these years from our return to “home” from Vietnam-and all that word implies to vets. Can’t tell you how cathartic my participation in both the dedication of the Wall and the original Welcome Home parade almost 30 years ago was for me….but that only peeled several layers off that which I had kept buried inside since 1966. That is what I’m dealing with now as I continually return in my mind to that wonderful/terrible country (which I never have really left). See you at the rededication….Jay
I have been fighting for years and to this day have no answers. I have put in an appeal to increase my 30% PTSD to at least 50%, perhaps more. The only answers I get is that they are years behind and I need to be patient. I am 65 years old with a terminal disease. I can’t afford to wait much longer.
Can’t somebody put a flame under these people?
I suffer from PTSD due to being violently raped as a young girl. I want to know, is there a basis for bringing people like me and Vets w-PTSD together for common treatment?
I like the idea and this is something that needs to be looked at since so many people have experienced PTSD from various violent acts. And there are a lot of victims of sexual violence in the military. However, VVMF is not a PTSD advocacy group. Thanks for the comment and best wishes to you.
Jan-keep up the great work here! I am dealing with PTSD issues in leading our Church’s Military Ministry in relation to the Ft. Belvoir Warriors. Moreover, I probably have had a small case of PTSD (recurring dreams, night sweats and some infrequent acting out while sleeping via kicking and hitting) since my Vietnam days from walking away from a helicopter crash and might need some help at some point. In any case, it’s not about me, it’s about our incredible soldiers today who are doing multiples tours and are exposed multiple times unlike we Vietnam era veterans who mostly did one or two tours and moved on. So, too many words here, but keep up the dialog and the great work the VVMF is doing and will do!
Bill Shugarts, VVMF/NPS Volunteer, Christ United Methodist Church Lay Leader-Military Ministry, Vietnam Veteran (1969-1970)
I am a Viet Nam Vet (’65) I went to the VA, spoke to a person and never heard from them again until I applied for disability for PTSD. It was denied. Apparently they didn’t think my case was sufficient to be detrimental to my health/well being. My ‘flashbacks” still occur. I have trouble getting a good nights sleep and go through periods of depression. I made an attempt at visiting the “Wall” in D.C. and found I could not go there. I worked across the road from 8th Field Hospital. Saw to many injured/fatalities brought in. Witnessed a Plane crash on a main street that took a number of lives of friends. Perhaps my situation isn’t as bad as some,it is, nevertheless still there after almost 47 years!!
Dr. Mary Rorro’s poem “Clean Slate” is powerful. I found it quite thought provoking.
Continue the good work that you are doing Dr. Rorro. I am proud to know you!
Elisa Coccia
I believe all of the Vietnam Vetrans alive or deceased should be treated like the armed forces are treated now.I believe they did what they were told just like everybody else did. I have always been proud of all of the people who went to Vietnan thank you.
Availability of help, especially from the VA, varies wildly from region to region — most of us, like you, found something within ourselves and went with it.
Welcome home, Brother…
I was in the Army for 21 years. The better part of two years in Vietnam. I was a medical records specialist at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku in 1970 and 1971. I witnessed much more than my share of death and destruction. I can vividly remember MASCALs when one helicopter after another would bring in sheer numbers of young men with mutilated bodies. They were screaming with pain. The emergency room was covered with blood as dozens of gurneys were packed in. Body parts seemed to be strewn about. Dead bodies were lined up outside. It was heart wrenching to listen as the wounded would beg for morphine.
It took 37 years, an incurable disease called Parkinson’s, some personal counseling and nine life altering words from my brother: Dr Wayne Dyer that began releasing all that I had suppressed. Those words? “Do not die with your music still in you.”
I was stationed in Ubon, Thailand in 68-69 and Utapao, in 72-73. I saw airplanes crash on the runway and stood guard as sapirs used satchel charges on B-52’s. I was told many times that I am a Vietnam veteran but I feel as though I am degrading those who fought and died in Vietnam just because of the fact that they “fought and died there”. I do know that I have been carrying a feeling of guilt for 40 years that I just can’t get rid of. I am not sure why I write this but, if there is anyone else that feels this I want them to know they are not alone. Thank you for this forum allowing to express myself
I am a Vietnam era veteran during the year 1974 to 1975. I was on board USS Kawishiwi AO-149 and our mission was to pick-up all Vietnamese refugees to be transferred to Grande Island in Subic, Bay Philippines. I’ve seen all kinds of injuries suffered by the refugees as the result of the war/conflict in Vietnam. During that time I started having SKIN problem which I got 10% disability rating. I applied for PTSD but was denied. I would like to reopen my case but I am afraid It’s gonna be denied anyway. Thanks and GOD bless all Vietnam veterans.
Jan, I was working for the VA as a claims examiner and started having PTSD symptoms , on the job. Having been a draftee grunt from 6/’67 through 6/’68, as basically an RTO , with childhood … , I was a prime candidate for the 100% club ; which I have been rated as since 1989. It has been a long difficult struggle with alcohol and some drug abuse. Glad to report I am pretty darn healthy now. Went back to ‘Nam in April 2002 with an NGO called Veterans Vietnam Restoration Project. (vvrp.org) Thank’s for the Wall. Bob Quimby
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