Be their guardian angel in this new year
by
Chaplain Kathie
We've all seen the picture of the guardian angel watching over a boy and girl crossing the bridge as a storm approaches. She is a giant next to the tiny children. Her hand stretched out, ready to catch them if they begin to fall off the bridge, watching over every step they take. They children seem afraid even with her watching over them because they have not put all their trust in her, yet she is calmly guiding them.
When a friend asked me about the work I do years ago, I told her that my husband was behind all of it and the proceeded to tell her how his life during Vietnam would not let him go. I told her that he was not able to fight for himself because PTSD was taking all hope from him. She responded with, "Oh my God you're his guardian angel!" and then she played with some words on Vietnam arriving at "You're Nam Guardian Angel" because what I learned lead me to helping other Vietnam veterans. This is where my name came from.
The battle fought was to help them heal because I knew none of what was happening to our Vietnam veterans was carved in stone. None of it. Not the suicides, attempted suicides, divorce rates, homelessness, incarcerations or the fact less than half of them sought treatment. I saw what was possible in my own life, but I also saw what was not being done to provide the same kind of knowledge I had to gain the hard way. This work began in 1982, long before PTSD made it into any news broadcast.
Back then few books were written on PTSD even though the term was already being used in the 70's, contrary to what some "experts" claim only begin in the 80's. By 1978 the DAV commissioned a study and found there were 500,000 Vietnam veterans with PTSD and there were already over 70 veterans centers opened across the nation to help veterans heal. Dr. James Goodwin produced a pamphlet published by the DAV, The Etiology of Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, Readjustment Problems Among Vietnam Veterans. This is not something that was common knowledge, nor was it anything the media seemed to take any interest in at all.
The Veterans Administration was slower to address this. They did not acknowledge it until the 80's and this is where some of the confusion began. Most of the studies done since then paved the way for what we see today when civilians experience traumatic events and crisis teams rush in to address the trauma of the survivors and the responders. We know trauma just as every other generation knew it but no other generation seemed willing or able to do more than keep it as a deep dark secret families kept to themselves.
Each time we sent men into combat, the result was the same as we see today. We read reports on PTSD, how a veteran suffers, families suffer, drug and alcohol problems along with domestic violence lead to more suffering but we also read about how everyday people are trying to do something about it for the sake of others.
Most of the time these efforts are lead by Vietnam veterans or their families, just like mine. It would have been very easy for me to simply fight for what my husband needed to heal and to have his claim approved, then just get on with my life. I had a decent job and my life had gotten to the point where, despite some of the issues remaining with PTSD, I was happily married. What changed between the time I met my husband and the time I decided to stay in this fight for other veterans was the knowledge gained. I knew no one should ever have to feel alone like I did, helpless or hopeless ever again.
Over the years I've seen many advances in getting to the point where people are aware of what PTSD and closer to getting rid of the stigma of PTSD but not to the level reported after 9-11. When the planes hit in New York, the trauma of that day weighed so heavily on the nation's heart, everyone knew what it was like to experience traumatic events and most of the people in this country, were not even there, not survivors, did not know anyone personally but had a response as if they were deeply connected to it.
Crisis teams responded to New York and Washington following the attack on the Pentagon. They were prepared to help because of the work done leading up to that day because Vietnam veterans pushed to have research done on the effects of trauma on the soul. It also lead to my horror knowing PTSD in our Vietnam veterans, Korean veterans and WWII veterans was about to get a lot worse because of this secondary stressor and the attack on the one place they were supposed to feel safe.
It did get worse. Just as with the study done by Dr. Goodwin, the prediction was an increase in PTSD as veterans got older and dealt with more traumatic events, it was easy to predict the increase in PTSD after 9-11. It was also easy to predict it when the troops were sent into Afghanistan given the history of warfare in that country as well as when they were sent into Iraq, given the history of that country. None of this should have gone unpredicted, yet there were less doctors and nurses working for the VA than there were after the Gulf War. Two active military campaigns history had already shown would be brutal and lengthy but no ramping up of the VA was beyond irresponsible, but few experts were saying anything about this or going any of the 24-7 cable news stations sounding any alarm bells.
None of what we've been seeing with PTSD had to happen and this is why it will take this entire nation to make up for lost time as well as the wound being able to cut deeper into their souls.
We have to stop saying let the VA take care of them, let this group or that group do it. We have to begin to ask what we can do because as the Obama Administration attempts to take on the flood of veterans seeking help, they are not paying attention to the tsunami offshore. I know what hardships come with PTSD but above that, I know what is possible with addressing it head on the right way with the right information and the right response. That's why I began to create the videos. Watch them and pass them on to anyone you think should understand what is going on with you or with someone you love.
Then take it to the next step. Get your clergy involved in this. Make them pay attention to PTSD because PTSD is a spiritual wound and scientists have already seen the region of the brain changed by it. They need spiritual help as much as they need psychiatric help.
If you know of a spouse dealing with a "changed" veteran, listen to them. If you suspect PTSD, help them to understand what it is and then encourage them to seek the help of a mental health worker to be diagnosed. Maybe you're wrong on what you suspect but there is no harm done in sending them to a doctor. You could very well be right and may end up not only saving a veteran's life but stopping their family from falling apart.
You would not be reading this blog if you did not care or want to learn more about PTSD. Trust the knowledge you've gained and listen when people talk. If you hear the term "suddenly changed" then that is the basis to move from. You can then ask "when" and usually you'll find a traumatic event. That is the only way PTSD strikes.
When psychiatrist look for signs of mental illness they will look for the usual suspects with PTSD being the last thing they look for unless they are told about trauma in the life. Otherwise no matter what they are looking for, they will find it because PTSD has the same kind of symptoms as most mental illnesses. The difference is PTSD's route cause is trauma, not beginning with brain but attacking it.
You can be their guardian angel and not only help them heal but provide a loving, guiding hand to catch them when they are about to fall in face of a storm. Be there because they are afraid they cannot make it over the bridge to heal. Comfort them with your hand ready to catch them and love them enough to fight for them. PTSD does not require a PHD to fight it but it does require knowledge. Learn what you can and then learn who to send them to for what you have yet to learn. You could end up saving the life of a hero. I can tell you there is no other feeling in the world that can come close to being able to do this for them.
