Shattered by war? There is hope, fellow vets

"PTSD not only takes a significant toll on vets, it is also emotionally taxing on their family members. "


Date published: 1/28/2010
Ron Ball
Fredericksburg.com

As a Vietnam veteran, I thank you for the front-page article about vets and post-traumatic stress disorder ["After three tours in Iraq, vet fights a battle within," Jan. 24].

Too often, the sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers who go to war are not the same people who come home.

PTSD not only takes a significant toll on vets, it is also emotionally taxing on their family members.

Although prescription drugs and talk therapy can certainly be beneficial, I would encourage vets and their families to check out promising alternative therapies like TAT (Tapas Acupressure Techniques) and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques).

A recent clinical trial of PTSD performed at Marshall University Medical School showed veterans recovering substantially over the course of six EFT sessions.

Measured on standardized psychological questionnaires, the PTSD levels of veterans in the study dropped by 50 percent. Their scores also dropped by 49 percent for depression and 46 percent for anxiety, indicating that other psychological problems that often accompany PTSD improved, too.

According to a study by the RAND Corp., about one in five war veterans (or 300,000 in total) report symptoms of PTSD or major depression. Of concern is that half of the vets experiencing PTSD have not sought treatment, primarily for fear it will harm their careers.

Also, according to the study, PTSD could cost America as much as $6.2 billion.

Investing in better treatment could save close to $2 billion. Alternative treatments like EFT and others could be lifesavers for returning veterans and their families.

Posted by: Ron Ball
Spotsylvania
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/012010/01282010/523464.