PTSD

[Trincomalee]

I 'm on the committee of a charity that works with post traumatic stress (PTSD) . We have published a book that explains how it feels and what people can do about it .
The book , "THE SKY BEFORE THE STORM" , has been distributed to every GP's surgery in Northern Ireland and the feedback has been very positive .

This book is available online to download for free .

I became involved with this work because I was very aware of my father's experiences throughout his life (he had been a Japanese POW) . And now , a lot of people are looking at the "trans - generational" effects of trauma .

Interestingly , my closest friend at university was the daughter of concentration camp survivors . Years later we realised that this similar background was part of our friendship .

Would members on this forum like to have the details and the link ?
I welcome your opinions .
Linden

[von Poop]

Sounds interesting.
Post away Linden.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Trincomalee]

Originally Posted by Trincomalee

I 'm on the committee of a charity that works with post traumatic stress . We have published a book that explains how it feels and what people can do about it . The book , "Sky Before The Storm" , has been distributed to every GP's surgery in Northern Ireland and the feedback has been very positive .

This book is available online to download for free .

I became involved with this work because I was very aware of my father's experiences throughout his life (he had been a Japanese POW) . And now , a lot of people are looking at the "trans - generational" effects of trauma .

Interestingly , my closest friend at university was the daughter of concentration camp survivors . Years later we realised that this similar background was part of our friendship .

Would members like to have the details and the link on this forum ?
I welcome your opinions .
Linden

PTSD

"THE SKY BEFORE THE STORM" (pdf) WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT TRAUMA

Wider Circle Trauma Support Group - Home

There are pictures with each page so if the feelings become too intense you can rest by looking at the pictures .

There are two possible downloads .

1 One is the version used in Northern Ireland . The paintings have been especially chosen so that there are no images that could remind the reader of the Troubles .
http://widercircle.org/publications/SkyBefore_no%20images.pdf

2 The second version allows you to select your own pictures ; images that won't disturb you
http://widercircle.org/publications/Sky%20Before_with%20images.pdf

[debra]

I work in nursing, and I have listened to many men and women who were involved in The War and are now outwardly talking and feeling what they saw and experienced. Two people I think of often, Olga, from Norway,..she kept repeating to me: "Why could they now stop him? Why?" A gentleman who fought on Omaha Beach who described vivid images to me of his experiences. Why I am romanticized by The War, I really can't say, but these folks are still living it in the present. Truly a paradox.

[sapper]

Having seen the effects of battle exhaustion first hand, and knowing that it is caused by a prolonged period of violent battle and even harsher conditions. I wonder where todays cases come from?
sapper

[Slipdigit]

Mr. Guy, it doesn't have to be prolonged, although that is what is usually associated with. It can be caused by a brief incident, such as a automobile wreck or other traumatic event.

[Trincomalee]

I think it is clearer if it is described as "a shock" .
Any shock can produce the symptoms of PTSD .
"The Sky Before The Storm" suggests that this is a medical condition , not a mental problem . Shock alters the body's chemical balance and when this imbalance persists the chemicals can cause emotional changes .

Linden

[sapper]

I don't mean to be rude. But many thousands of men experienced continuous battle conditions, in some of the most horrifying circumstances without succumbing to this shock.
That is why I have difficulty in coming to terms with this today. That begs the question. Are we becoming a Nation of Softies.
Best Regards to you for your work.
Sapper

[Cpl Rootes]

Originally Posted by sapper

I don't mean to be rude. But many thousands of men experienced continuous battle conditions, in some of the most horrifying circumstances without succumbing to this shock.
That is why I have difficulty in coming to terms with this today. That begs the question. Are we becoming a Nation of Softies.
Best Regards to you for your work.
Sapper

Maybe more and more cases are being reported today then perhaps were when you were fighting Sapper. Did you have any direct contact with PTSD sufferers during your service?

The 'Nation of Softies' is a compelling argument, but the Falklands had loads of PTSD sufferers, many of whom had fought previously or been to NI etc

[Trincomalee]

HI Sapper

I became involved with the subject because my father had it . He never received any help or treatment , but he had PTSD . In the early years of his marriage he would awake screaming with a flashback nightmare . Whilst he was dying the flashbacks returned . He had them intemittently throughout his life and on his 80th birthday , asked me if they would ever go away .
Both of my parents knew that if they had asked for medical help he would probably have been locked away , so everyone lived with it . My father didn't want the experience to define the rest of his life .

Not every war veteran has PTSD but many do .
In the UK , the first treatment for veterans was with the Royal Navy , after the Falklands War .The wives started to ask for help because the husbands and fathers who returned were unrecognisable ; often they had become loners or they were now aggressive .
In the States it was documented after the Vietnam war .

After the two world wars there wasn't any help available - the only response was to lock people away . The wives and families accepted that they just had to live with whatever behaviour happened within the family - they understood it was because of "the war" .

Most people still don't want to talk - there's a lot of shame because people feel it is a sign of weakness and mental problems . I don't think that very many people realise that it is a medical problem . I live in Northern Ireland and the medical profession started to predict that the problems would begin to manifest once the Troubles came to an end . People can hold themselves together and keep the lid on it all as long as the war is still on . Afterwards , it is more difficult to keep such a tight rein .

I know what you mean about becoming a nation of "softies" . Most people still wouldn't want to ask for help , but there is just a little less of a stigma .

I offered to put the connection to "The Sky Before the Storm" on the website because I thought it might help people identify whether they do have PTSD . My charity is often contacted by people who have read the book , to say that it explains to them what they are feeling , and knowing what it is is a great weight off their shoulders . This book doesn't help everyone , but it has helped some .

When the shocks go on for years it probably becomes impossible to remember what a "normal" body chemistry felt like . But the continuing nightmares and flashbacks are now known as PTSD .

If you have looked at the book I would really appreciate the feedback .

Regards,
Linden