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please critique my 85th ltte for accuracy,effectiveness re:PTSD

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w8liftinglady Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-18-07 04:43 PM
Original message
please critique my 85th ltte for accuracy,effectiveness re:PTSD
The Invisible scars of battle.
I dedicate this to my son,who will be serving his 4th tour in a war zone beginning this summer.
So many times,I have looked in his eyes,trying to catch a glimpse of my happy little boy.I see hollow,empty spheres,hiding the pain and death he has seen,multpile times,after multiple deployments.
The status of mental health care for our returning veterans is shameful.Even the DoD estimates that over 300,000 Iraq War veterans will need counseling for PTSD.This doesn't include the veterans of other wars who have seen their share of trauma.The solution-try to diagnose these brave war veterans with Bi-polar and other psychiatric disorders,and call them pre-existing.This denies the soldier access to what little help there is,and denies any disability claim.There are a total of 350 psychiatrists to care for almost a million mentally ill veterans of war.There is a huge stigma,still perpetuated today,against seeking help for the horrific experience that is war.The incidence of alcoholism,drug abuse and suicide is far higher among these war heroes,but talk therapy,by a war veteran,isn't profitable.Prescribing myriads of anti-psychotics and anti-depressants is.The anger and fear continue to eat at these soldiers and Marines' souls while they walk around in a drug-addled state-many staring down a bottle or the barrel of a gun.20-40 soldiers A DAY are being evacuated from Iraq with incapacitating PTSD,many handcuffed to their stretchers.This is what happens when your kids are sent to war multple times,seeing death and destruction every day,18 hours a day,watching their buddies be blown to pieces,learning to hate all Arabs,and coming home to a clueless nation who thinks a faded yellow ribbon is a fitting testament to these brave troops' sacrifice.
Those of you who still support this war should try to walk a day in these Men and women's shoes.Imagine how their lives have changed,and how our nation has deserted them when they come home.Let's take the billions we spend on contractors in Iraq,and funnel that money into a program to help all wounded warriors-even those without visable scars.Support our troops.Bring them home to a grateful nation,one who is willing to appreciate and reward their sacrifice,not profit from it.
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pwb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-18-07 04:59 PM
Response to Original message
1. i hope your letter is published all over the country.
thanks to your brave son.
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antigop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-18-07 05:08 PM
Response to Original message
2. Thank you for a great letter. I hope veterans get the care they deserve.
BRING 'EM HOME NOW!
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aquart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-18-07 05:16 PM
Response to Original message
3. Is this what you mean?
Edited on Mon Jun-18-07 05:19 PM by aquart
The Invisible scars of battle.

My son will be serving his 4th tour of duty in a war zone this summer.

When I look in his eyes for a glimpse of my happy, eager boy, I see only hollow emptiness. And I'm afraid.

There is still a huge stigma against seeking help for the horrific experience that is war. The incidence of alcoholism, drug abuse, and suicide is far higher among these war heroes, but talk therapy, with a war veteran, which helps, isn't profitable. Prescribing myriads of anti-psychotics and anti-depressants is. The anger and fear continue to eat at our heroes’ souls while they walk around in a prescribed, drug-addled state, many staring down a bottle or the barrel of a gun.

The status of mental health care for our returning veterans is shameful. The DoD itself estimates that over 300,000 Iraq War veterans will need counseling for PTSD. This doesn't include the veterans of other wars who have seen their share of trauma. Their solution? To diagnose these brave war veterans with bi-polar and other psychiatric disorders, and call them pre-existing conditions. This denies the soldier access to what little help there is, and denies any disability claim. There are a total of 350 psychiatrists to care for almost a million mentally-ill veterans of war.

Meanwhile, twenty to forty soldiers A DAY are being evacuated from Iraq with incapacitating PTSD, many handcuffed to their stretchers. This is what happens when your kids are sent to war multiple times, seeing death and destruction every day, 18 hours a day, watching their buddies be blown to pieces, learning to hate all Arabs, and coming home to a clueless nation which thinks a Made In China yellow ribbon is a fitting testament to these brave troops' sacrifice. Our nation has deserted its veterans.

Let's take the billions we spend on contractors in Iraq and funnel that money into a program to help all our wounded warriors--even those without visible scars. Support our troops. Bring them home to a grateful nation willing to appreciate their sacrifice, not ignore it unless it’s profitable.
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w8liftinglady Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-18-07 05:33 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. wow-thanks!I am sending to the Dallas Morning News now.
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w8liftinglady Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-18-07 09:32 PM
Response to Original message
5. I'll kick once for the night crew
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