PTSD Ignored on Active Duty

http://www.truthout.org/071509R?n

PTSD Ignored on Active Duty

Thursday 16 July 2009
by: Maya Schenwar, t r u t h o u t

Neglect, mistreatment and abuse are the norm for active-duty soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have thrown post-traumatic stress disorder into stark public light. As of the end of March, 346,393 US veterans were being treated for PTSD, and that number continues to grow rapidly.

However, PTSD symptoms don't always wait to emerge until soldiers return home. For active-duty soldiers like Airman Steven Flowers, stationed in Aviano, Italy, it can take years to receive even minimal care. And once treatment begins, the soldiers are often punished for revealing their problems.

Diagnosed with PTSD in 2007, Flowers receives only a 15-minute monthly session with a military psychiatrist - mostly to prescribe medications - and a brief monthly or bimonthly session with a psychologist. Since his diagnosis, Flowers has endured "constant harassment" within his unit, and incurs harsh punishment from his commanders for even the "slightest perceived inadequacies."

"Though I have had suicidal ideations, I am not considered a risk," Flowers told Truthout.

Flowers's case is not unique. Active-duty PTSD sufferers are subject to neglect and ridicule, according to Tim Huber, director of the Military Counseling Network.

"PTSD is a great scapegoat for the military to trot out when veterans face discrimination or have a difficult time securing jobs and making a new life in the civilian world, but while those troops are on active duty, they're supposed to simply 'soldier on' and get over it," Huber told Truthout.

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... his "PTSD" about but oh well.

The other side of this story is that there is that group of Soldiers who really do just want out and make it that much harder for those who really are actually "PTSD" ( whatever that means.)

And they don't want to have to pay for their post war mental health care.

Oh, it's Tommy this
and Tommy that
and Tommy get your gun ...