DCPT Hockenberry's Last Fall-Personal Narrative

Eric Reynolds is a fifty-six year old African American Vietnam veteran and plumber. He is presenting symptoms of recurring negative intrusive memories of traumatic moments in combat; avoidance of triggering factors, such as crowds, sudden movement, and unprovoked or unexpected touching; negative thoughts and emotions, primarily involuntary aggression and self-imposed isolation; heightened arousal when triggered; insomnia as a result of recurring nightmares; hypervigilance; and pressured speech when discussing traumatic content but otherwise remained articulate. These symptom’s onset occurred over thirty years prior to his current examination, after Mr. Reynolds left combat and entered non-combat operations within Vietnam. The symptoms persisted after reintroduction to civilian life and remained chronic.

Memories of war are like poison in the minds of the broken soldiers calling for help, only to find out that their voices have become a distant echo. Their words lost in the society of the land they've slaved to protect, robbed of the aid, and crippled by their illness. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), became a documented mental disorder in 1980, when the American Psychiatric Association (APA) added PTSD to the third edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. For about 30+ years, since the Vietnam war began, veterans have experienced the pain of this ailment. Human beings experience PTSD in varying degree, but often we associate it with war. Since the recognition of PTSD as an illness, the government has failed

Since the beginning of the new world, Americans have fought for their beliefs and inalienable rights. Courageous individuals, thrown into battle each year, fight for ideas they may or may not believe in. The battles turn out to challenge nothing compared to the violent wars spawning in their minds. Many believe that the mental health care of the American soldier undergo neglection. Mentally-ill and unprepared soldiers serve on the battlefront in order to meet the high demand of attrition. Soldiers’ go home unable to cope, and situate back into their families. Troops, often discharged because of distracting behavior resemble the truth of the military system. This “behavior” turns out to be nothing less than severe cases of PTSD. Now with their

Hi guys! This past weekend we were graced with a much needed fall break. After a few weeks of constant studying, it was nice to have a four day weekend to sit back and relax. After my two tests on Friday I drove seven hours to meet my dad and my girlfriend's dad in Pittsfield Illinois for a few day hunting trip at a lease that my dad has. It was a long drive, but it was worth it when I arrived to a 16oz prime rib at one of my favorite restaurants, the Red Dome. Unfortunately the corn and soybeans had not yet been cut around our farm so we did not see as many deer as usual, but we still had fun and relaxed for a few days.

Hunter Airfield Base in Savannah, Ga I stood there reticently facing my First Sergeant and Captain, being admonished by them. Months had passed and I haven’t recovered from the accident and it bothered them to the point that they had separation papers all laid out before me. My quiet attitude, begin to uproar a bit, I became vociferous pertaining to my career in the army. My career was coming to a screeching halt right before my eyes. My dreams of being an officer in the United States army, ever since I was a little girl was about to come to an end. “Pvt. Aaron, you are no longer physically, or mentally stable and you army being released from active duty.” Captain Mackenzie said. In my response, “Captain, First Sergeant, both of you denied my doctors convalescent leave and his rehabilitation orders for me and now you want to take my career from me too.” Then they proceeded and said “Sign here on this line Private and I didn’t know what else to do but sign. Didn’t know my rights or who to turn to. I was just as lost as a deer on a dark, dark, night in headlights and that’s just how lost I

The OPORD 14-83 is the federal level regulation in the Military that addresses the issue of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, depression and suicide. These health issues are not new phenomena’s, especially in the military health system. PTSD can be dated back to WWI, when it was simply called “shell-shocked”. However, with the co-occurring Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the number of soldiers returning with mental health concerns, this issue has been pushed to the forefront of the media. Every shooting, suicide, or homicide involving a service member, the news makes a point that these service members must have gone untreated. Even the president of the United States passed an executive order to address the mental health crisis (Executive order, 2012). It is alarming that RESPECT-Mil and the OPORD 14-83 are not discussed in conjunction with the numerous news stories about ailing service members. No major editorial or newspaper has discussed this policy, however, more targeted sources such as Medical Daily, local base papers such as the Ft. Campbell Courier. Huffington Post online was the most publically broadcasted article about the policy. The article titled Military Mental Health Care: One Size Does Not Fit All, was written by Dr. Engel in 2010 and updated in 2011. In this article, he praised and discussed what he described as the high-quality specialized care program that is mandated in all Army primary care clinics (Engel, C. 2010).However, this article was not in regards to

For the next eight months, I was stationed with Patrick and a number of others like him who had transferred from being an NCM to officer by route of attending RMC. Many of them had seen recent active service in Afghanistan and some of them, including Patrick, were experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a psychological response to intense traumatic events, primarily those that are life threatening (Veterans Affairs, 2006 p.1). Although ancient in its idea PTSD was only recognized by the American

Almost every day I am forced to reminisce it. Constantly being reminded by military movies, commercials, holidays, and conversations. Watching Williams die over and over in my mind even while I sleep. Several nights I would just stay awake, not wanting to endure the trauma again. The memory became forever engraved in my mind. I couldn’t help but to feel that the medical staff could have given Williams a greater chance to live if we were further prepared or more effectively trained. I have a survivor’s guilt that I was alive and he had died. After countless therapy sessions I have only learned how to help deal with my pain, not get rid of it. I can’t stop the nightmares or the insomnia, nor erase my memories. Williams’ death will affect me now and for the rest of my

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with war veterans. These days, assuming symptoms of PTSD in soldiers returning from combat tours is almost stereotypical. In fact, in the 2012 American Psychological Association (APA) annual meeting, some argue to change PTSD to post-traumatic stress “injury” to be more accommodating to soldiers, and to resolve the issue of unreported PTSD-related symptoms within military ranks (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Military officials explained that many soldiers do not report their symptoms because of the fear of being viewed as weak (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). However, the incidence of PTSD can be as common among civilians as it is for those in the military.

It is common for war veterans to return home with physical and emotional damage from the traumatizing sights they’ve seen and terrible places they’ve been. It is also common for women to return home with MST (Military Sexual Trauma). This occurs when a woman has been raped or assaulted by another person in the military. When these women return from duty, they suffer greatly. Many of them become homeless. Two dozen female veterans were interviewed, and of them, 16 said they were assaulted in the service. 53% of homeless female veterans experiences MST.

I am writing the addendum to assure how suitable and perfect I am as a candidate and future Veterans Employment Representative for the One Stop Career Center in Quincy, Ma. I know there has been brought up a question with what was seen on my CORI, I am more than happy to explain this as I feel this occurrence has made me the proud man I am today. In 2012 I was discharged from active duty orders after a combat deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Coming home was an amazing feeling, however, I did not foresee any issues I would encounter upon my return. It was a very difficult for me to transition back into civilian life. I did not feel like myself, spent most of my time working and being a lone with my thoughts, for just a year before

Mental health illness is a major issue that several United States systems faces daily. Mental illness can contribute to high crime rates, suicide, drug addiction, mass shootings, prison overcrowding, and several other problems. This paper will discuss and examine mental health issues as it develops and result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the United States Military, and specifically how PTSD can result in suicide among military service members. PTSD is commonly and well known to infantry soldiers who were mostly deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq war between 2001 and 2003 due to an overwhelming and challenging environment. The war in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq conflicts, both have had a an actual impact on soldiers' mental health. In addition, infantrymen are most likely to experience at least one event as a minimum that may result in PTSD than any other divisions in the military. According to Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Major Gary Wynn provides statistics shows that "93 percent report coming under fire from artillery, rockets, and mortars. 91 percent say their unit has been attacked or ambushed. 87 percent say they know someone who has been seriously injured or killed" (Robson 2012).

The chapter ‘Clinical Histories: From Soldier’s Heart to PTSD’ from the book ‘Fields of Combat’ by Erin Finley, examines U.S. military community’s perception of combat stress casualties. From the Civil War times until now, there has been growth in the understanding that soldiers face extreme psychological consequences, like behavioral and functional problems, after returning home from war. In 1980, this behavioral and functional problem is formally recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress order (PTSD) in the U.S. and it was internationally recognized in the late 1980’s. Not only was the diagnosis given to survivors of combat, but also noncombat traumatic experiences, such as rape, natural disaster, rape and etc. The chapter looks at the historical

Everyone close your eyes and let's all imagine something together. The setting is Iraq in a forest.You're lying down in a pool of sweat and blood. The darkness surrounds your whole being, and the only weapon you have against it, Is your gun. You hear footsteps running to your hideaway, your bush, until the shadow gets to close and you hear the cock of a gun .you finally pull the trigger on this shadows life. You stare down at your bloodshed uniform and at the corpse in front of you. And it was at that precise moment this man's corpse was engraved in your mind for all of eternity. Sounds like any other horror movie doesn't it?Well guess what this situation is a harsh reality for many of America's finest , our very own veterans. And the most sinister thing of it all is that it's all happening right under our noses, and at this point it's a elephant in the room that no one wishes to address. The conclusion that many americans have drawn is that if we simply avoid a problem it will disappear into thin air. And that's why i'm here today to express to you the silent killer that has struck America quite brutally. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or better known as PTSD. Hello Panel my name is Derek Gonzalez and today i come to serve one purpose and one purpose only, i came to address the