Soldiers returning from deployment sometimes bring the trauma of war home with them. Being injured themselves or witnessing others injured or dying, can have lasting physical and emotional effects on our military men and women. Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, can surface immediately or take years to appear. These symptoms can include sleeplessness, recurring nightmares or memories, anger, fear, feeling numb, and suicidal thoughts. These symptoms can be alleviated with medications and/or by the use ...
Continue Reading →The VA Semantics of Treating Veterans with PTSD
While watching the “Talking Heads” address the Russian hacking scandal through the prism of partisan politics, it struck me that much the same language is used by the VA when discussing the treatment of Veterans with PTSD.
While I have always thought that the proper use of language should be celebrated rather than used as a divisive instrument, I am very much bothered by the implications of blurring the ...
Continue Reading →SFTT News: Highlights for Week Ending Dec 16, 2016
Found below are a few news items that caught my attention this past week. I am hopeful that the titles and short commentary will encourage SFTT readers to click on the embedded links to read more on subjects that may be of interest to them.
Drop me an email at info@sftt.org if you believe that there are other subjects that are newsworthy.
US Research Submarine Seized by Chinese
A Chinese ship has seized an underwater, unmanned U.S. research vessel, the Pentagon said Friday. China ...
Preventing Concussions: Can Help be on the Horizon?
Concussions and preventing concussions continues to be a hot topic in the media, particularly when parents decide whether to allow their kids to play contact sports.
Treating PTSD and TBI also receives its share of attention, but most of the media coverage seems to be focused on coping with the symptoms of brain injury rather than offer any meaningful long-term solution for Veterans with these conditions.
Far less attention is devoted to preventing concussions in the first place. Perhaps, we should be ...
Continue Reading →SFTT News: Highlights for Week of Dec 2, 2016
Found below are a few news items that caught my attention this past week. I am hopeful that the titles and short commentary will encourage SFTT readers to click on the embedded links to read more on subjects that may be of interest to them.
Drop me an email at info@sftt.org if you believe that there are other subjects that are newsworthy.
Marine General James Mattis for Secretary of Defense
President-elect ...
Veterans with PTSD: Why a Dog May be Your Best Friend
Veterans with PTSD: Relief may be around the corner. Practically, every day one sees Veterans with PTSD coming out from under the dark clouds of depression with the support of a canine companion.
I certainly am not qualified to speculate on the benefits that a service dog provides Veterans suffering from PTSD or other mental impairments, but there does appear to be genuine love and understanding between a ...
Continue Reading →SFTT Highlights: Week of Nov 25, 2016
Found below are a few news items that caught my attention this past week. I am hopeful that the titles and short commentary will encourage SFTT readers to click on the embedded links to read more on subjects that may be of interest to them.
Drop me an email at info@sftt.org if you believe that there are other subjects that are newsworthy.
First U.S. Serviceman Killed in Syria Fighting ISIS
The first U.S. service member was killed on Thursday in fighting against the Islamic ...
Veterans Affairs: Hope on the Way for Those Suffering from PTSD and TBI?
With the expected change in the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (“the VA”), hope could well be on its way to provide more effective and timely treatment for the tens of thousands of Veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI.
Regardless of one’s political affiliation, the VA doesn’t seem to have a handle on treating Veterans with serious brain injury. One hopes that the “new” VA will be more open to alternative therapy provided in the private sector, rather than current ...
Continue Reading →SFTT News: Week of Nov 11, 2017
Found below are a few news items that caught my attention this past week. I am hopeful that the titles and short commentary will encourage SFTT readers to click on the embedded links to read more on subjects that may be of interest to them.
Drop me an email at info@sftt.org if you believe that there are other subjects that are newsworthy.
Ten Good Reasons to Hire Military Veterans
Companies take note: hiring a veteran of the U.S. Military comes with a host of ...
After the Election: U.S. Military Assessment
Each year the Heritage Foundation publishes a security threat analyis to determine hostile “hot spots” that may affect U.S. security. The threat rating tends to be a blend of overt aggressive behavior and capabilities.
For instance, in 2016, North Korea was considered more of a threat to vital U.S. interests than Iran and Middle East terrorism. (http://index.heritage.org/military/2016/assessments/threats/conclusion-global-threat-level/).
Regardless of which candidate wins the election and the political configuration of ...
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