Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome
I was listening to a story on the radio yesterday about some poor guy who had returned from another tour of duty in Afghanistan. Having survived being shot on a couple of occasions and also being in two explosions he returned home suffering from PTSS and was eventually invalided out. Tragically last weekend at the age of only 29 he took his own life due to depression and his guilt (as he perceived it) at losing his best mate. Jesus what a fucking waste! Now I’m not into playing politics and that is not what this forum is about anyway. I’m not into the whys and wherefores of troops being out there, the fact is they are and they should have our support. You can save the blame game for the politician that’s what they are there for. Anyway it got me wondering about the link between hormone levels and mental illness. PTSS amongst other types of stress and trauma can have a dramatic effect on hormone levels in the human body. So the question is, do these guys have their hormone levels checked out when they are suffering from PTSS or do they just get the same old treatment that most of us get, let’s say a trip to the shrink (if we are very lucky) and a whole load of pills that probably fuck our heads up even more then we were fucked up in the first place. And if they don’t have their hormone levels tested out, then why not? I guess I already know the answer to that one. Big Pharma, corruption yada yada. For once forget about the$$$$$$, these guys deserve better!!
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the psyche is an enigma my friends, I saw "some" action in the Corpse but it (seemingly) had little effect on me... maybe it was because it was sporadic compared to the constant violence and death toll that I grew up in... maybe I was desensitized to it in my formidable years... or maybe all them shrinks are just right about me... all I know is that we can all react to the same situations, circumstances and stimuli differently at any given time... ALL OF US
Exactly on point bro, each persons mind processes and digests trama differently. Its weird how it works even when a group of individuals see the same or similiar things. I was Corp also, 3/1 Thundering Third, in 04 I was 26 and on my 2nd tour I was in on phantom fury. Im 34 now and that shit still dont bother me, some of my bros though are still messed up from it.
AnonWhen the HPA axis becomes over excited it alters the brain and the neurons often times resulting in necropsis or death of the neurons. As you can imagine alterations and or death of brain cells if enough of it continues can be a very catastrophic event.
PTSD displays biochemical changes in the brain and body that differ from other psychiatric disorders such as major depression. Individuals diagnosed with PTSD respond more strongly to a dexamethasone suppression test than individuals diagnosed with clinical depression.
In addition, most people with PTSD also show a low secretion of cortisol and high secretion of catecholamines in urine, with a norepinephrine/cortisol ratio consequently higher than comparable non-diagnosed individuals. This is in contrast to the normative fight-or-flight response, in which both catecholamine and cortisol levels are elevated after exposure to a stressor.
Brain catecholamine levels are high, and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) concentrations are high. Together, these findings suggest abnormality in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Given the strong cortisol suppression to dexamethasone in PTSD, HPA axis abnormalities are likely predicated on strong negative feedback inhibition of cortisol, itself likely due to an increased sensitivity of glucocorticoid receptors. Some researchers have associated the response to stress in PTSD with long-term exposure to high levels of norepinephrine and low levels of cortisol, a pattern associated with improved learning in animals.
Translating this reaction to human conditions gives a pathophysiological explanation for PTSD by a maladaptive learning pathway to fear response through a hypersensitive, hyperreactive, and hyperresponsive HPA axis.
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The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA or HTPA axis),
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Not to be confused with the : The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (also HPG axis)
But with all the moving parts invovled there could be a conection.
I stand corrected. I can't say I have such personal experience of it as yourself.
I still maintain they deserve better. God help em
It's a disorder bro not a syndrome "PTSD". My brothers a Marine and has the same shit, he will never be the same because of the shit he had to see and do. Trust me a bunch of steroids wouldn't do jack shit for them they are scarred for life. Whether they take pills,steroids,therapy,or anything it ain't going to change them.
AnonThere IS a new diagnosis of SYNDROME now and it is not limited to being called a disorder any longer as some people who experience the symptoms do not meet all the criteria for it to be considered a disorder. And you are quite wrong in saying that NOTHING will help there are many things out there besides traditional methods of treatment. Things that I have personal knowledge and experience with.
I'm sorry grrl but I have to disagree with you. If you live with someone with it you would know there are "many things out there besides traditional methods of treatment" but none of them solve the problem for ever. Trust me It's a MEMORY that effects them forever.
and there can't be a new diagnosis for SYNDROME...a SYNDROME is just a group of symptoms that together are a characteristics of a specific DISORDER.
Anonthere is a new diagnosis using the word syndrome ... and it's quite alright to disagree ;-)
the use of the word syndrome is for those people who DO NOT meat the OFFICIAL diagnosis for PTSD.. sorry I should have been more clear in my original post.
Thx for message grrl I understand what you're saying 100%. I couldn't respond back yet so I friended you.
edit : oh you friended me woops didnt see that -_-
Anon;-)
Obviously not everyone who sufferers from PTSD ends up taking their own lives. Also their are never going to be any magic cure to erase from their minds the things they have seen and experienced.People do come to terms with things given enough time though. If they end up taking their own lives then that is it, game over. Even treatment that raises them above the tipping point gives them a fighting chance. I wouldn't deny them that nor would anyone else in their right mind. I don't have to live with it so it's all well and good me sat here theorizing about it. I'm not in your shoes and I feel for your situation. There is a great pool of knowledge on this forum, of course not everyone will have the same opinions which is a good thing because what works for one person may not for another so alternative ideas are a good thing.
There more soldiers that commit suicide every year then we lose in battle. It's a sad but true statistic. From the hallucinations to the flashbacks to nightmares to complete distress it becomes too overwhelming for them and they don't want to live anymore.
And even with all the best treatment bro it's like cancer that goes in remission for them. That's why I don't even bring up the war or say anything around my bro. If he hears,sees,or something appears or distress' him like an old memory boom snap time and you better watch the fuck out.
Pobably even smells or certain weather condition or time of day all combined would set it off. It would be stored in his memory and he may not even realize it, till it happens.
I can only try to imagine.
I have to admit I thought long and hard about posting it. In a way though I would argue it is ER related. The same gear that works for us could also help these guys.
We have had guys at our gym who have been drug addicts in the past, guys with depression etc. Just the discipline of training has helped them move away from drugs or helped their state of mind even without being on gear. I'm happy to share the slams with you brother.
AnonI'll chime and take any slams for posting and responding to non ER's related topics. Yes I agree 100%.
And when some skinny little "martial arts expert" and academically self titled school boy bitch with his anorexic midsection slams a kid for going in the army and being a red neck on here NOBODY said jack shit.
Well here it is.