Photo By Dustin Senger | U.S. Army Maj. Sameer Khatri, Area Support Group Qatar medical and health services...... read more read more
By Rashid S. Niaz, M.D., M.P.H.
and
By Nikole Scott Conerly, Ph.D., C.G.P.
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — Third Army/U.S. Army Central Area Support Group Qatar is dedicated to the promotion of medical and mental health care at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a special concern for anyone previously exposed to an intense combat situation and quickly recognizing symptoms makes recovery much easier. To support timely treatment, the Area Support Group-Qatar troop medical clinic offers help for servicemembers while they are overseas.
The Camp As Sayliyah military community operates as a vital sustainment force for combat maneuvers throughout Southwest Asia. Daily activities at the installation are not bombarded with direct enemy contact, however many troops have seen combat while serving in other areas in the region. Furthermore, ASG-QA executes the only authorized U.S. Central Command rest and recuperation pass program; recharging over 185,000 war fighters since its 2004 inception. Service members dealing with the grind of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan make up the bulk of the program's participation.
Medical professionals at the Qatar base routinely make proactive attempts to explain available resources to service members suffering with any mental health issues, including PTSD. They also strive to eliminate social stigmas associated with seeking professional assistance. An on-staff psychologist is available specifically for service members living with PTSD and other mental disorders. Fortunately, many of today's troops are learning the value of seeking mental health treatment and appear more likely to recommend it to their peers.
In the past, troops were reluctant to seek treatment from a psychologist, or other mental health professional. Many of our nation's warriors believed seeking mental health treatment was a sign of weakness. Others thought it automatically resulted in taking numerous medications with undesirable side effects. While many others simply believed seeking mental health treatment was admitting to being "crazy." Thankfully, these destructive concepts are being neutralized throughout the military with routine education and awareness training.
"It's good to have a program where we can get help with mental health problems without shame," said a career Soldier receiving PTSD treatment at Camp As Sayliyah. "Talking to a psychologist about my PTSD issues helps me feel better. Memorial Day was hard for me because I kept thinking about all of the friends I have lost over the years in combat. Knowing I could talk to my therapist — and cry if I needed — helped me to make it through."
"I am enjoying a better relationship with my family since receiving therapy," said a Soldier who recently began coping with PTSD symptoms by visiting the psychologist at Camp As Sayliyah. "To me, knowing it's time to seek help doesn't mean I'm weak. It means I'm smart enough to know when I need assistance."
As defined by the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. PTSD may be triggered by vicious personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents or military combat. Service members who have experienced life-threatening situations are at high risk, such as enemy engagement, terrorist attacks or witnessing a violent death.
One of the most common symptoms of PTSD is repeated memories of the traumatic event. Episodes of reliving, or re-experiencing, the incident through "flashbacks" or nightmares can be incredibly distressing and disorientating. The stress can lead to physical reactions, such as shaking and sweating.
When PTSD symptoms occur soon after a traumatic event, they readily get better after three months. However, some are affected by long-term symptoms that lead to suffering for many years. The actual cause of PTSD development is not entirely known, but primarily contributors may be physical (neurochemical pathways) and psychological factors.
Treatment should always be sought, regardless of when the traumatic event happened. PTSD symptoms may occur soon after a major trauma, or they can be delayed for months — possibly years — after the event. They can also come and go over time. A person is probably suffering from PTSD if symptoms last longer than four weeks, result in great distress, interfere with work or disrupt home life. Patients who are treated early often get better with little intervention.
A number of treatments for PTSD are helpful; most involve psychological treatment, such as a course of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Medication can also be helpful. There are many different types of professionals qualified to provide trauma-focused clinical and psychological therapy, including family practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers and clinical nurse specialists.
A service member's primary medical treatment facility is the best place to start finding help with PTSD symptoms. They'll either receive treatment or a referral to an appropriate facility. They can also seek help from TRICARE, a unified coverage program of the Military Health System that merges military health care resources with civilian health care professionals, institutions, pharmacies and suppliers.
After separation from the military, former service members can qualify for care related to their time spent in uniform. The Veterans Administration has specialists available for anyone suffering from PTSD.
Regardless of where professional help is requested, all healthcare professionals are required to treat patients with respect, sensitivity and understanding — their job is to explain PTSD and its treatment, simply and clearly.
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U.S. Army (Dr.) Maj. Sameer Khatri, Area Support Group Qatar medical and health services director, and Dustin Senger, Area Support Group Qatar public affairs specialist, contributed to this report.
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2009 04:47 |
| Story ID: | 35446 |
| Location: | CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA |
| Web Views: | 4,639 |
| Downloads: | 1,641 |
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