America must address PTSD

[mdmc]

Prior to 9-11-01, it would be considered outright unAmerican to protest the building of a properly zoned religious site.
9-11-01 was a traumatic event. It has traumatized America.
Now we must decide if we will stand strong and embrace our cherished ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The other choice - we can choose to embrace Al-Quida, and allow our trauma to determine our future.
We already have given up on our ban of torture, embraced pre-emptive war, and surrendered our privacy. Do we really want to surrender our freedom of religion?
Perhaps we should address our collective trauma before we abandon what we have stood united for for so long.
:patriot:

[HereSince1628]

1. Proposed DSM V criteria for PTSD... you be the shrink

A. The person was exposed to one or more of the following event(s): death or threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violation, in one or more of the following ways: **

1. Experiencing the event(s) him/herself
2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as they occurred to others
3. Learning that the event(s) occurred to a close relative or close friend; in such cases, the actual or threatened death must have been violent or accidental
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting body parts; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse); this does not apply to exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures, unless this exposure is work related.

B. Intrusion symptoms that are associated with the traumatic event(s) (that began after the traumatic event(s)), as evidenced by 1 or more of the following:

1. Spontaneous or cued recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s). Note: In children, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the traumatic event(s) are expressed.
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream is related to the event(s). Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content. ***
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring (Such reactions may occur on a continuum, with the most extreme expression being a complete loss of awareness of present surroundings.) Note: In children, trauma-specific reenactment may occur in play.
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s)
5. Marked physiological reactions to reminders of the traumatic event(s)

C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s) (that began after the traumatic event(s)), as evidenced by efforts to avoid 1 or more of the following:

1. Avoids internal reminders (thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations) that arouse recollections of the traumatic event(s)
2. Avoids external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse recollections of the traumatic event(s).

D. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood that are associated with the traumatic event(s) (that began or worsened after the traumatic event(s)), as evidenced by 3 or more of the following: Note: In children, as evidenced by 2 or more of the following:****

1. Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically dissociative amnesia; not due to head injury, alcohol, or drugs).
2. Persistent and exaggerated negative expectations about one’s self, others, or the world (e.g., “I am bad,” “no one can be trusted,” “I’ve lost my soul forever,” “my whole nervous system is permanently ruined,” "the world is completely dangerous").
3. Persistent distorted blame of self or others about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s)
4. Pervasive negative emotional state -- for example: fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame
5. Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
6. Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others.
7. Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., unable to have loving feelings, psychic numbing)

E. Alterations in arousal and reactivity that are associated with the traumatic event(s) (that began or worsened after the traumatic event(s)), as evidenced by 3 or more of the following: Note: In children, as evidenced by 2 or more of the following:****

1. Irritable or aggressive behavior
2. Reckless or self-destructive behavior
3. Hypervigilance
4. Exaggerated startle response
5. Problems with concentration
6. Sleep disturbance -- for example, difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless sleep.

F. Duration of the disturbance (symptoms in Criteria B, C, D and E) is more than one month.

G. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

H. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., medication or alcohol) or a general medical condition (e.g., traumatic brain injury, coma).

[InkAddict]

2. Oh phooey re: 9/11 PTSD

There are equally on-going heinous crimes being perpetrated against Americans each and every day. Why suggest it all stems from one day. You suggest we're abandoning our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I suggest the evil corrpution of our leaders on both sides of all three branches of our government have coopted our lives, our liberties, and our ability to pursue the factors necessary for happiness. It's painfully clear that compromising with the Devils will not resolve our dilemma nor our PTSD!

Yeah, I got PTSD but it ain't about Al-Q and Bin Laden, the latter; it's the on-going onslaught of the global uber-rich to suck out our marrow with Health Care Reform that doesn't include a public option and with humungous costs for legal counsel that stands up to white-collared criminals that steal our jobs, our homes, our savings, and now they appear to be after our SS, and with (naive?) members of Boards of Elections that refuse to rid the people of easily maniputlated electronic voting machines.

Freedom of Religion??? HAHAHAHA - I lost mine quickly as fundamentalists of every creed have failed to recognize the insidiousness of those that have the power to strip us naked and leave us enslaved. Hell, even the shrinks go off to war and think nothing of remaining silent as they and their colleagues TORTURE. Now why in the world would some Americans be developing PTSD???

WE NEED LIFE-SUSTAINING CARE (not insurance)THAT WON'T STRIP THOSE WE LOVE OF THEIR FOUNDATION TOO, WE NEED JOBS THAT PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO LIFE and LIBERTY, so we can pursue HAPPINESS. WE NEED TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DOESN'T JUST WORK ON THOSE THAT CAN BEST AFFORD CHAMPIONS WITHIN OUR COURTS.

*End of rant - I'll go take my meds now - Thanx.

[mdmc]

3. chin up my friend..