VETERANS & FAMILY PTSD SUPPORT GROUP
Our January PTSD Support Group met on Thursday, January 21st. The Group Leader was unable to
attend due to a bi-annual credentialing that was scheduled after he had committed to do the
presentation. He e-mailed me some information that I handed out for discussion and also a copy
of an article from the Bismarck Tribune about Service Dogs for America located in Judd, ND. If
you would like a copy of the Tribune Article, send me your email address. My email address is
listed below. They do an awesome job in training service dogs for veterans with PTSD as well as
for other diagnosis.
Listed below is the last of the comparisons.
I hope they have helped you in some way to
understand what our veterans go through in transition.
Veterans in deployment:
1) Doesn’t have to worry about financial issues
2) Trauma
Veterans return home:
1) Sometimes wants to make the financial decisions, Butting of heads.
2) Trauma that has been in the past resurfaces – the body continues to store the emotions,
sensations, images and beliefs and feels it is frozen in that moment of trauma. It can come
out of nowhere and quickly overwhelm them, (Dreams, nightmares, sleepless nights, loud
sounds, flashes of light, screaming, headaches, missing limbs/burns/physical impairments,
guilt, etc.)
3) Veterans / the soldiers need to talk and express their issues / feelings, their “hard drive” in
a safe environment.
Treatment Options:
1) The VA provides the full range of psychiatric care in hospitals across the country.
The
Fargo VA Hospital has a well-staffed mental health department. The Bismarck Community
Based Outpatient Clinic provides counseling with local providers as well as video
conferencing with providers in Fargo.
Veterans must be enrolled in the VA Health Care
System in order to receive VA treatment, which is free for service connected disabilities.
2) The Bismarck Vets Center provides counseling for combat veterans.
Enrollment is not
required.
Our next meeting is February 18, 2016 at the VFW Club beginning at 7 PM. The Group
Leader will be KIRBY SCHMIDTGALL, ND National Guard. If you know of someone who is
struggling with PTSD, please encourage them to attend. They will find they are not alone
in the struggles with PTSD. Just a reminder – this group is a support group – it is not for
treatment.
If you have any questions regarding the meeting, call me at the number listed.
answer, leave a message and I will call you back.
Ruby Dannenfelzer, Coordinator
701-255-2410
ruby1@bis.midco.net
If no