March 30, 2008
"Stop Loss" and PTSD
I spent Saturday (along with 70 others) listening to Dr. Richard J. Loewenstein, Medical Director of The Trauma Disorders Program at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, widely published and internationally known expert on Dissociative Disorders - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a dissociative disorder. The day was a reminder of the excruciating devastation that major trauma causes to the mind, body, spirit and family of an affected individual.
Toward the end of the conference, Loewenstein discussed medications that are sometimes helpful to trauma patients. A therapist who works with young men asked about the prophyllactic use of inderal, a common beta-blocker for high blood pressure, in the prevention of PTSD . The kids she works with are under the impression that they won't "get PTSD" because there is now a "morning after" pill available. Loewenstein was quick to puncture that myth. It should be obvious that there will never be a pill to stop the trauma caused the loss of a limb or a face.
That evening, in the spirit of the day, I saw "Stop-Loss", a new movie by the director of "Boys Don't Cry", Kimberly Pierce. Stop-loss, sometimes known as the back door draft, is a forced reenlistment policy. Although I knew that soldiers are enticed with $40,000 reenlistment bonuses, I did not realize that 81,000 men have been involuntarily stop-lossed thus far in the Iraq War.
The movie does a thorough job of dramatizing every possible PTSD symptom, flashbacks, nightmares, uncontrollable angry outbursts, numbing, difficultly returning to "normal" circumstances, inability to sleep, depression leading to suicide (as of October 31, 2007 there were 1683 suicides among returning vets). "Stop-Loss" also shows the grim alternatives to reenlisting, a fugitive lifestyle, or jail. Approximately ten thousand soldiers have gone AWOL anyway.
Our country is sending traumatized men back to the battlefield against their wishes. What are they doing to Iraqi civilians, who are themselves trauma victims. What will they do to themselves, their families and society on return? How are we helping them? Our esteemed leaders really don't care.
Photo note: A fragmented world view - what happens to perception with PTSD
Adeendum: PTSD Forum