July 2016 Philadelphia Chapter of Pax Christi U.S.A.
“Something Awful Had to Happen to Get Us Help!”
Many of us watched the Memorial Day tribute to the Unknown soldier. I believe President Obama when he says we should honor the dead by providing service to the living. A good idea.
Earlier, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs said they were working to provide “timely service to veterans.” Another good idea. Later they acknowledged 24,000 veterans had been improperly evaluated for Traumatic Brain Injury, and they would all be reevaluated. At the Memorial Day Concert on the Washington Mall, celebrities lauded the service of veterans from all wars. The message was "We care; If you need help, someone is available. Dial this number and press option 1." Awkward, but I believe these platitudes were sincerely stated.
Yet, we know there is another side of this story. So much war, so little peace for both nation and for individuals.
A service woman recently came for an initial appointment. Her story was all too familiar. But the precipitating event for the appointment was unusual. Her history suggested she was quite resourceful and resilient. As a teenage mother she managed to finish high school, then join the Army, finish college and work on a master's degree. Along the way she found time to raise a second child.
Seven years before this initial visit she had been raped while in the Army. This soldier had experienced trauma and while deployed witnessed significant atrocities. Fearing the "consequences of reporting" the effect of the experiences on her she never sought treatment nor reported the events. She perceived that reporting in the military meant she would be ostracized, marginalized, and her career would be over. She claimed to have witnessed that happening to other soldiers on multiple occasions.
She believed once a soldier seeks mental health treatment, a code is broken. The soldier can expect an administrative or medical discharge or poor assignments. Her husband, a veteran, shared her view in not getting treatment for abuse or combat related trauma while on active duty.
But now as a veteran it was clear to both of them that he needed help for his depression, irritability, hyper vigilance—in essence—his combat related PTSD. They waited for an inpatient-based program rather than an outpatient program. Month after month they were told no beds were available.
As symptoms increased, marital conflict and tension increased. Her husband chose to commemorate an anniversary of the combat death of a good friend by a visit to a local bar. Left with sleepless children, she angrily took them to the car and drove them around the block, trying to get them to fall asleep.
When her husband returned home, intoxicated, he perceived she had abandoned him. An angry confrontation ensued. Un- fortunately they are both authorized to carry concealed weapons. She thought putting her hand on her weapon would bring him to his senses. Instead he thought he was going to be killed and attacked her. She escaped. Police arrived. He was taken away. She reported the incident. A hospital-based program was available for him the next morning.
“Something bad had to happen to get us help” she says. So much war, so little peace—both for the nation and for our veterans. Need it be this way so often?
Ted Beal, MD, is a psychiatrist at the W. Reed Medical Center & a member of the Georgetown Medical School faculty.
Ted Beal
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