Today’s Veterans Owe Allot to our Predecessors

Kevin walked up to me one day and started talking about his time during the Vietnam War. As he continued to talk his demeanor changed when he started discussing his health and the Veterans Administration (VA).  He had been drafted into the military and started having problems as he got older. Like many Vietnam veterans he suffers from diabetes, a presumptive illness for Vietnam Veterans caused by Agent Orange. A presumptive disease is where the VA assumes there are certain diseases that can be directly related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and Chemical weapons, oil smoke, and vaccines in Gulf War veterans.  He believes his exposure to Agent Orange is the cause of his diabetes, but after numerous attempts the VA has failed to give him his benefits. According to the VA, veterans who develop type 2 diabetes mellitus and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service do not have to prove a connection between their diabetes and military service to be eligible to receive disability compensation. You would think Kevin would qualify for this disability according to the VA’s own words. The only problem is Kevin was never sent to Vietnam. He was in the Air Force stationed at one of the six air bases in Thailand where he handled Agent Orange while loading it onto aircraft to be dispersed, but the VA denies his claims. According to the VA those that served in Thailand on or near the perimeters of military bases between 2/28/61 to 5/7/75 may qualify for VA benefits, may being the key word. Kevin falls into the category, but the VA is attributing his diabetes to age, not the presumptive of Agent Orange exposure.

This is not the first I have heard of this type of situation. It seems to be the person with the best advocate, not the claim that helps get benefits. Multiple veteran groups like the American Legion, VFW, and the DAV have advocates on staff.  It appears to be the luck of the draw if you go it alone. As I was researching this situation I read a story about two Navy buddies that were on the same ship at the same time off the coast of Vietnam. Both filed a claim for diabetes, one received the benefits and one was denied. The problem seems to not be with the people of the VA but the inconsistency of the VA system and training. As long as humans are handling these claims, there will be inconsistency.

Another case that seems to not make since is the VA is not accepting some claims from Vietnam veterans with PTSD because it did not exist. According to some in the VA it is not possible for a Vietnam veteran to have PTSD because it was not in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) at the time. Instead of PTSD they used either combat neurosis or Post-Vietnam Syndrome which was not compensable. What is disturbing is Vietnam veterans were used to provide information for the establishment of the PTSD criteria in the DSM. If not for the Vietnam veterans it is possible the advancements we have today on PTSD would not exist. Even though the VA used them to establish PTSD guidelines some claims are still being denied because the diagnosis was not established until 1980.

This era of veterans owe allot to our predecessors. As a Desert Storm veteran I am well aware of who made sure we were treated with respect when we returned home. They are the main force behind the respect veteran’s receive today. They have laid the groundwork for us to follow and the ones used to prove PTSD existed.  They continue to fight for veteran’s rights every day. They made sure there are presumptive diseases with the VA. Our era of veterans has presumptive diseases because the Vietnam era veterans fought and continue to fight for our rights.

We must remember the Korean War veterans were generally ignored, and the Vietnam veterans were treated poorly and are still fighting for what is right. Peacetime veterans are totally overlooked by the VA and many in the community. Most did not get free school, some are getting denied for Agent Orange and PTSD claims. It is because of their fights and sacrifices that veterans have what we have today. As a recent veteran I remind myself every day of what our veterans have had to endure for us to have what we have. When you see a WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Peace time, or Granada veteran be sure and thank them for the benefits you have, and will continue to have. They are still fighting for veteran’s rights! It’s our turn to pick up the flag and move forward!  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Desert Storm Veterans have the Highest Causality Rate of any Prior War to Date

In the military, you meet people who become a part of your life for the rest of your life. Even if you served your four years or a lifer most veterans have bonds that are unbreakable. Since we were not around our bio-families while stationed at different military bases or deployed, we developed families of choice.  We were there for marriages, divorces, births, deaths, through good times and bad. We are family! Dave and Paula was a part of my family, to explain their influence on all they touched would take a book. Dave and I went in the Air Force a month apart, we had the same Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), or MOS in the Army, and we also retired a month apart and had allot of the same friends. Our careers took a similar path and we ended up at the same assignment our last four years, instructor duty.

Dave like I was a Desert Storm Veteran. He was also in Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia when their living quarters were attacked by terrorist in 1996. Nineteen were killed and Dave was one of the hundreds injured. He was told he had earned a purple heart, which he refused, others were killed or injured worse, he felt he did not deserve it. Dave dealt with those injuries for the rest of his life never complaining. Only those that new him well new about his injuries. The last time I saw Dave was when another friend, who was stationed with us, was killed in a car accident. Like usual he flew from Ohio to console the family of our friend. None of us knew he would be the next to leave us. Unfortunately we lost Dave to Pancreatic cancer on March 1, 2012. He was a good friend who is discussed every time I talk to anyone that knew him, to say we miss him is an understatement.

Many don’t realize that the largest causality rate of veterans are those from Desert Storm. One in four Desert Storm Veterans is on disability. In contrast WWII veterans are at 8.6% Korean Veterans are at 5% and Vietnam Veterans are at 9.6%. There presently are no real numbers available for the most recent OEF/OIF veterans since they are so fresh from theatre. There are wide-ranging beliefs from doctors and scientist as to what caused such a high causality rate but no one knows for sure, mainly because of poor record keeping during Desert Storm.   

In numerous studies the issue that keeps arising is the lack of decent record keeping during Desert Shield / Storm deployments. This raises allot of questions for many of us who were there. Because of the rapid deployment many rules went out the window, record keeping being one of them. When we were given vaccinations in theatre we gave the Doc our shot records to document the shots. We were told “we’re not doing that” so our shots went undocumented. There was a group of us who deployed together that questioned this tactic and vowed to stay in touch in case we needed validation of the “Undocumented Shots”. We protested and was told our options were to be sent back and receive an article 15 (non-judicial punishment) for failure to follow a direct order or take the vaccination, we chose to stay.

The lack of proper record keeping, for security reasons, keeping us in the dark, or just being intentionally sloppy or vague by design is a major reason many scientist and doctors can’t find a good cause for GWI (Gulf War Illness). There are no accurate records available to study concerning the drugs we were given or chemicals we were subjected to.  There seems to be a clear association specifically with anthrax vaccine and GWI symptoms in our British and Canadian veteran allies, but the VA does not accept their findings. There was also three-fold increased incidence of GWI in non-deployed veterans from Kansas who had been vaccinated in preparation for deployment, compared to non-deployed, non-vaccinated veterans.

There are signs that Desert Storm veterans and their families need to be on the lookout for. The most common complaints have been fatigue, skin rash, headache, and muscle and joint pain, forgetfulness, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, and chest pains. These symptoms, which result in varying degrees of incapacitation, have not been localized to any one organ system, or any single specific disease. The bottom line is no one is sure of anything because of poor record keeping among other things.

I am not sure if Dave’s death is a part of Desert Storm or Khobar Towers. What I do know is there are six Desert Storm Veterans that I am aware of, that have died of cancer at a young age and a few more that have had cancer and beat it, so far. It might be a normal part of life and nothing to do with Military service. But there are tractable statistics that Desert Storm veterans have a higher causality rate than WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans combined. Why? That is a good question. Desert Storm Veterans are struggling more than any group before them, and most people are unaware. It feels to us we are being over looked because they really do not know what to do and don’t want to spend the money to find out or deal with it. A host of Desert Storm veterans feel this is an Agent Orange coverup all over again, including denial.  Time will tell if the IEF/OIF veterans have as many problems. My guess is they will because of the multiple deployments and increased knowledge of battlefield medicine which limits the number of deaths. The new vets will probably suffer more than we have because of the time they spent in theatre. The bottom line is all veterans need to address any situation if there is a remote possibility of a problem. The issues might not come around for years, don’t minimize it. Family members need to press the issue if need be. Most veterans will do it for their families and not themselves.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Dishonorable Discharge

I first met George about 9 months ago. He was in one of the first units sent into battle in Fallujah Iraq. He continues to carry those days with him. He had been a fast burner in the Army, making the rank of E-5 in 3 years. In war he saw and did things that no one should have to. Anyone who has been to war understands. While he was in theatre he did not believe the sleeping problems and the hyper-vigilance was an issue, he thought it was normal. He thought those horrific dreams would go away. What he didn’t know was those dreams and feelings would follow him home. 

George returned home to a hero’s welcome organized by Vietnam Veterans. When he returned he did not feel like a hero. He felt guilt and pain from the things he had to do and see.  He was happy to see his wife and 18 month old son, the happiness wouldn’t last. His inability to sleep caused him to start drinking more and more. He feared his wife would look at him differently if he told her about his pain and what he had to do on the battlefield, so he never talked to her about it. His temper got worse, scaring his wife. He feared getting help from mental health would end his career. What would his wife think? What would his comrades think? Was George crazy? What would his First Sergeant and Commander think?  Drinking is acceptable in Military culture, getting mental health is not. As his marriage declined he drank more and started spending time with his war buddies. It wasn’t long before he started missing formation and drills. His first sergeant talked to him, but it did no good, he was in an internal struggle with the guilt and pain of what he had to do in Fallujah.

As he continued to decline his wife left, it finally got to the point where alcohol was the only thing that made the pain go away. Everything came to a head with a DUI. His First Sergeant and Commander had seen enough, they gave him a dishonorable discharge. Now George has child support, no job, a drinking problem, nowhere to live, little prospect of a future, and no VA benefits because of his dishonorable discharge. He considered suicide on several occasions, but he could not go through with it.

Unfortunately this is not an abnormal case, this is really happening to veterans. It is impossible to go to war and come back the same person. In a lot of cases families and commanders are ill prepared to deal with mental health issues. To families it is a safety concern. To commanders it’s their job to do what is best for their troops, their unit, and the military. Once George was kicked out he became homeless, he burned his bridges due to his drinking, and he had nowhere to go.

George was fortunate to run into a Veteran that had contacts that could help him. I spent some time with him trying to get him to get help. Veterans are stubborn, asking for help is not on their radar, another veteran stands a better chance at getting a veteran help than civilians, veterans trust veterans. Many veterans do not know the military is taking another look at dishonorable discharges because of PTSD and self-medicating. George’s case is a good example of what can happen when a soldier does not get help. The military is re-looking at dishonorable discharges like Georges to possibly upgrade them so they can receive their earned benefits. Part of the problem is some veterans do not trust the system, why should they? The system put them where they are. I was able to help him apply for the upgrade. He contacted his brother for an address to use.

Help is there for these veterans if they know where to look. There is housing available for homeless veterans and agencies for mental health help if the veteran is willing to spend time and look. Depression can set in during these types of situations and the veteran needs help. Contacting the local American Legion, AMVETS, DAV, or VFW, is a good start for their upgrade, usually they have some answers.  If the veteran or the person helping them get help hits resistance keep trying. Some veterans look at dishonorable discharges as a disgrace, they do not know or believe this could have been them under different circumstances. Let’s give our wounded warriors the help they deserve.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

PTSD an Ongoing Challenge for Veterans

Luis is a 100 % disabled Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran with 2 combat tours. He joined the Army when he was 18 years old. He was sent to Iraq during his second year in the Army and served his 4 years before separating. He missed the military family and comradery so he joined the Army National Guard looking for what he was missing. While in the National Guard he was sent for a second tour to Iraq. During his second tour, he was injured in a firefight and received a purple heart for his physical wounds and diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After Luis healed from his physical wounds he was medically separated from the National Guard and attempted to return to his civilian life. Once Luis returned to his civilian life he discovered that his life had drastically changed. Luis avoided crowds, public areas, and even found a temper he or his family did not know he had. Luis struggled to return to work because of his PTSD and soon lost his job because of his PTSD symptoms, mainly his temper. Because of the loss of his job Luis was in a constant battle with his family because he had to move in with them. Luis is presently going to college using his post 9-11 benefits hoping to gain skills where his disability will not be a problem. He has been struggling to keep his life together while feeling inadequate because of the loss of his job and being a 27 years old living with his parents.  He keeps asking himself if he can ever escape the fear of violence of his nightmares. The answer is yes, but it will take a lot of work and the ability to be vulnerable. Luis is trying to better his life but he has a long road ahead.  

We can usually see the physical injuries of our troops, what we can’t see is the hidden wounds. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has always been around and is a growing concern. Those that experience combat have a 3 fold increase in being diagnosed with PTSD. Some believe it is a normal reaction to a horrific event, some say it is only a disorder for the purpose of medical insurance billing. Unfortunately, PTSD exist and those who suffer from it have to work through their issues such as anger, nightmares, hyper- vigilance, disengagement from life, and some even commit suicide. Post-Traumatic Stress is not limited to veterans. Rape victims, car accidents, natural disasters, gang violence, and mass shootings also can cause PTSD. Not everyone who has been injured or witnessed a horrific event will get PTSD, however we are all one car accident, violent incident, or natural disaster away from getting PTSD ourselves under the right circumstances.

It is estimated that 30 to 35% of OEF/OIF veterans are suffering from PTSD. That percentage is expected to increase. Studies have shown the more combat tours one has increases the chance of PTSD manifesting. Presently 2 in 10 soldiers on their first or second combat deployment showed signs of mental illness. That rate increases to 3 in 10 for those on a third or fourth deployment. Because of the short duration of Desert Storm only 12% of veterans suffer from PTSD and time will tell if that number increases. Vietnam veterans have shown that PTSD can create problems as time passes. It is expected that PTSD diagnosis will gradually grow as Desert Storm and OEF/OIF veterans grow older.

Presently 30% of Vietnam veterans have PTSD. Major life events such as retirement or death of a loved one often trigger personal reassessment and forgotten memories. With the average age of Vietnam Veterans being 67 an increase in PTSD diagnosis is expected. Vietnam veterans returned home to a harsh reception and limited mental health options, they did not seek help due to the stigma of their war and mental health. Recent veterans have opened up a new way to look at mental health as Vietnam veterans are starting to retire. Those that suppressed PTSD for 40+ years while delving into their work are now seeking help because they are home all day where family members see their pain and grief. Veterans are often able to hide many of their symptoms because they had been focused on their work. Now they are retiring and the genie is out of the bottle. This kind of delayed trauma isn’t unusual for those that understand PTSD and how it manifests itself.

Present day Desert Storm and OEF / OIF veterans owe a gratitude to the Vietnam era veterans. A direct correlation can be drawn from the work Vietnam Veterans did in the 1970’s to a push for a PTSD diagnosis. Vietnam Veterans are the reason the VA has been focused on the PTSD issue. Thanks to the Vietnam veterans the hundreds of thousands of veterans that are having flashbacks, nightmares, and other debilitating mental health issues are getting the help they need. History is showing that PTSD diagnosis will increase as time goes on as veterans continue to retire. This is evidenced by the influx of Vietnam era veterans seeking help for PTSD. Keep track of the veterans you love and get them the help they need and deserve.   

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro. 

Some Veterans Struggle Over the Holidays

Everyone wants to enjoy the holidays, but for some veterans and their families the holidays are the most stressful time of the year. JoAnn’s family is one of those families. Joanne’s husband Steve, is a veteran who gets depressed and becomes aggressive over the holidays. Steve is triggered around the holidays and tries to stay away from extended family. Steve’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) holds him back from enjoying the holidays, and in turn causes JoAnn to dread the holidays. What Joanne is dealing with is not abnormal, thousands of families suffer from someone’s PTSD over the holidays. What’s different is Steve’s PTSD did not come from the military but his childhood. Every Christmas Steve must face the people who abused him as a child. Like so many people who have been abused by family members, Steve did not tell anyone about the abuse because of the shame, guilt and threats by the abuser. 

Like Steve, many people join the military to escape their home situation. Steve was raised in a domestically violent household and was abused by his uncle at age 8. Steve saw his mother beaten on several occasions, and he was the brunt of the abuse on multiple occasions. Steve, being the oldest of 3 children, felt the need to run interference for his siblings to protect them. At age 18 Steve had enough and went in the Army to escape the abusive situation. Steve now struggles with the holidays because he is pressured into spending time with those who abused him. He has guilt and shame to go along with his PTSD due to the abuse.

Many of those who were abused harbor ill feelings toward other family members who should have stopped the abuse. I have worked with multiple veteran’s who joined the military to escape their situation whether it’s domestic violence or sexual abuse. By forcing veterans to visit their families you may be triggering events that you did not know about, or understand. Some spouses know what happened to their veteran during childhood, but wonder why they struggle to attend family events with their family who did nothing to them. The veteran could be feeling they are betraying their family by spending time with yours and not theirs, often this puts them in a tough emotional situation.

As a therapist I understand all the different situations and the makeups of family systems. Families can be tough to deal with on a regular basis, add in the expectations brought on by the holidays and excess stress can become intolerable. The holidays can be a favorite time of the year for some, and the worst time for others. If your veteran struggles over the holidays there is usually a reason. Whether it comes from combat or childhood trauma, there are triggers everywhere for those who suffer from PTSD. By understanding the reasoning behind not wanting to go to family events and crowds, it can make both your lives easier and save a lot of frustration and fear for both of you. Just remember not all PTSD comes from military service. Some comes from family situations that has nothing to do with you or your family. The holidays can be tough on everyone, but it can also be a time of joy and happiness. If you or your spouse struggle over the holidays, please get help because you deserve to be happy and enjoy the holidays.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Veterans Spouses Need to Tell Their Stories

So often the spouses of veterans struggle to keep their lives together because of problems their veteran faces. These spouses deal with their veterans needs with little to no fanfare or appreciation. These spouses forgo their needs to tend to the needs of the veteran. Anyone who has been in the military understands that they are different. Those who live with veterans know that veterans have quirks others don’t have. No one who goes in the military comes out the same. These differences carry forward with the veteran after their service is completed and passes down to the families which can be a good or bad depending on the situation.

Living with veterans daily can be difficult, veterans can be stubborn. A veteran's needs can be different from civilians. Whether it's being on time, awareness of their surroundings, and being aware of where they are sitting in a restaurant can become a problem. Veterans do not like to sit with their back to the door so they can be aware of their surroundings. This can appear odd if you don’t know why they insist on sitting with their backs to the wall. Sitting in the middle of a crowded room is uncomfortable for veterans, they feel too vulnerable.

Some spouses are dealing with veterans who have mental and physical disabilities that become a part of their lives. These disabilities can lead to a hard and frustrating life for the whole family. Some spouses struggle to make tough decisions concerning the commitment to their relationships. For so many spouses it would be easier to walk away and not have to deal with the issues the military brought into their lives. Many veteran spouses stay in their relationships to their detriment because of loyalty, love, and living out the “for better or worse commitment” they made when they married.

Spouses who live with a veteran who has a physical disability struggle as they both age. Often the physical disabilities create a problem for the spouse because of their inability to physically do what is needed concerning the physical ailments of the veteran. The mental health aspect of veterans can linger for years and be torturous for a life time for spouses. Seeing your loved one struggle with mental health issues and not having the ability to help causes its own stress and frustration. Spouses struggle to understand why their loved ones are acting the way they do because of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or a multitude of other mental health issues brought on by military service. Some spouses must deal with both the physical and mental aspects of their veteran’s issues, when spouses reach out for help, usually to the VA, they hit a huge frustrating bureaucracy.   

Dealing with the VA is one of the most frustrating things any veteran or their spouse can deal with. I would say dealing with the VA is more frustrating for spouses because they don't have a lot of say on how their veteran is treated. Often regulations set by congress limit the amount of help the VA can give spouses. When it comes to mental health issues, especially PTSD, a spouse has little say in treatment. If a spouse of a veteran with PTSD goes to the VA and says, “you diagnosed my husband with PTSD and I need help, can you help me?”, the VA will tell them “no” unless the veteran is receiving treatment for PTSD themselves. It is well known veterans won't seek treatment because of the stigma and the perception the VA will just throw drugs at them and not deal with their issues. By the veteran not getting help with their PTSD it places their spouse in a tough situation. So often spouses feel they can’t stay in the relationship for their own sanity and they can’t go because they love and are committed to their relationship. What society needs to know is these spouses are taking on their burden by tending to these disabled veterans at no cost to society and a huge cost to their physical and mental wellbeing. Funding to provide spouses help for caring of disabled veterans should be a cost of war. That's why spouses need to speak up and tell their stories so they can get the help they deserve.

Spouses are the unseen heroes of the veteran community. Veterans spouses save the federal government billions of dollars by providing services that the VA and society should be paying for. Our society expects these spouses to be the good soldier and keep doing what they're doing even if it is hindrance to their health. These spouses need to start telling their stories so society can see what they're giving to the country. Without their voice, they’re taken for granted by society, the VA, and family members. I encourage spouses to speak up and tell their stories so they can get their just due and be labeled the heroes that they are.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com for tips on how to navigate the VA system and make your VA experience healthier and less frustrating. Like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

For local mental health counseling for spouses you can call

Victor Community Support Services

(Military Family Program)

222 East Main St

Barstow, Ca. 92311

(760) 255-1496

 www.victor.org

Christian Counseling Services (CCS)

(Military Family Program)

205 E. State Street

Redlands, CA 92373

909-793-1078

www.ccs-cares.org

Service Animals are Being Misused

My wife and I were in the grocery store a while ago. There was a veteran with a service dog, his dog approached us before the veteran approached. As we talked we discussed his dog and how he felt his dog had saved his life by helping him navigate naturally in society. We discussed his dog and our background serving veterans. He informed us of what we already suspected, he had PTSD. What we discovered was that the dog was securing the perimeter for the veteran to make him feel safe. The dog was obviously working because he would walk up to people and look back at the veteran and continue to evaluate the possibility of threats, it was amazing to see the dog work.

As we were standing in the checkout line, the veteran came to the checkout. The manager came to the veteran and told him he could not have the dog in the grocery store. The manager told the veteran the dog was scaring people because he was walking up to them and checking them out. The store manager was adamant but the veteran prevailed because the manager did not know the law concerning service dogs, and most people don’t because the law is so ambivalent. The Federal law states: “When it is obvious what a service animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff (or members of the public) may only ask two questions: (1) Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require documentation, require special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task”. To us it was obvious, but we have spent time around service animals.  

I am seeing more and more service animals than I used to. It used to be you didn’t see many around unless they were seeing eye dogs for the blind. There appears to be an increase in the use of service dogs and not all appear to be legitimate uses. With the increase of the use of service animal’s there has been an increase in complaints about them, whether it is on a plane, in a hotel, or at a restaurant. Often the employee or customer at the location doesn’t know or understand the rules concerning service animals. After researching the topic, I can see why there’s a lot of confusion. This confusion allows some people to misuse service animals to abuse the Americans with Disabilities Act in their favor.

Per the ADA “A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability”. These animals are not pets. Service animals are highly trained and very expensive. The laws surrounding service animals appear to be vague, making attaining a registration and a service animal kit with a vest very easy. The federal government does not offer any official registration for service animals, therefore those who sell these items, usually on-line, are not vetted, allowing the owner of animals to be deceptive. This hurts anyone who needs a service animal by making people skeptical about whether the person needs the animal or not. This is a problem for all disabled Americans, especially veterans with non-visible wounds such as PTSD. 

I can tell if a service animal is a true service animal by the way it behaves. A service animal will not bark unless there is an issue. They are trained to urinate and defecate on demand. They will not become agitated at sitting in a room with all kinds of people and noises for hours. Service animals have extremely even temperaments and may take 20 months or more to be trained. They also can cost up to $18,000 or more depending on their training. A true service animal will be well behaved, are safe to be around other animals, people and even children.  Understand that the animal is on duty and working when they have their vest on.  Therefore, they should not be petted or distracted from their job. An animal that is aggressive in any way is not a true service animal and is a “fake” service animal.   

After all the research for this column I have discovered rules are in place for service animals, but for businesses it is a minefield to legally challenge someone if you believe they are misusing the service animal laws. The ambiguity of the laws hurts everyone who really needs their service dog. It is against the law for someone with a service animal to be denied services at restaurants, movie theatres, stores, and aircraft. Often people fake service animal’s credentials so their dog does not have to fly in the cargo hold while traveling. The Air Carrier Access Act requires airlines to allow service animals and emotional support animals to accompany their owners in the cabin of the aircraft. Individuals who are traveling with emotional support animal or psychiatric service animals may need to provide specific documentation to have the animal travel with them. Where this appears to be unlawful because the law stating no questions or documentation can be asked for, it is suggested that service dog owners should call ahead to check airline requirements before bringing their animal to the airport. This can save aggravation or the headache of a scene with the airline. Even though there are a lot of people abusing the system, it is best if you have documentation for a legitimate service dog to alleviate questions by those who do not know the law concerning service animals.  Clearer and more explicit laws would protect both the person who needs a service animal and businesses who have to navigate the laws and protect their establishment and public from “fake” service animals.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Is Self-employment a Key to Surviving PTSD?

Most veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) continue to work and have productive lives, but some suffer from work environments, surrounded by their triggers. These triggers severely limit their employment possibilities. Whether it’s crowds, loud noises, or certain people, some veterans struggle to have a career after their military service. PTSD is something many spouses, children, employers, and families do not understand. It might be in the best interest of the veterans and their families to consider having their own business allowing them to control their environment, thus controlling their PTSD symptoms.  

While working with veterans I noticed how often Vietnam veterans decided to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses. It was obvious to me that veterans with PTSD became self-employed because they needed to control their environment. Often PTSD symptoms cause stress to the veteran so they opted to not enter a 9 to 5 job and become self-employed. One veteran noted that he struggled being around other people because of his triggers and was in his best interest to be in control his environment and provide a good life for himself and his family.

All types of businesses can allow veterans to control their work area or environment if their self-employed. These veterans who decide to be self-employed have everything it takes to become successful. In the military, everyone's trained to have discipline, leadership skills, and how to make do with what they have. These skills can work well owning your own business. Veterans have a habit of making things happen when others feel they can't. I remember the old saying we had in the military “I have done so much with so little for so long I can now do anything with absolutely nothing”. In theatre and at home making do with what you have is a way of life and a skill that works when you are your own boss. This can give military veterans an upper hand when it comes to creating their own business.

One of the biggest keys to becoming your own boss when you have PTSD is the ability to hire people to do the tasks your PTSD prevents you from doing. If crowds bother you, you can hire someone to do your marketing. If you don't like going to events needed for your business, you can hire someone to do that also. If you struggle with customer service you can hire someone to do customer service. If you feel like you need to be in control of your environment you can set up your business to be PTSD friendly for you creating a safe environment you can function successfully in. There are so many benefits to having your own business and being in control of your environment, particularly when you suffer from PTSD.

One of the things I see growth for veterans is in online business. There are so many opportunities on-line where a veteran can work from home and control their environment. This gives them the freedom to control everything they need to be successful, most importantly their surroundings. Where the newer generation of veteran has an upper hand on the Vietnam era veterans is the ability to utilize computers. Most older veterans are not computer savvy enough to create an on-line business. Most of today's veterans have been raised with a computer and know the ins and outs of how to utilize social media to market their business to help their business thrive.

I challenge veterans who suffer from PTSD to start their own business if they are struggling to find or maintain a job. Being self-employed is a way for the veteran and their family to use all the skills they have learned during their time in the military to become successful. By utilizing the perseverance and can-do attitude taught in the military you can become a successful entrepreneur. By owning your own business, you can control your life and triggers that surround your PTSD. Don't let people say you can't do something because of your PTSD. If nothing else prove them wrong and become successful in your own endeavors. If you need you can utilize some of the government agencies who offer loans and grants for veterans to start their businesses. Put yourself out there and become the person you've always wanted to be by becoming your own boss. Don’t let PTSD control your life, use it as a catalyst to own your own business.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.