Table of Contents

PART I: Defining the Problem

Chapter 1: History and Definitions of PTSD

01-01. General.

01-02. General (History).

01-03. The 1800’s.

01-04. The 1900’s.

01-05. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

01-06. American Psychiatric Definition.

01-07. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Definition.

01-08. The European Description.

01-09. Information You Can Use.

01-10. In Very Simple Terms.

01-11. The Eye Opener.

Chapter 2: Causes and Effects

02-01. General.

02-02. General (The Way We Were).

02-03. Research Findings.

02-04. The Erosion of Meaning.

02-05. General.

02-06. Memories as Pictures.

02-07. The Brain Operates on Chemicals.

02-08. Discoveries.

02-09. Effects of Every Day Living.

02-10. Memory and Concentration.

02-11. Another Effect of Trauma is Anger.

02-12. Personal Experiences.

PART II: Treatment

Chapter 3: Traditional Treatment

03-01. General.

03-02. General (The Way We Were).

03-03. General (Individual Therapy).

03-04. Abreaction.

03-05. Implosive Therapy or Imaginal Flooding.

03-06. Stress.

03-07. Cognitive Behavioral Treatments.

03-08. Prolonged Exposure.

03-09. Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).

03-10. Shock Therapy.

03-11. Dynamic/Supportive Psychotherapy.

03-12. General (General Therapy).

03-13. Guided.

03-14. Free Style.

03-15. Cognitive-Behavioral.

03-16. General (Family Therapy).

03-17. Different Approaches.

03-18. General (VA Programs).

03-19. Discussion (The Truth of the Matter).

03-20. Personal Experiences.

Chapter 4: Non Traditional Treatment:
Professionally Assisted

04-01. General.

04-02. General (EDMR).

04-03. Theories Which Suggest How EMDR Works.

04-04. Phases of EMDR Treatment.

04-05. Recent Discoveries.

04-06. Personal Experience.

04-07. Personal Experience.

04-08. EEG Driven Stimulation (EDS).

04-09. Personal Experience.

04-10. Neurofeedback.

04-11. Personal Experience.

Chapter 5: Non Traditional Treatment:
Self Help

05-01. General.

05-02. General (Use of Colors in Therapy).

05-03. Color Affects Mood and Treats Diseases.

05-04. Using Color in Coping With PTSD.

05-05. My Experience.

05-06. General (Nutritional Healing).

05-07. Anxiety.

05-08. Depression.

05-09. My Experience.

05-10. General (Sound Wave Therapy).

05-11. Relaxation and Stress Reduction.

05-12. Addressing Brain Waves.

05-13. Personal Experience.

05-14. General (Brain Exercises).

05-15. Personal Experience.

05-16. Separating Emotion From Memory.

05-17. My Experience.

05-18. Write a Book.

05-19. My Experience.

Chapter 6: Medications

06-01. General.

06-02. Reasons for Medication.

06-03. Things to Ask Your Doctor.

06-04. Depression.

06-05. Anxiety.

06-06. Nightmares.

06-07. Pay Attention.

PART III: The Paperwork

The PTSD Personal Worksheet

Chapter 7: Working With The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

07-01. General.

07-02. General (Facilities & Services).

07-03. First Contact with the VA or Going Back.

07-04. Certain Documents are Required on Your First Visit.

07-05. Who Has to Pay?

07-06. Cost of Treatment.

07-07. Eligibility.

07-08. Should you Apply for a PTSD Disability?

07-09. Initial or Upgrade to Disability?

07-10. Filing an Initial Application for Disability.

07-11. Filing to Upgrade your Current Disability Because of PTSD.

07-12. Development Guide for C & P (Compensation and Pension) Benefits.

07-13. Ask the VA for Help.

07-14. VONAPP.

07-15. Unemployability.

07-16. You May Have to Wait More Than a Year for a Determination.

07-17. What is About to Take Place?

07-18. General (Appeal of Disability Determination).

07-19. Definitions (Social Security Benefits).

07-20. Duel Compensation.

07-21. Qualifying for Benefits.

07-22. Representation.

07-23. Filing Your Claim.

07-24. Filing out the Forms.

07-25. Appeals.

07-26. Filing Appeals on Time or Proving Cause for Being Tardy.

07-27. First Denial.

07-28. General Information on Filing Your Request for Reconsideration.

07-29. Second Denial.

07-30. Notice of the ALJ Hearing.

07-31. The ALJ Hearing.

07-32. Third Denial.

07-33. Next to Final Appeal.

07-34. Reopening Your Claim.

07-35. If You Need to Reopen Your Claim.

07-36. Review of Benefits.

07-37. My First Visit.

Chapter 8: Writing the Stress Letter

08-01. General.

08-02. Don’t Be Ashamed.

08-03. Beware The Danger of Remembering.

08-04. Do You Need Supporting Evidence?

08-05. Getting Started.

08-06. Take Your Time.

08-07. Cutting You Some Slack.

08-08. The Work Begins.

08-09. Organizations and Individuals.

08-10. Personal Experience.

Chapter 9: Documentation Sources

09-01. General.

09-02. General (Obtaining Information on Yourself).

09-03. Air Force.

09-04. Army.

09-05. Marines.

09-06. National Archives.

09-07. National Personnel Records Centers (NPRC).

09-08. Navy.

09-09. VA (Department of Veterans Affairs).

09-10. General (Obtaining Information on Other Soldiers).

09-11. Deceased Soldiers.

09-12. Active Duty soldiers.

09-13. POW/MIA.

09-14. Retired Soldiers.

09-15. General (Civilian Archives).

09-16. General and Internet Resources.

09-17. Books.

09-18. General (Personal Experiences).

Chapter 10: Letters, Forms, Notices, and Statements

10-01. General.

10-02. A list of All Documents Provided in This Chapter.

10-03. General (Letters: Actions not Requiring Forms).

10-04. General (Standard Forms (SF)).

10-05. General (Social Security Forms (SSA)).

10-06. General (VA Forms).

10-07. Personal Experiences.

PART IV: Moving On

Chapter 11: The Past and The Future

11-01. General.

11-02. A Combat Soldier.

11-03. Fight or Flight.

11-04. Curable or Non curable?

APPENDICES

ABibliography

BGlossary

CStatistics

DVeteran Service Organizations

EOther Resources - General

FOther Resources - Books

GDepartment of Veterans Affairs Treatment Facilities

HAddress to Blank Forms

ISelected 38 U.S.C., Federal Benefits Manual & Manual M-2 References

JGuide for the Preparation and Submission of PTSD Research Requests