About Featured Book: Why Didn’t I Die: A Memoir of PTSD by Fred Kirkpatrick
Do You Have Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD – “A Condition of persistent mental and mental stress occurring because of injury or severe psychological shock.” The effects of Post-traumatic stress disorder on someone’s life leaves almost nothing unchanged. The longer that PTSD exists without treatment, the greater the effects of PTSD on a person’s life.
I have struggled with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) nearly my whole life. It started in late 1967 and I’ve had many ups and downs over the years.
PTSD is the 6th most-rated disability among veterans. The VA PTSD ratings are: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%. The most common rating for PTSD is 70%, but many are rated at 50%, 30%, and 10%. Having a 100% rating for PTSD is possible, but rare. The requirement for 100% is stringent: The veteran must provide evidence that their condition is so severe that their symptoms cause total occupational and social impairment that makes them unemployable:
1. Learn What the Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Are
2. Talk to your Health Provider About Taking a PTSD Self Screen
3. Take the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 Questionnaire
“Killing Animals is a Precursor to Killing People – You’re A Walking Time Bomb Ready To EXPLODE.” – The Medical team giving an assessment of me during my lock-up.
The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 is now the gold standard for PTSD assessment in both veterans and civilians. In my day, it was your GAF score.
Loss of Interest, Emotional Detachment, Memory Problems, feeling different from others, drug abuse, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, hyper vigilance (severe anxiety, fear panic), violent behavior, rage and hate, flashbacks, nightmares, depression, anxiety attacks, paranoia (excessive or irrational suspiciousness of others), trouble sleeping (sleep apnea), feeling jumpy and easily startled, always on high alert, having trouble concentrating, relationship issues, a suicide attempt, and a ten-day commitment to a mental institution for killing animals.
This was my legacy for forty years as I suffered from something that was not defined until1980 as PTSD, a full twelve years after I left Vietnam.
The term PTSD is now associated with the legacy of the Vietnam War.
My non-fiction, US history book is about my service in Vietnam, my exposure to Agent Orange, and many decades of dealing with PTSD (Complex PTSD). This is my story of my struggles with many examples of my many issues since 1968. I hope my story helps families dealing with PTSD or Complex PTSD to know what PTSD is and help you heal and learn how to deal and cope with PTSD.
This Non-Fiction book is available in these Formats: Print
