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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Implications for Law Enforcement/First Responders

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Implications for Law Enforcement/First Responders. Presented by: Terry Yeager, MA, CACD, LPC With permission from: Marinell Miller, PhD Hampton VA PTSD Clinic. Session Goals. Overview of Who Is At Risk

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Implications for Law Enforcement/First Responders

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  1. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Implications for Law Enforcement/First Responders Presented by: Terry Yeager, MA, CACD, LPC With permission from: Marinell Miller, PhD Hampton VA PTSD Clinic

  2. Session Goals • Overview of Who Is At Risk • “Battle Mind”/PTSD: Questions To Ask About Military Trauma To Make Your Job Easier • “War” Stories – Add Your Own, I’ll Tell Mine • Terms: • GWOT OEF OIF

  3. What Is A Trauma? • Event That Involves Death or Threatened Death or Serious Injury • Feelings of Fear, Horror, Helplessness • Resilience Is Most Common Outcome • How Many Traumas Have You Seen?

  4. How People Cope With PTSD—Clues For You • Drinking • Drugging • Driving Fast • Sleep Problems – Night Work – Peeping/Perimeter Watch • Startle Easily--Stimulants • Flashbacks/Hallucinations • Depression/Crying

  5. Legal Problems & PTSD Veterans • Alcohol/Drug Related Driving Offenses • Larceny • Speeding/Reckless Driving • Assault Murder • Weapons Issues • “We Don’t Visit Jails, We Will Send The Police” • “PTSD Is Not A Legal Defense—It Didn’t Make You Do It”

  6. Psychiatric Casualty Rates And War • WWI, WWII, and Korea Psychiatric Casualties Greater Number Than Those Killed (504,000 Psych Casualty) • Vietnam and Since Rates Reduced • VN 50% chance of dying vs. psych casualty • Continuous combat For 60-90 days show 98% psychiatric casualty rate • Expected PTSD rates are 13-30% • Higher numbers have adjustment issues

  7. Post Deployment Stress Reactions Less Severe Combat Operational Stress Reactions Adjustment Disorders Acute Stress Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Most Severe

  8. Typical OEF/OIF Stressors • Ambushes (58-89%) • Incoming Rockets/Artillery (84-86%) • Small Arms (66-93%) • Shooting at Enemy (27-77%) • Killing Enemy (12-48%) • Killing Non-Combatants (1-14%) • Seeing Dead/Remains (39-93%) • Seeing Dead/Injured Americans (30-65%)

  9. NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO OPERATIONAL STRESS – “BATTLE MIND” • Improves Quickly With • Rest • Food • Reassurance • Reintegration With The Unit • Most COSR Resolve Quickly • 50% of Those With PTSD Get Better In 3 Months (DoD Statistics) • What To Expect In A Returning War Fighter… Battle Mind

  10. Battle Mindset Look out for each other Only people to understand you Cohesive in battle Questions “Are you a Veteran?” Buddies VS Withdrawal

  11. In Combat Survival depends on discipline and obeying orders Home Inflexible ordering leads to conflict with family, friends and co-workers You are a trigger: use it to your advantage Be a good authority figure Be in control but not an ***hole Discipline & Ordering VS Conflict

  12. Battle Mindset Only talk to those who need to know, i.e., unit members Home Avoid sharing ANY information about your deployment Questions Who did you serve with? Marines/AB/SF When were you in? What was your MOS? What did you do? Were you wounded? Mission OPSEC VS Secretiveness

  13. Battle Mindset Lethal Split Second Decisions Keep You and Your Buddies Alive Anger Keeps You Alert, Awake and Alive Home Snap at wife/kids/co-workers Overreact to minor insults Questions --DON’T ASK TOO MANY!! “At Ease” “Suck it Up Man” Targeted VS Inappropriate Aggression

  14. Battle Mindset Survival = awareness of surroundings at all times and reacting immediately Home Anxious in large groups Anxious indoors Easily startled Questions… DON’T ASK A LOT ANALOGY: FEAR and Caged Animals Get Space Tactical Awareness VS Hypervigilance

  15. Battle Mindset Weapon at all times is mandatory and necessary Home Feel “naked” Weapons in car At front door At back door Under pillow CCP Questions Where Is Your Weapon? Lethally Armed VS “Locked and Loaded” at Home

  16. Battle Mindset Controlling your emotions is critical to mission success Home You are detached You are uncaring You only show anger Questions – What Were You Thinking? Where Was Your Head? Emotional Control VS Detachment

  17. Battle Mindset Unpredictable driving helps avoid IED’s and VBIED’s Home Aggressive driving leads to tickets and accidents Questions Did You Serve In Iraq/Afganistan? Were You Aware That…? Non-Defensive Driving VS Aggressive Driving

  18. Treatment Interventions • Class A Significant Benefit • Medications • Substance Abuse Treatment • Cognitive Therapy (Group and Individual) • Stress Inoculation Training • Exposure Therapy (PE/CPT) • Food Not Mentioned, Experience Shows Otherwise

  19. Questions/Comments Send Us Referrals!!

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