PTSDJournal

Not All Wounds Are Visible

Articles

border

Walking Off War

by

As we celebrate Veterans and Veterans Day, Sean Gobin is one Marine who deserves recognition for healing vets by getting them to walk in his footsteps. By PTSDJournal Staff Sean Gobin was ready for the next phase of his life, he just didn't ... | Read More

Rescue Relief

by

FEMA provides this veteran with a sense of purpose and an opportunity to serve.  By David Cummings Jeff Byard’s first day on the job at FEMA didn’t include meeting team members, decorating his office and taking congratulatory calls. ... | Read More

Acting in Good Faith

by

Sinise’s work for military causes have made him a citizen the armed service considers worthy of a salute. Gary Sinise is best known to most Americans for his portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in the Oscar-winning film Forrest Gump. But to real soldiers ... | Read More

Sentenced to Life Podcast

by

What do you get when a survivor of child sex trafficking connects with a survivor of sexual abuse? Try a hard-truth listen with graphic storytelling that tackles trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder head-on. By David Cummings Kendall ... | Read More

Food for Thought

by

These snacks are healthy for the brain.By PTSDJournal Staff Blueberries Research suggests that compounds in blueberries known as flavonoids may improve memory, learning, and general cognitive function, including reasoning skills, ... | Read More

Beating the Odds

by

With the help of wrestler Dallas Diamond Page, Arthur Boorman found life again. By Andre Carter “I CAN DO THIS.” Arthur Boorman wrote those four simple words in a 2007 email to DDP Yoga founder Diamond Dallas Page. The retired Army Airborne ... | Read More

Please Tell Someone Directly

by

The author found happiness by working on himself to overcome struggles with anxiety and depression.  By Bill Edson Bill Edson is no longer looking down on himself, thanks to his own self-help theory. My Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ... | Read More

10 Questions With … Cristina Fernandez

by

The psychiatric epidemiologist served at Harvard University and held academic appointments at the Miami VA healthcare system, the University of Miami School of Medicine, and served on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Traumatic ... | Read More

How To Flee Domestic Abuse and Violence

by

By Nora Hood Leaving an abusive relationship is an emotionally jarring ordeal. Women often put off making such a wrenching decision in the belief that their partner will change or out of fear of a violent response if they leave. The choice ... | Read More

Brain Bank

by

Researchers can now collectively deposit information on the impact of PTSD on the brain. By Evan Bleier Dr. Matthew Friedman, the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center senior advisor and National PTSD Brain Bank (NPBB) founder ... | Read More

Brian Anderson – A Veteran’s Story

by

Accelerated Resolution Therapy has changed countless lives by helping people rapidly move beyond trauma. If you or someone you know is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress  (PTSD) or trauma symptoms, please contact ART International ... | Read More

3 Types of Uncontained Anger and What To Do About It

by

Anger is one of the hardest emotions to come to terms with. It is an emotion that is, for the most part, rejected by society and instilled from very early on, to be avoided or suffer the consequences (rejection, being ‘frozen’ out or receive ... | Read More

4 Tips for Parenting While Struggling With PTSD

by

By Christian Benedetto Jr. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not the fault of our children, but it’s important to talk about it with our kids. Just as you must live with it and deal with it, so must they. It makes sense to explain some ... | Read More

6 Myths About PTSD We Need to Stop Believing

by

  By Amy Morin Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common issues I encounter in my therapy practice. Whether it's an adult who narrowly survived a serious car accident, or a child who endured abuse, the consequences of ... | Read More

The ‘Scary’ Truth About Life After Trauma

by

By Mary Fakhoury Where do I begin? Who do I turn to? Where do I look? What now? These are often questions that linger around trauma. You see, facing the world after trauma is pretty terrifying. It’s hard. It is so unbelievably hard. It’s scary ... | Read More

5 Active Ways to Build Mental Strength

by

By Amy Morin The ancient Greeks recognized the connection between the mind and the body. It's taken a long time for Western medicine to adopt this notion, yet science continues to prove—over and over again—that there's a strong link between our ... | Read More

Keeping the Conversation Alive

by

DAV Magazine — January/February 2018 |  Steven Wilson and Mary Dever PTSDJournal partners with DAV to maintain focus on invisible wounds As a young Marine infantryman, Christian Benedetto Jr. Was awake for four consecutive days of combat ... | Read More

The Many Faces of PTSD

by

PTSDJournal’s Invisible Wounds Conference included three panel discussions on various topics related to trauma and military adjustment to civilian life. Past National Commander of Disabled American Veterans Dave Riley and West New York ... | Read More

A Survivor-Centric Definition of PTSD

by

By Boyd Patterson As a survivor, you well know the intense feelings associated with PTSD. They rise like tidal waves and crash into your day, washing away all self-control. In those moments of sudden crisis, helpful information about PTSD acts ... | Read More

A Hero Among Us

by

PTSDJournal Founder, Christian Benedetto, Jr., is named a Prudential Hero Among Us during a NJ Devils game on Military Appreciation Night at the Prudential Center. The National Anthem sung by United States Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer ... | Read More

Conference Sheds Light on Ways to Cope With PTSD

by

By ANG SANTOS • OCT 6, 2017 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is often associated with military personnel, first responders, and others whose livelihood puts them in dangerous situations.  A US Department of Veterans Affairs study shows one in two ... | Read More

Facing the Demons

by

CHRISTIAN BENEDETTO JR. REPRESSED HIS PTSD UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST TOO LATE. NOW HE’S A RESOURCE AND ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS COPING WITH THE DISORDER. By Nick DiUlio Illustrations by Dung Hoang By almost every measure the party was a grand ... | Read More

Courageous Thoughts

by

PTSDJournal's Invisible Wounds Conference held at Rutgers-Newark campus shed a light on Veterans dealing with trauma. Iraq veteran Chris Krieger and David Riley, past commander of the Disabled American Veterans, are two panelists who participated in ... | Read More

Invisible Wounds Conference

by

PTSDJournal held its first Invisible Wounds Conference on the campus of Rutgers-Newark in the Paul Robeson Center. The day-long discussion consisted of three 90-minute panels focused on Domestic Violence, Urban Impact and Military Adjustment. The ... | Read More

Teen Suicide Rate Climbing

by

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported that the suicide rate among teenage boys and girls in the United States is climbing, according to Time. Researchers analyzed the suicide rate over the past 40 years and found an alarming ... | Read More

Seven Things You Might Not Know If You Don’t Have PTSD

by

By Christian M. Benedetto Jr. If you don’t live with post-traumatic stress disorder or have never experienced panic attacks, here are some things you might not know — but I’d like you to: 1. Everything matters, no matter how small. A trigger is ... | Read More

VA Confirms: Veteran PTSD Disability Claims Tripled in Decade

by

According to Veterans Affairs, there has been a sharp increase in the amount of veterans receiving disability payouts due to post-traumatic stress disorder over the last ten years, Navy Times reports. The VA reported that in 2008, there were ... | Read More

App Aims to Eradicate Veteran Suicide

by

A new app will connect veterans with other veterans to talk through trauma, Mashable reports. Many veterans experience trauma in combat, which can lead to mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain ... | Read More

15 Habits of People With Concealed Depression

by

Depression is a very serious mental illness that often goes unnoticed for years. People with concealed depression are battling demons within themselves all on their own. They are not sharing their struggles and do not want to burden those around ... | Read More

Ten Questions With… Cristina Fernandez

by

The psychiatric epidemiologist at Harvard University holds academic appointments at the Miami VA healthcare system, the University of Miami School of Medicine, and serves on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Traumatic Stress. What ... | Read More

Different Philosophy, Different Result

by

Vietnam veterans of the Vietnam War have not experienced the same level of PTSD as American soldiers. Could each country’s culture explain the difference? By Dr. Edward Tick Jim did not want to go to war.  But in 1968, like several million ... | Read More

Wise Investments

by

At Prudential, Hiring Veterans Is Like Good Insurance. They’re Reliable And Worth Every Penny. By Wayne Rose Vivienne Nguyen earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Berkley. She then went on to get a law degree from Hofstra ... | Read More

A Compassionate Warrior

by

Find Healing in Yoga By  Tresca Weinstein J.L. Pizarro wears a silver bracelet with the engraving “Doc, Thank You.” It was given to him by several of the countless soldiers whose lives he saved during his deployment as a combat medic  during ... | Read More

War Cry

by

By Christian M. Benedetto Jr. We painted our faces We cut off our hair We lived like a noble nomad tribe We hunted in packs We took care of each other We traveled light We ate what we could We called each other Brother We prayed each ... | Read More

Generosity Makes You Happier

by

According to a new study, being generous to others is more likely to make you feel better longer than spending money on yourself, Metro reports. Researchers at the University of Zurich conducted a small study with 50 participants to examine how ... | Read More

11 Simple Habits Worsening Your Anxiety

by

Just as certain habits and lifestyle changes can help manage anxiety, some can worsen it as well, Bustle reports. Below are 11 simple, everyday behaviors that may be enhancing your anxiety. Not leaving the house Sometimes a lazy day inside ... | Read More

Study Shows PTSD May Physically Alter Brain

by

A new study at the University of California San Diego Health shows post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have a physical, not just psychological, effect on the brain, Huffington Post reports. PTSD is a mental health disorder most commonly ... | Read More

Mindfulness Meditation

by

What is it and Does it Help? Finding Support is Key to Battling PTSD By Sharon Picone Origin: What is Mindfulness Meditation? It’s interesting that the Sanskrit word for mindfulness is dharma, which means “lawfulness” (as in the law of ... | Read More

Listening Medicine

by

After Being Arrested And Considered A Potential Terrorist, Affraz Mohammed’s Life Fell Apart. To Put Things Back Together, All He Needed Was For Someone To Listen. By Christine Graf In August 2002, Affraz Mohammed was a 26-year-old corporal ... | Read More

Rafting a River of Healing

by

Hiking, swimming and rafting. Sounds like fun, right? For these veterans it's a therapeutic blend to recovery. By  Christine Graf When Margery Hermann saw the “disgraceful” way Vietnam veterans were treated upon returning home from war, she ... | Read More

Healing a Memory

by

A Teenager Survives A Tragic Car Crash, Then Uses Her Life To Help Others Avoid “Distracted” Driving. By  Christine Simoes Twenty-one-year-old Bailey Wind has spent the last four years learning to live what she calls her “new normal.” She was ... | Read More

13 Tips to Manage Social Anxiety

by

Social anxiety is a type of anxiety that causes people who suffer from it to struggle in social settings. While social interaction is important for mental well-being, it can be a source of stress for people with social anxiety disorder. Bustle ... | Read More

10 Natural Ways to Relieve Anxiety Symptoms

by

Anxiety can cause a variety of hardships and discomfort for the millions of people who suffer from it, but there are ways to treat it, including natural remedies, Reader’s Digest reports. Below are ten ways to naturally alleviate your anxiety ... | Read More

Changing the Narrative

by

A Former Marine’s Dream Is To Show A Wounded Soul Can Be Healed By Lindsey Henry Brett Smith is a Marine, retired police officer, and currently an actor. His latest profession drives him to highlight his first one in a positive ... | Read More

Beautiful Soldier

by

As Miss USA, Deshauna Barber Used Her Beauty And Strength To Support Veterans. By Connie Aitcheson Most beauty contestants struggle during the interview portion of the contest, especially one as big as Miss USA. Not Deshauna Barber. When ... | Read More

The Positive Impact of Plus-Size Models

by

Media representation affects the self-esteem and overall mental health of consumers. New research confirms that plus-size models are better for our mental health than thinner models, Huffington Post reports. Researchers from Florida State ... | Read More

Army Studying Single Injection as PTSD Treatment

by

The U.S. Army recently approved a study on the effectiveness of an anesthetic shot as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, Fox News reports. This anesthetic injection is known as stellate ganglion blocks and has been used to help ... | Read More

Instagram Most Unhealthy for Young People

by

Instagram is the worst social media app for young people’s mental health, CNN reports. The study, conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health in the United Kingdom, sought to discover how social media platforms affect young people, their ... | Read More

Ecstasy Moves Closer to Approval as a PTSD Treatment

by

MDMA – more commonly known by its party-name ecstasy – is continuing to demonstrate serious potential as a possible form of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to Fortune. The illicit substance was approved for Phase 3 ... | Read More

10 Numbers to Know About Mental Health

by

Mental health affects many people across the globe, but the stigma against struggling with mental health issues and seeking help to manage it remains. Since May in Mental Health Awareness month, Huffington Post explored important numbers to know ... | Read More

PTSD And Gambling

by

People gamble for a variety of reasons; for fun and excitement, to socialize, leave their stress and negative emotions behind for a while, or to win. For the most part, players have no problem controlling their urge to play all the time or the ... | Read More

Stop the Toxic Relationship Cycle

by

Bad boys wreak havoc on our lives, our bodies and our brains. The reasons we love bad boys, toxic people and emotionally unavailable partners are not just emotional and psychological – they are downright biochemical. The truth of the matter is, our ... | Read More

May People With Anxiety Have Hidden Powers?

by

Anxiety has been widely regarded as a very negative condition that tends to ruin people’s everyday simple pleasures and renders them incapable of facing new challenges. In short, anxiety is commonly associated with being a purely negative ... | Read More

Seven Foods to Combat Mood Swings

by

Our food choices do not just affect our physical health – they affect our mental health as well. Certain foods can give us more energy, elevate our moods, and improve our mental focus. Smart Cooky from NDTV discusses seven foods that help manage ... | Read More

10 Signs of Depression

by

Depression affections roughly 20 million people in the United States, but early signs and symptoms vary for each person. Everyday Health discusses 10 signs to keep on your radar. Fatigue or Lack of Energy Everyone feels tired or lethargic ... | Read More

Botox: The Next Frontier of Depression Treatment?

by

Doctors are exploring Botox as the next frontier of depression and possibly social anxiety treatment, CBS News reports. There are a variety of methods that can help manage depression and anxiety treatment. Certain lifestyle habits, meditation, ... | Read More

Depression: Most Common Health Issue Worldwide

by

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is now the most common cause of disability and other health issues throughout the globe, Self reports. From 2005 to 2015, depression rose more than 18 percent, the organization said in a ... | Read More

Nine Ways to Recover from a Bad Night’s Sleep

by

Sleep is critical to overall health, but some night’s we just can’t get enough sleep or can’t get good sleep. When that happens, use these nine tips from Huffington Post to help yourself recover from a bad night’s sleep. Eat as soon as you wake ... | Read More

Power Naps Make You Happier

by

New research shows that napping is linked to higher levels of happiness, The British Journal reports. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Hertfordshire. These researchers studied more than 1,000 participants, who rated ... | Read More

Nine Signs of Sleep Deprivation

by

Quality sleep is critical to our overall health so it is important to be aware of our sleep patterns and to note when we are consistently not getting enough sleep. NDTV reports on eight signs of sleep deprivation to help readers understand the ... | Read More

7 Little-Known Signs of Anxiety

by

Anyone who suffers from anxiety knows it’s important to try to catch an attack before it gets too intense. Romper discusses seven lesser-known signs of an anxiety or panic attack. Well-known anxiety attack symptoms include increased heart rate, ... | Read More

We’re Partnering With The Mighty!

by

PTSD | The Mighty Partnership | PTSDJournal We're thrilled to announce a new partnership that will bring our resources in front of The Mighty's wide-reaching readership. We will now have our own growing home page on The Mighty and appear on many ... | Read More

Chrissy Teigen Opens Up About Postpartum Depression

by

Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated model Chrissy Teigen wrote an essay about her experience with post-partum depression, Huffington Post reports. The essay appears in this month’s edition of women’s magazine Glamour, which has Teigen on its ... | Read More

Age Changes How Depression Looks

by

Depression manifests differently depending on a person’s age, Huffington Post reports. Signs of depressions – a mental health condition that affects about 350 million people – are not the same for each age demographic. How depression looks at ... | Read More

Improve Your Mood with Food

by

Our diet affects our mental and physical health, as well as our overall mood and happiness, Care2.com reports. Below are eight ways to improve your mood through your diet. Don’t skip meals Eating keeps our blood sugar levels up, which is an ... | Read More

Seven Interesting Physical Effects of Anxiety

by

Millions of people in the United States have an anxiety disorder and share common symptoms. Some symptoms, however, are not as easy to identify as effects of anxiety. Paste Magazine discusses seven lesser-known, interesting ways anxiety can affect ... | Read More