TBI and PTSD: Not Just Headaches

(USMC Photo by Tyler L. Main)

Review by Bill Doughty–

In "Military Mental Health Care: A Guide for Service Members, Veterans, Families, and Community" (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2013), authors Cheryl Lawhorne-Scott and Don Philpott offer no-nonsense, clear-eyed information as well as advice and resources.

This book tackles serious issues, both physical and mental, beginning with the first chapter: "Traumatic Brain Injury." Starting on page one: "Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones."

"One of the most common observations reported by families of service members originally not diagnosed with mTBI (concussion) is that upon return from deployment, they 'have changed.' Classic neurological and cognitive symptoms of mTBI that should be recognized and discussed with medical professionals include: reduced reaction time, decision-making difficulties, decreased memory and forgetfulness, attention and concentration difficulties, ... personality changes, impulsiveness, anger, sadness, depression..."

Art created by a service member recovering from PTSD, from the Southwestern University art gallery.

The authors offer the full "who, what, when, where and why" about TBI and mTBI and also the "how": How it develops, how it manifests and how to deal with it, including any anxiety, panic, flashbacks, rage, sleep interruption and difficulty concentrating; also, how it is treated.

Chapters include various stress-related mental health issues, sexual trauma and hazing, and suicide and homelessness. Chapter 15, "Resilience," and Chapter 16, "Health and Wellness" offer holistic help for individuals and families, with practical tips to get and remain healthy and fit. Several pages are dedicated to influenza and vaccinations.

BASETRACK Live is a two-person, multimedia documentary that tells the story of Marine Cpl. AJ Czubai’s 2010 deployment with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, to Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. The story centers on Czubai and his wife, Melissa, as they both try to readjust and cope to post-deployment challenges, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), marriage difficulties, alcohol abuse and suicide. Serving as a backdrop, but integral to the story, is journalistic footage and interviews with other members of his unit, as well as with Family members. Photographs of the Marines and the Afghanistan people are also projected on stage accompanied by a haunting, but electrify musical score. The production has toured in 40 cities across the United States since its 2014 debut. (Photo by Gloria Montgomery)

Lawhorne-Scott and Philpott include special mention of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and recognizing/confronting stigma in order to get help:

"Mental health problems are not a sign of weakness. The reality is that injuries, including psychological injuries, affect the strong and brave just like everyone else. Some of the most successful officers and enlisted personnel have experienced these problems. But stigma about mental health issues can be a huge barrier for people who need help. Finding the solution to your problem is a sign of strength and maturity. Getting assistance from others is sometimes the only way to solve something. For example, if you cannot scale a wall on you own and need comrades to do so, you use them! Knowing when and how to get help is actually part of military training."

At the end of each chapter and at the back of the book, they offer reputable online resources for more information. They acknowledge especially VA and DOD resources. The VA offers a bundle of resources through a PTSD website.

"Military Mental Health Care" is an excellent Navy Reads selection for June –– PTSD Month.

The authors intend for their book to fit in with each service branch's Total Force Fitness concept of health, resilience and human performance. "TFF is not a 'How To' manual," they write in the foreword, "but rather a user-friendly, equal opportunity framework to building a behavior, discipline and level of fitness that sustains a lifestyle of resiliency."

TBI and PTSD can be more than just headaches, and there is help for survivors.