Pocono News Section

Many Veterans Continue to Battle PTSD

Many Veterans Continue to Battle PTSD - Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 4:55PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2008 @ 04:55pm EST
MOOSIC, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- As we honor our veterans we know that many, even when they come home, will still be fighting a battle. It’s called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or P. T.S. D. But unlike in decades past, help is available for those veterans and their families.

We have seen the images - battles fought in far away places - men and women protecting our freedom. But for many of our brave soldiers, the fighting really never ends, even when they come home.

Dr. Matthew Berger is a psychiatrist, who is an expert in post traumatic stress disorder. He says he has seen increasing numbers of local vets facing a real challenge.

"Some of the symptoms, you don't think about don't recognize is often distractibility, irritability, inability to have good social contacts, seems distant can't connect with people around you,” says Berger.

Dr. Berger says some veterans don't want to know or even admit they suffer from P. T.S. D. Once they do, it can be treated. "It's a disease like Epilepsy or Diabetes. It is very treatable. There are combinations of both medications, psychotherapeutic intervention, that work extremely well for P. T.S. D. It’s a very treatable disease."\

And the numbers are daunting. A recent nationwide study says that some 300,000 returning veterans will need some intervention because of their brave service. And Dr. Berger says the Veterans Administration is getting ready for the demand for treatment.