Page 6 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, June 29 2018

6 June 29, 2018 www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb
veTerANs, from Page 4_________
Army, spent a frightful day 74 years ago on June 6, 1944, on Omaha Beach off the coast of Normandy. Under heavy fire from the German fortified bunkers of Omaha Beach, Ono made it to the hedgerows.
Ono was injured in the knee and shoulder that day, afraid, but not scared to die. Ono lost a friend and others in his unit that day, but he and others reached the “Red Easy” beach after enduring neck-high water and a German pill box with five hours of machine-gun fire.
Ono spends his Friday mornings at the VA Senior Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Support Class in the Behavioral Health Clinic with other veterans from World War II and Korea. Ono shares his story in order to let others know that the VA has help for Veterans with PTSD from traumatic war events. Speak with a pro- vider about mental health options, go to the Behavioral Health Clinic, go to a Vet Center or call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 for help with PTSD. Or visit the Veterans Crisis Line website at www.veteranscirisline.net.
See more of Ono’s story at http://www. reviewjournal.com/news/military/las- vegas-d-day-veterans-will-never-forget- june-6-1944.
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pTsd, from Page 5 _________________________ Non-combat PTSD can come from a number of
sources, according to Fisher. “Handling human remains following an accident or mishap, witnessing a plane crash or other duty-related accident, having a near-death expe- rience outside of combat, experiencing racism/violence as a military member, or experiencing physical trauma dur- ing training are all common causes of military trauma,” Fisher said ”Non-military trauma can include events such as childhood sexual or physical abuse, childhood exposure to violence in a high-crime neighborhood, and severe automobile accidents.”
Regardless of the source, combat and non-combat- PTSD have many similar effects on the daily life of a veteran, but that doesn’t mean that their treatment should be handled the same. Fisher stated that it’s important to treat the different groups of PTSD separately. “In order to treat the full scale of veterans dealing with trauma, it is important to provide programs that address all forms — combat and non-combat,” he said. “Those who have experienced combat trauma will commonly relate bet- ter to one another, while non-combat vets will feel more secure getting treatment with those who share similar experiences outside of combat.”
While the group portion of the program is criti- cal, veterans also have the opportunity for personal counseling via individual therapy sessions. Therapeutic processing of the traumatic events occurs in individual therapy when warranted, using evidence-based treat- ment. Veteran participants do not share their trauma stories in the group. That setting is reserved strictly for skills development. Fisher says that this formula has
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yielded positive results. “I’ve seen a greater ability to talk openly about the traumatic events, to handle previously upsetting situations with increased calm, to manage the stress response through daily relaxation practices, and to manage negative thinking through increased awareness and understanding,” he said.
Ray Willhite, a Marine Corps veteran who is gradu- ating along with the first class of Phase 1, said that the group portion of the program is helping him to deal with anger issues that have come up in the past. He said he used to get in fights following his traumatic event, but working in the group setting has helped him find peace and understanding with other people, and provided him with the best medicine: laughter. “I’m finishing the first phase, but I’ll be here for the Second Phase, and whatever else is required.” Willhite added, “as long as it’s helping me with my family, I going to do what it takes.”
Sondra Peterson is another veteran moving on to the next phase of the Non-Combat PTSD Program. As the first female participant, she used the class to overcome anxiety. “Coming into this, it was intimidating because it was a male counselor and male classmates, but within the first week, I was able to build trust with these guys. Who I was 16 weeks ago compared to who I am now are completely different things. I would love to see more female Veterans come to this program.”
As the first group of six veterans prepares to graduate from the program, the course is already seeing growth with as many as 13 veterans participating in the second group. The next skills group began June 21, but subsequent sessions will be held on a first-come-first-serve basis. Veterans who qualify for Non-Combat PTSD counseling should receive a referral from their provider.”
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