Letters - Wednesday

PRICE OF WAR

Extended conflicts increase PTSD victims

For years, post traumatic stress disorder diagnosis has been disputed. Some suggest that members of the military and veterans make fraudulent PTSD claims to obtain Veteran’s Administration “lifelong” benefits. Others say PTSD is a hoax. I have heard all this before.

Pierre Janet, 100 years ago, already established that traumatic events were stored in one’s long-term memory. This stored material would resurface at a later date and directly influence one’s behavior. Any exposure, in this case combat-trauma, which overwhelms one’s psychophysiological coping mechanism, can result in PTSD. The disorder may be acute, chronic or delayed.

It is known that battles which are won rapidly, decisively and with few casualties result in few, if any, psychiatric casualties.

Multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan will have negative effects on today’s service personnel. Reportedly, desertion and suicide rates in the military have increased dramatically and, in my opinion, are parts of the PTSD equation.

For reliable diagnosis, I recommend the use of combined data: A well-executed, structured clinical interview, use of assessment instruments, self-report check lists, and input from the veteran’s command and significant others.

Treatment of PTSD at the VA includes various forms of psychotherapy, alprazolm treatment, narcotherapy, and two general behavioral approaches such as systematic desensitization and implosion. My treatment approach is holistic and includes, but is not limited to, psychotherapy, individual and group counseling, anger management, bio-feedback, physical exercise, family participation, and peer group support from veterans’ organizations. This approach worked while I was assigned to a combat support hospital in Europe.

There have always been fraudulent claims, but that does not mean PTSD does not exist. Active duty military and veterans with PTSD symptoms need professional intervention and treatment.

The overall desired treatment plan is to restore the individuals’ self-esteem, implement healing strategies, and integrate soldiers back into their military unit, or if civilian, enable them to independently manage life and obtain full employment.

Heinz J.L. Weingaertner

Colorado Springs

HANDICAPPED VALUES

Young, spry drivers abuse parking for disabled

Over the past few months I’ve witnessed what seems to me to be an endemic practice in our city: a complete and callous disregard for the prohibitions against illegally parking in designated handicapped zones. Recently, while I was outside a local supermarket for a few minutes, three cars without the appropriate plates or any other form of legal authorization pulled into the assigned spaces for the handicapped. In each case, a young and obviously spry individual hopped out of his car and walked quickly into the store.

It just seems to me that if we’re thoughtful enough to provide assistance to individuals who really need it, then we should find a way to enforce those laws that provide that assistance.

Michael H. Frawley

Colorado Springs

RIGGED GAME

It’s time to restore voice of the people

Good for Sallie Clark and Jan Doran for raising questions about the proposed change in procedures for development approval in the county (“Zoning plan raises costs, critics say,” The Gazette, Jan. 19).

There’s a general problem of injustice here, though, in development review in the county and the city of Colorado Springs: it’s an adversarial process, as suits our legal system, but one side is systematically advantaged.

A land developer with a plan gets — for a fee — the services of staff in the planning departments maintained by city and county governments. But what about the vast majority of citizens without an interest in the project but potentially would be affected by its impact on traffic, hydrology, air quality, historical preservation, open space, views, etc?

What about the neighbors more directly affected? When it comes time for them to weigh in, they find officialdom lined up with the developer, and no government staff assistance available to help with their appeal. If they can come up with the appeal fee, they still have to retain expert counsel to help make their case, whereas the developer has the planning staff, as well as any private experts, helping out at the hearing. It is long past time for us to redress this systematic injustice.

Owen Cramer

Colorado Springs

GRASPING AT STRAWS

Rayburn’s opponents getting desperate

I got a chuckle out of Daniel Cole’s letter grasping at straws to find something negative about congressional candidate Bentley Rayburn (“Rayburn’s campaign manager worked against our interests,” Jan. 19). Cole could not dispute Rayburn’s strong leadership, impeccable integrity or rock solid conservative values, so he attacked Rayburn’s campaign manager for his priorities during his service in the 3rd Congressional district.

Bentley is the clear candidate for “hitting the ground running” in Washington and fighting for the 5th District — and his opponents know this. Rayburn won’t be attacking the other candidates; he is above that and can stand on his own values. He is not running for power; he had that as a major general in the Air Force. He gave that up for an opportunity to serve his home district — let’s let him do it.

Denise Bowe

Colorado Springs

LAUGHABLE LABEL

Don’t blame liberals for opposition to park

Liberals in El Paso County are being labeled and blamed for attempting to block the motorcycle park. Well, if you see a yellow, dual-sport Suzuki in town with a “Hillary” sticker on the fender, that’s me. My husband, daughter, and I all want the park.

Lenore Morales

Colorado Springs