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How does PTSD develop?
All people with PTSD have lived through a traumatic event that caused them to fear for their lives, see horrible things, and feel helpless. Strong emotions caused by the event create changes in the brain that may result in PTSD.
Most people who go through a traumatic event have some symptoms at the beginning. Yet only some will develop PTSD. It isn't clear why some people develop PTSD and others don't. How likely you are to get PTSD depends on many things. These include:
* How intense the trauma was or how long it lasted
* If you lost someone you were close to or were hurt
* How close you were to the event
* How strong your reaction was
* How much you felt in control of events
* How much help and support you got after the event
Many people who develop PTSD get better at some time. But about 1 out of 3 people with PTSD may continue to have some symptoms. Even if you continue to have symptoms, treatment can help you cope. Your symptoms don't have to interfere with your everyday activities, work, and relationships.
The doctors said McCain explained that while in solitary confinement he created for himself a fantasy world in which he lived. The doctors said McCain always heard the guards coming with his food, but "was often so much in his private world, that he strongly resented their coming around and bringing him back to reality by intruding. He was enjoying his fantasies so much."
"I had to carefully guard against my fantasies becoming so consuming that they took me to a place in my mind from which I might fail to return."
Brown, Scheflin and Hammond, authors of: Memory, Trauma Treatment, And the Law ,1998, state: "Individuals that are more likely to dissociate during a traumatic event are considerably more likely to develop chronic PTSD"
Here are other comments from other qualified medical observers that could apply to Senator McCain's medical condition:
"In several studies, dissociation at the time of a trauma has been found to predict symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder at follow-up assessments" Michael W. Otto, PhD, Published in Journal Watch Psychiatry July 21, 2005
"Traumatic dissociation is frequently considered to be a risk factor for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" Doris C. Breh PhD, Department of Psychotraumatology, Psychosomatic University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
McCain has himself described having an adverse reaction to the sound of jangling keys, which reminds him of his Vietnam jailers.
Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms):
Bad memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. You may feel the same fear and horror you did when the event took place. You may have nightmares. You even may feel like you're going through the event again. This is called a flashback. Sometimes there is a trigger: a sound or sight that causes you to relive the event. Triggers might include:
* Hearing a car backfire, which can bring back memories of gunfire and war for a combat veteran
* Seeing a car accident, which can remind a crash survivor of his or her own accident
* Seeing a news report of a sexual assault, which may bring back memories of assault for a woman who was raped
Author Robert Timberg mentions McCain's intense explosions of anger --- a hallmark sign of lingering mental trauma from war -- in his book "John McCain: An American Odyssey." Timberg describes the episodes as "an eruption of temper out of all proportion to the provocation." Timberg, who McCain has said "knows more about me than I do," wrote that McCain's sudden fury is a result of Vietnam coming "back to haunt him."
Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal):
You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. This is known as hyperarousal. It can cause you to:
* Suddenly become angry or irritable
In a presidential race marked by references to preparedness in the face of the 3 a.m. call, the revelation that presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain has taken the sleeping pill Ambien during his travels raises concerns that the rare side effects of the medication could impair his judgment.
Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal):
You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. This is known as hyperarousal. It can cause you to:
* Have a hard time sleeping
An outcome of PTSD is a subtle web of personal problems including difficulty in controlling intense emotions such as anger and an inability to function well under stress.
Psychologist Patricia B. Sutker of the New Orleans Veterans Administration Medical Center and her colleagues reported in a 1991 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry that as many as nine of 10 surviving U.S. servicemen taken captive during the Korean War may suffer from PTSD and other mental disorders more than 35 years after their release.
In a follow-up study, VA experts concluded that POWs suffer "a much greater risk of developing PTSD than combat veterans."
Robert Timberg, in his book, The Nightingale's Song, wrote that POW McCain "suffered terribly in North Vietnamese camps."
Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal):
You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. This is known as hyperarousal. It can cause you to:
* Suddenly become angry or irritable
* Have a hard time sleeping
* Have trouble concentrating
What McCain's promoters have carefully edited out of their McCain-for-president equation is his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Department of Defense psychiatrists have evaluated McCain for PTSD several times, the results of which remain locked by privacy laws.
I don't think they were taking any cheap shots? Just pointing out what could be true. Take it easy, man. I don't think I'm the only one getting sick of your posts.
To the OP- very interesting. While it may be true that most war vets come out with PTSD, it doesn't mean that it's any safer of a condition to have while running the country. Jetxnet only helped your point by explaining how most who fought in WWII have this condition.
And honestly I respect the man for his service 100% like I do any other veteran. My own Uncle just came back from Iraq a couple of weeks ago from his second tour of duty. And no, I hate Obama so don't take me for one of his supporters.
I can't vote or support someone with obvious mental conditions attempting to become the President of the USA.
source
McCain Hires GOP Operative Who Helped Smear Him in South Carolina in 2000
September 01, 2008 8:46 PM
Former officials of Sen. John McCain's 2000 campaign expressed shock and disbelief Monday to learn than the GOP presidential nominee had hired South Carolina political consultant Tucker Eskew.
Eskew, along with Warren Tompkins and Neal Rhodes, were key members of then-Gov. George W. Bush's South Carolina team during the 2000 primaries. McCain and his team long held Bush, Tompkins, Rhodes and Eskew responsible for the various smears against McCain and his family in the Palmetto state during that contentious contest.
Eskew was brought on board the McCain campaign, it was announced Monday, to help prepare Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for her role as McCain running mate. Eskew will help Palin prepare for her Wednesday night acceptance speech at the GOP convention and for her stump speech as she hits the road, brief her on policy matters, and help her handle the media scrutiny a lifetime in Alaska does not necessarily prepare one for.
"He's one of the best and most collaborative talents in Republican politics," McCain senior adviser Nicolle Wallace told Politico, speaking of Eskew. "He also has a wit and an ability to turn a phrase like no one I've ever met before."
A mini book? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! It's just an IDEA that MAYBE instead of having ALZHEIMER'S, McCain may have PTSD. And I'm sure all the flaming liberals and Obama supporters dislike your posts, but I'm not one of them so why should I care?
People should be allowed to post on a conspiracy site without being attacked by butt-hurt conservatives 2 seconds out of the gate.
We could say the same about Obama "57 states" or "8-10 years as POTUS" etc.
Originally posted by jetxnet
Fair enough, I just said it was a lame attempt to discredit McCain and cast doubt on him in terms of running the country.
Kinda LIKE OBAMAMESSIAH, MUSLIM, CLOSETED GAY, SOCIALIST, ELITEST, NWO,
LIBERAL, LIBERAL TERRORIST LOVER, OBAMA IS FRIENDS WITH TERROISTS, etc.
Kinda like your lame attempts to discredit OBAMA and cast doubt on him in terms of running the country?
Yes but not lame..
Originally posted by jetxnet
Many of those who defended your freedom during WWII also have/had PSTD. Are you going to criticize them for getting PTSD while defending your freedoms?