Catherine Lieb – Listening to Stories of War

Catherine Lieb

Catherine Lieb

From Saigon to Kabul

Anniversaries of war events that made headlines back home or personal experiences like the day you were wounded or lost a buddy, can trigger post-traumatic stress reactions.  The key to riding the waves of reexperiencing combat stress is seeking support from other veterans or loved ones.  Locking yourself away is like trying to put a lid on an erupting volcano, eventually, it blows when you least expect it.

History of PTSD

In 1974 a public defender tried to use a “traumatic war neurosis” defense for a Vietnam veteran who was facing prison time for a breaking and entering charge. The judge refused the war neurosis defense saying it was not an official diagnosis in DSM-II, the current edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.   …

History of PTSD Read More »

Thanksgiving

It’s that time of year to reflect on what we are grateful for.  Beyond my usual list of family, friends, etc., I am grateful for the end of US troops fighting in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, my gratitude is complicated by the shame of a chaotic withdrawal and the bitter reality of the ongoing suffering of the …

Thanksgiving Read More »