Helpful Links

This is a collection of many sites that can be useful to you.
"Take what you like and leave the rest" > be patient, read, reach out and ask. The answers are out there to what is PTSD,we just have to find them and be proactive in our healing.

Each 'Link' -where applicable- will take you to the related pages on the site listed! Select the link and read on.

Research and education on PTSD; includes the PILOTS Database, an electronic index to PTSD literature
The National Center for PTSD was created in 1989 within the Veterans’ Administration (which has since become the Department of Veterans Affairs) in response to a Congressional mandate to address the needs of veterans with military-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

. http://www.ptsdsupport.net
I am a combat wounded Vietnam Era Veteran with a 100% service connected disability. Since 1967, when I was discharged, I have felt that I was in charge of my life, living the normal life that everyone else around me did. But not until I had a near death experience in a hospital in 1996 that in reality something else was controlling me. Don't ask me what was going on but I was having a difficult time living within my "Personal World! I could not control my anger at the smallest event, I started to drive as though I had to be at the head of a line of cars, my social life disappeared as I stayed home and watched more and more TV. I just didn't want to go the to movies anymore. This change came on very suddenly and its effects are still present today.

http://www.mayoclinic.com
Information on what is PTSD, and all its related symptoms.
Our mission is to empower people to manage their health. We accomplish this by providing useful and up-to-date information and tools that reflect the expertise and standard of excellence of Mayo Clinic. A team of Web-publishing professionals and medical experts work side by side to produce this site. Through this unique collaboration, we give you access to the experience and knowledge of the more than 2,000 physicians and scientists of Mayo Clinic.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov
Information on what is PTSD, and all its related symptoms.
The NIMH mission is to reduce the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior. This public health mandate demands that we harness powerful scientific tools to achieve better understanding, treatment, and eventually, prevention of these disabling conditions that affect millions of Americans.

http://www.medlineplus.gov
MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news. Search MedlinePlus:

The objects of the American Psychological Association shall be to advance psychology as a science and profession and as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare.

SPRC promotes the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and enhances the nation’s mental health infrastructure by providing states, government agencies, private organizations, colleges and universities, and suicide survivor and mental health consumer groups with access to the science and experience that can support their efforts to develop programs, implement interventions, and promote policies to prevent suicide.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was established by an act of Congress in 1992 under Public Law 102-321. With the stroke of a pen, an agency, separate and distinct from the National Institutes of Health or any other agency within the HHS, was created to focus attention, programs, and funding on improving the lives of people with or at risk for mental and substance abuse disorders.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the nation’s leading patient-directed organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses – depression and bipolar disorder. The organization fosters an understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools and information written in language the general public can understand.

ISTSS is an international multidisciplinary, professional membership organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about severe stress and trauma. This knowledge includes understanding the scope and consequences of traumatic exposure, preventing traumatic events and ameliorating their consequences, and advocating for the field of traumatic stress.

Dr. Charles Stanley's Christian Ministry. Many of his broadcast and books have been helpful to us.
Dr. Charles F. Stanley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta and founder of InTouch Ministries, demonstrates a keen awareness of people’s needs by providing practical biblical truths for everyday life. Modeling his ministry after the apostle Paul’s message to the Ephesians, Dr. Stanley believes that:

" . . . Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love" (Acts 20:24 LB).

12 Step program to help you reach serenity and peace. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
For over 50 years, Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) has been offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics. It is estimated that each alcoholic affects the lives of at least four other people... alcoholism is truly a family disease. No matter what relationship you have with an alcoholic, whether they are still drinking or not, all who have been affected by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship.

http://www.support4hope.com
At Support4Hope, the primary focus is on support and survival through sharing positive reinforcement. Issues such as sexual orientation, illegal drug abuse and racial discrimination are not appropriate to discuss in Support4Hope chats or forum, because our site pertains to support, and is meant to inform the entire family, not just adults.

We are an online community and support group that focuses on aiding both current and past victims of child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. The Broken Spirits Network provides a comprehensive International Directory of shelters, hotlines and organizations that can provide help for potential victims. In addition to the national abuse resource listing is a comprehensive discussion forum where users can create their own virtual identity within complete confidentiality. This allows people to discuss the happenings of their life without letting others know who they really are. Another point of interest is the information section of the site where you can find a reference of common symptoms of abuse and also find methods to prevent becoming a victim. With the help of the media, abuse related organizations, and the friends & families of victims, the Broken Spirits Network hopes to provide essential attention to victims in need.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy. We represent the professional interests of more than 23,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. Founded in 1942.

http://www.rainn.org

Among its programs, RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline. This nationwide partnership of more than 1,100 local rape treatment hotlines provides victims of sexual assault with free, confidential services around the clock. The hotline helped 133,000 sexual assault victims in 2004 and has helped more than 900,000 since it began in 1994.

http://www.familydoctor.org
This Web site is operated by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), a national medical organizations representing more than 93,700 family physicians, family practice residents and medical students. All of the information on this site has been written and reviewed by physicians and patient education professionals at the AAFP.

My clinical specialty is in the treatment of emotional trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), following a wide variety of stressful or traumatic events (including natural or man-made disasters). In my practice, I work primarily with adults and adolescents or older children -- using solution-focused or other brief therapy approaches as appropriate -- concerning a broad range of issues. I've been licensed as a psychologist in Oregon since 1989. My main interest is in understanding trauma responses and their resolution; this primarily includes treating, but also speaking, consulting, writing, and researching emotional trauma issues.

The Sidran Foundation: A national non-profit organization devoted to education, advocacy and research related to the early recognition and treatment of trauma-related stress in children and the understanding and treatment of adults suffering from trauma-generated disorders. They also publish great books!

National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization: An organization of diverse individuals committed through research, education, advocacy and activism to the prevention, treatment, and elimination of all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men

Grief Denied: In this direct and powerful memoir, Pauline Laurent relates how the grief she sup-pressed for more than 20 years after her husband was killed in Vietnam surfaced in the months leading up to her daughter's wedding, finally pushing her to explore her grief and recover. You can buy the book on her site.

Gift from Within: Organization dedicated to helping trauma survivors. Founded in 1993 with Frank M. Ochberg M.D..

Home Before Morning: Lynda Van Devanter's fantastic book about war, PTSD and recovery re-published with a new introduction by the author. In my opinion this is one of the best and bravest books to come out about Vietnam or any war. It is beautifully written, harrowing and uplifting. I have two copies so I can loan it without losing it. Glad to see it back in print.

Traumatic Incident Reduction is a a brief, one-on-one, non-hypnotic, person-centered, simple and highly structured method for permanently eliminating the negative effects of past traumas.

American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry Promote accessibility to highest quality treatment for all who need it; Promote excellence in clinical practice in addiction psychiatry; Educate the public to influence public policy regarding addictive illness; Provide continuing education for addiction professionals; Disseminate new information in the field of addiction psychiatry; and Encourage research on the etiology, prevention, identification, and treatment of the addictions

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Between 7 and 12 Million American youth suffer from mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders at any given time. The AACAP (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) is the leading national professional medical association dedicated to treating and improving the quality of life for children, adolescents, and families affected by these disorders. Established in 1953.

American Society of Addiction Medicine ASAM has its roots in research and clinical traditions that pre-date its founding in the early 1950's, when Ruth Fox, M.D. began regular meetings with other physicians interested in alcoholism and its treatment at the New York Academy of Medicine. The American Society of Addiction Medicine is an association of physicians dedicated to improving the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, educating physicians and medical students, promoting research and prevention, and enlightening and informing the medical community and the public about these issues.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness. NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these diseases.

National Mental Health Association NMHA was established in 1909 by former psychiatric patient Clifford W. Beers. During his stays in public and private institutions, Beers witnessed and was subjected to horrible abuse. From these experiences, Beers set into motion a reform movement that took shape as the National Mental Health Association. The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide. NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans, especially the 54 million individuals with mental disorders, through advocacy, education, research and service.

National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA was established in 1974, and in October 1992 it became part of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The Institute is organized into divisions and offices, each of which plays an important role in programs of drug abuse research.

National Library of Medicine The National Library of Medicine (NLM), on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, is the world's largest medical library. The Library collects materials and provides information and research services in all areas of biomedicine and health care.