Army Spc. Jan Mayhew is proud of his more than five years of service in Vietnam. But 35 years after the conflict in Southeast Asia ended’the battles still rage in his mind.
‘I’m always fighting the Viet Cong,? said Ortonville resident Mayhew, 62, who was drafted into the Army in September 1966.
‘I was never a combat soldier, but I was doing all I could to defeat the North Vietnamese. Each day I still feel the pain. I have a hard time over the defeat of our nation’too many times we had control of North Vietnam but we stopped.?
Mayhew returned home in 1973, but the impact of his experiences in Vietnam remain with him today. From flashbacks to upsetting dreams to depression, veterans advocates say symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)continues to be a military-wide problem.
In an effort to address issues of PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, (TBI) the VFW Post 582 will host a veterans? breakfast at 9 a.m., Feb. 16, followed by a seminar at the Ortonville United Methodist Church, 93 Church St.
The breakfast is open to all local veterans, family members and other interested persons. Veterans will receive their breakfast free.
Seminar presentations will be made by experts from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Heather Holleman from the University of Notre Dame.
Holleman, a doctoral program student in clinical and counseling psychology whose research includes the effects of stressful life events and the development of major depressive disorders, says it’s especially difficult to treat PTSD because of the shame that surrounds the disorder.
‘Many people have a very hard time admitting to vulnerability, making it extremely hard to diagnose and support these individuals,? said Holleman, a 2001 Brandon High School graduate.
‘PTSD affects both men and women, though it is often more difficult for men to seek help, given that our society has glorified the strong and silent type. It really sets us up to suffer alone and not reach out for support from family, friends, and mental health professionals.?
‘The vets who are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing similar societal problems as those returning from Vietnam,? said Holleman. ‘The general anti-war atmosphere makes it extremely difficult for these veterans to talk about their experiences and feel understood. PTSD can be a long-term diagnosis, and is unlikely to spontaneously go away.?
Holleman said there are three main types of PTSD symptoms: re-experiencing the traumatic event (intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, stress responses and intense distress when reminded of trauma), avoiding reminders of the trauma (thoughts, feelings, activities, places, people; loss of interest in daily activities, feeling detached, amnesia for traumatic event, numbness, sense of limited future), and symptoms of hyperarousal or heightened anxiety (sleep difficulties, irritability, anger outbursts, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, and exaggerated startle response). Symptoms can appear days or even months after the event and can alternate between re-experiencing and avoiding the events.
‘People with PTSD often pull away from loved ones and have difficulty getting along with people in their lives,? she said. ‘These individuals may experience anger outbursts that can alienate those around them, which is likely a consequence of feelings of isolation and feeling misunderstood. Concentration is often severely affected, making work or school especially difficult.?
‘I am excited about the program that Lee Stewart is putting together because I think that education is the most important piece of getting these veterans the help they deserve,? said Holleman. ‘I will be available at the seminar to answer questions and provide referrals to qualified counselors in the area.?
Service officers from the veterans organizations will be available to assist veterans with claims. Details: Lee Stewart, (248) 627-3342.