National Gulf War Resource Center

Gulf War Syndrome Self-Help Guide

  • Anger/Rage

  • Alienation/Emotional Numbing (Avoiding Feelings)

  • Isolating Yourself from Others

  • Guilt / Survival Guilt

  • Anxiety

  • Intrusive Thoughts

  • Flashbacks

  • Hypervigilance/Hyperalertness

  • Exaggerated Startle Reaction (Jumpiness)

  • Difficulty Concentrating

  • Memory Impairment

  • Low Self-Esteem

  • Problems with Authority

  • Employment Difficulties

  • Relationship Difficulties

  • Self - Medication with Drugs and Alcohol


VA Readjustment Counseling

Until October 1994, Persian Gulf veterans were eligible for readjustment counseling through the Persian Gulf Family Support Program.  The program's funding was cut by Congress in 1994, but some hospitals (notably the Atlanta VAMC) have continued the program, though with reduced funding.  Check with your local VAMC to see if they offer counseling programs.


How to Live With Chronic Illnesses

Chronic illnesses are long-term, uncertain, and tend to be multiple diseases.  They require proportionally large efforts at palliation, are disproportionately intrusive upon the lives of the ill and their families and require a wide variety of ancillary services.  There is often conflict between providers, patients, funding agents, and family members on issues surrounding the illness.  They can be expensive to treat and manage.

When you are chronically ill any stressor, whether physical or emotional, can have negative health effects.


Often it is hard to combat a disease that is so intangible.  You may feel like giving up.  Or becoming even sicker so that people will see that you are suffering.  Often we want "them" (the doctors) to get off their duffs, figure out what's wrong with us and fix it.  Sometimes this may not happen, either because they honestly can't fix it or because they haven't yet found the appropriate "fix" for us.  Fear of what the future holds is common.  It becomes difficult to make plans and hope becomes a dream.  Depression can set in and make you feel even worse. 

There are some things you can do to help yourself though.  It may seem like some of these suggestions are "fluffy" New-Age type palliatives.  But the key idea to keep in mind is that when you are chronically ill any stressor, whether physical or emotional, can have negative health effects.  To take action and help yourself as much as possible, instead of being the "victim"

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Forward Deployment Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases
 Army Medical Research and Material Command.
Study to develop simple diagnostic assays to identify infectious outbreaks before they reach epidemic state.

Evaluation of Military Working Dogs
DoD Working Dog Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX
Study to help identify infectious diseases or environmental exposures that may be related to human illnesses.

Counseling and P.T.S.D.


Overview

Many Gulf war vets have been diagnosed with PTSD or other psychological conditions.  Some veterans truly have PTSD or other psychological conditions brought on by the war.  Others have psychological conditions that may have been brought on by the (mis)treatment they have received at DoD and VA medical facilities since the war.  If you are experiencing mental health conditions it is important to access help.  The VA and Vet Centers can provide assistance.  Although not all of your health problems may be psychological in nature, proactively dealing with the psychological aspects can only help your overall health status.


Vet Centers

There are 194 VA-funded vet centers located throughout the United States.  Originally created for the use of Vietnam veterans with PTSD, the Vet Centers have been opened to combat veterans of all eras, including the Persian Gulf War.

One of the primary purposes of the Vet Centers is to help veterans work through post traumatic stress.  Such stress is typical in people who experience a disaster or traumatic event in either civilian or military life.  A "typical" traumatic event in the life of a soldier is being in combat and having his or her life threatened or seeing others die.  Sometime after the traumatic event, often years later, a veteran may begin to experience some combination of the symptoms listed below.

The VA recognizes PTSD as a condition for which it will pay monthly compensation.  The Vet Centers and certain specialized units in VA Medical Centers provide treatment.  PTSD is treatable and symptoms can be dramatically lessened.


Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Sleep Disorders

  • Dreams / Nightmares

  • Depression or Deep Sadness

Second Edition - Fall 1997          Page 18