The New War on Terror

[Bradeck]

snip

Thank you for your well thought out response, you raise some very valid points. I can only state that I am a little past jaded with all the "cures" that people have been creating to deal with this issue. Call me a pessimist, however whenever I see groups like this, I see someone trying to make a buck off us. Granted, from your story, that doesn't seem the case here.

In response to others;

I don't know how to explain this accurately or in fact intelligently, as a sufferer and not a researcher, that's not my role. I feel that PTSD is a buzz word created by a culture that was struggling to identify why young men and women were coming back as different people. Instead of learning about the causes, they put the cart before the horse and decided it's better to just call it a mental disorder, and begin medication. Call it the over medication of our society, but the shit they made me go through upon return was real dumb.

How can doctors or researchers prescribe medication or treatment for a disorder that was just created, and by their own admission, very little of which is understood.

Stress is stress. War is war. Child abuse is child abuse. Can we stop lumping them all together? A person who was beaten or raped by a parent has mental scars, possibly greater then a vet's scars, but they are not the same scars. Lumping us all into under a buzzword doesn't make anyone better. It just increases the risk of misdiagnosis and maltreatment.

Less then 1% of this country is taking 100% of the bullets in these two wars. How can the other 99% expect to understand what we're going through? Which brings me back to my main point. Where is the years of research that discovered that this works? Because they start testing and several vets get better it's granted as plausible?

Here is why I think the OP's research is showing positive results. Video games and interactive media, like other activities which stimulate mental response, (Movies, painting, TV, reading) require us to focus our brain on one thing, to the exclusion of other influences. Thus, the constant stream of negative imagery running through a PTSD suffer's mind may be pushed aside for focus on a new directive, i.e. solve this puzzle.

I would have liked to see more of a test of other genres of video games, say puzzles, adventure games, or constant repetition media (learning to play a guitar worked wonders for my battle buddy).

 

[Georgie_Leech]

snip

I would have liked to see more of a test of other genres of video games, say puzzles,

There actually has been some research into that. I can't say I'm an expert about it, but I remember there was research done into how games like Tetris can reduce the build up of flashbacks related to PTSD. Admittedly it's not a treatment per se, but it is helping at leastt a little.

 

[roostuf]

This is great news!

To bad fox will never cover it though...wait why do i give a shit about what fox does anyway?

 

[JoesshittyOs]

I have a brother who's been through two tours and lost a few good friends of his. He was different when he came back, still had the same humor but was much different, barely smiled, and was very distant.

He was never as big a gamer like me, but it was the small distractions like gaming and doing chores.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

"for those that complete the program, Virtual Iraq has around an 80% success rate for eliminating all symptoms of PTSD within six weeks"

I have a hard time believing that. That's a massive success rate and a tiny amount of time for repeatedly triggering people to cure PTSD.

I don't know. I'm not an expert by any means, but it does kinda seem to make sense from strange point of view.

You're making the person practically relive what's happening and what's ruining their life, but in an extremely safe environment with no chance of getting hurt. I'd think that it's fairly regularly too, so it's not that unheard of.

I'd make comparisons to depression, but I'm gonna stop myself right there, as I have no idea how much more severe PTSD is to depression.

 

[Aprilgold]

Pvt. Hawker sounds like a name randomly picked from any recent space marine video game,

The names of those involved were changed to protect their identities. Neither they nor their families need any undue attention. The original draft of the article had the original info, including locations and dates, which were removed during the editing process.

Seems fair to me. Maybe not super violent shooters, maybe RPGs like Skyrim or something, more outworldy like games.

"for those that complete the program, Virtual Iraq has around an 80% success rate for eliminating all symptoms of PTSD within six weeks"

I have a hard time believing that. That's a massive success rate and a tiny amount of time for repeatedly triggering people to cure PTSD.

I don't know. I'm not an expert by any means, but it does kinda seem to make sense from strange point of view.

You're making the person practically relive what's happening and what's ruining their life, but in an extremely safe environment with no chance of getting hurt. I'd think that it's fairly regularly too, so it's not that unheard of.

I'd make comparisons to depression, but I'm gonna stop myself right there, as I have no idea how much more severe PTSD is to depression.

Exactly, from a sense, your having the person go BACK to deal with the issue, killing the guy that killed his friend or whatever, does that make sense. Again, only once its calmed down should they be reliving their war through a game, I'm still thinking having them playing Saints Row or RPGs would help.

 

[Dawns Gate]

I think that is why my father plays a lot of Battlefield 2 and ARMA 2, I guess I never thought of it that way, he told me a lot of what happened to him in Bosnia and Afghanistan and I hear him wake up at night screaming.

I just thought that he played lots of games because I did it, and he wanted to have something in common - because he is very bad in social situations - but this makes much more sense. He is always muttering to himself while he plays, maybe he is trying to relieve his experiences where his buddies don't die or something.

 

[Hitokiri_Gensai]

i think youd what you can, to mske your life liveable, and make it through the next day. if thats the thing that lets these vets deal with the things thevye seen, than they should do it.

 

[l3o2828]

Copied straight from MSN as i was discussing this with some friends:

*Sigh*
I was just reading an article on the Escapist about people with PTSD from war treated their illness in a simulated enviroment, namely, videogames.
While i don't think its possible to cure PTSD in 6 weeks like the article claims
i think that reliving the traumatic experience might not be good.
although it all depends on the person...
still
i read this and look at more stuff about war and stuff
and i feel like they are missing the root of the problem
war is wrong.
It shouldn't happen, in the state that usa is making it happen
if a country tries to invade you, its in all your right
but just invading another country is what shouldn't happen
and i know i dont know much about it
but all i see is that USA's stupidity is costing lots of peoples sanity
problems should be solved diplomatically
i tought we had learned this with World War 2 and 1 for god sakes
although nevermind, Usa wasn't directly affected by any of them
so i guess he just doesnt fucking care.

But it's not about war is it? it's about how videogames can help, right? and yes, i believe videogames can be a stress reliever, but reliving a traumatic experience might not be good for SOME people.
I just don't know.

 

[Bradeck]

Pvt. Hawker sounds like a name randomly picked from any recent space marine video game,

The names of those involved were changed to protect their identities. Neither they nor their families need any undue attention. The original draft of the article had the original info, including locations and dates, which were removed during the editing process.

Seems fair to me. Maybe not super violent shooters, maybe RPGs like Skyrim or something, more outworldy like games.

"for those that complete the program, Virtual Iraq has around an 80% success rate for eliminating all symptoms of PTSD within six weeks"

I have a hard time believing that. That's a massive success rate and a tiny amount of time for repeatedly triggering people to cure PTSD.

I don't know. I'm not an expert by any means, but it does kinda seem to make sense from strange point of view.

You're making the person practically relive what's happening and what's ruining their life, but in an extremely safe environment with no chance of getting hurt. I'd think that it's fairly regularly too, so it's not that unheard of.

I'd make comparisons to depression, but I'm gonna stop myself right there, as I have no idea how much more severe PTSD is to depression.

Exactly, from a sense, your having the person go BACK to deal with the issue, killing the guy that killed his friend or whatever, does that make sense. Again, only once its calmed down should they be reliving their war through a game, I'm still thinking having them playing Saints Row or RPGs would help.

Not to sound dickish, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you've never seen the shit in the real world. It's all well and good to tear people apart with .50cals and hear the screams, and toss 'nades around a corner to take out the baddies, as long as you're viewing it in a safe area right? Because you, being a human, can differentiate between the real world and the imaginary.

However, imagine for a second you ACTUALLY HAD witnessed those types of things in the real world. The imagery before you, no matter how fake, would still possess a strong link to the things you had previously experienced. Imagine you had to take all the pieces of your best buddy, the most recent victim of an IED, and collect them in baggies to ship back to his wife. Would you want to play video games about that shit?

You can't imagine what it's like to take another life. Or five, or ten. So you can't imagine what it's like to hear someone say re-living it would be helpful.

 

[Strazdas]

I wonder if it's more his will, than the video game itself.

yeah i think its more himself than the game and game is only a means for him to beat it. the guy has to want to beat it himself for it to work.

 

[RavenTail]

I'm glad the guy's recovering and video games could use a positive note lately.

 

[Aprilgold]

Not to sound dickish, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you've never seen the shit in the real world. It's all well and good to tear people apart with .50cals and hear the screams, and toss 'nades around a corner to take out the baddies, as long as you're viewing it in a safe area right? Because you, being a human, can differentiate between the real world and the imaginary.

However, imagine for a second you ACTUALLY HAD witnessed those types of things in the real world. The imagery before you, no matter how fake, would still possess a strong link to the things you had previously experienced. Imagine you had to take all the pieces of your best buddy, the most recent victim of an IED, and collect them in baggies to ship back to his wife. Would you want to play video games about that shit?

You can't imagine what it's like to take another life. Or five, or ten. So you can't imagine what it's like to hear someone say re-living it would be helpful.

Please don't say "Not to sound like a dick" followed by a Dick-ish statement, because then the first line doesn't work. I'm not a phyciatrist, and I don't know how severe, severe effects are for the condition. I say something not reality based, even if they know its all fake, again, I don't know how severe, severe is.
Yeah, you bring up a lot of great points, but again, I don't know how severe, severe is and reliving the could worsen it, also why having it take place somewhere else might be helpful. There was something on Tetris about it reducing the conditions.

I am no expert on the condition, mate. So don't come out with a "Don't be a dick" statement then contradict it.
Still, you bring up a ton of good points.

 

[Bradeck]

snip.

Please don't say "Not to sound like a dick" followed by a Dick-ish statement, because then the first line doesn't work. I'm not a phyciatrist, and I don't know how severe, severe effects are for the condition. I say something not reality based, even if they know its all fake, again, I don't know how severe, severe is.
Yeah, you bring up a lot of great points, but again, I don't know how severe, severe is and reliving the could worsen it, also why having it take place somewhere else might be helpful. There was something on Tetris about it reducing the conditions.

I am no expert on the condition, mate. So don't come out with a "Don't be a dick" statement then contradict it.
Still, you bring up a ton of good points.

You're right, and after reading, I apologize. It gets to me how every person thinks they have an answer, and I should have handled it better.

My response to the statement about professionals; How can a psychological cure be found by someone who has no idea what the patient is feeling? How does a psychologist attempt to relate to someone that they have no experience with? I honestly have to question the validity of the science based on that. If this works in the future and eliminates some Vets night terrors, or drives the voices out, then great. I just feel this is the wrong direction, entirely.

Again, not bashing video games here, but the method behind a science that claims to help alleviate something that is admittedly rarely understood even by top minds.

 

[Thaluikhain]

My response to the statement about professionals; How can a psychological cure be found by someone who has no idea what the patient is feeling? How does a psychologist attempt to relate to someone that they have no experience with? I honestly have to question the validity of the science based on that. If this works in the future and eliminates some Vets night terrors, or drives the voices out, then great. I just feel this is the wrong direction, entirely.

That's one of the classic problems with psychology, yes, and why so many people like support groups formed of people who've been in similar situations.

 

[Aprilgold]

snip.

Please don't say "Not to sound like a dick" followed by a Dick-ish statement, because then the first line doesn't work. I'm not a phyciatrist, and I don't know how severe, severe effects are for the condition. I say something not reality based, even if they know its all fake, again, I don't know how severe, severe is.
Yeah, you bring up a lot of great points, but again, I don't know how severe, severe is and reliving the could worsen it, also why having it take place somewhere else might be helpful. There was something on Tetris about it reducing the conditions.

I am no expert on the condition, mate. So don't come out with a "Don't be a dick" statement then contradict it.
Still, you bring up a ton of good points.

You're right, and after reading, I apologize. It gets to me how every person thinks they have an answer, and I should have handled it better.

My response to the statement about professionals; How can a psychological cure be found by someone who has no idea what the patient is feeling? How does a psychologist attempt to relate to someone that they have no experience with? I honestly have to question the validity of the science based on that. If this works in the future and eliminates some Vets night terrors, or drives the voices out, then great. I just feel this is the wrong direction, entirely.

Again, not bashing video games here, but the method behind a science that claims to help alleviate something that is admittedly rarely understood even by top minds.

No, no, no need to feel bad, I understand where your coming from. Its all cool, if anything I feel like the dick here, but its alright, you have a shit ton of good points, my good man.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

[Something Amyss]

Queue

Cue. It's "Cue" in the context of "cuing" an event. People are not lining up on "queue."

Sorry to nitpick, but seriously.

 

[Baresark]

Queue

Cue. It's "Cue" in the context of "cuing" an event. People are not lining up on "queue."

Sorry to nitpick, but seriously.

It's cool, if no one corrects anyone, no one learns anything.

 

[Something Amyss]

It's cool, if no one corrects anyone, no one learns anything.

I just didn't want to come off as though I was flaming you. There's a lot of that whole "LOL U CANT SPELL" crap out there, so....

 

[Bradeck]

oh are you kidding. video games are one HELL of a stress-relief! makes sense to me.

I thought that was rage? No, wait, rage is one hell of a anesthetic.

Playing FPSs sounds like a sure fire way to REIGNITE my inner demons, not cure them.

Oh, totally. If the media has taught me anything, its that anything that even vaguely sounds like a gunshot makes Vets have mass murder inducing flashbacks.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, but media aside, that does happen, a good deal. A guy in my company came back, found his neighbor digging a hole by the road, and tried to get him arrested. Turned out he was putting in a mailbox.

Same with giant dumpsters being set down by the garbage trucks. Sounds EXACTLY like a mortar or rocket strike.