GettingHired.com's Own, BusyBee's Blog : PTSD

Veterans With PTSD Face Unique Employment Challenges

BusyBee — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:17:00 GMT

By Prudence Shank

The challenges facing military veterans transitioning into civilian life are multiple, not the least of which is that they must re-enter the job market in the worst economic climate of the modern era. Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, have an even more unique set of challenges.

Disabled veterans, whether their injuries are physical or mental, often have a hard time adjusting to “normal” life in the civilian world. If their injuries are physical, they must endure hours and hours of physical therapy to learn how to live with this new set of limitations that didn't exist before they entered the service. If their injuries are mental, veterans must also undergo regular therapy and learn how to live with a new set of limitations, but PTSD can present unique challenges when a veteran is looking for, and trying to keep a job.

Physical disabilities are often easier for employers to handle than the unseen specter of PTSD. They can see a physical disability and they know exactly what accommodations must be made. If an employee needs time off to attend therapy, an employer can make a direct association with the physical injury of her employee. If a vet has no outward sign of injury, however, explaining to a potential or current employer that time off will be required for therapy, can be a challenge.

A recent study by the Rand Group states that one third of the troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD. Informal surveys of unemployed veterans with PTSD find that these individuals believe their diagnosis has been a hindrance to them finding a job. Many employers are not well educated on PTSD. Thanks to sensationalized stories in the media of veterans “gone postal,” employers may be reluctant to hire a vet who suffers from the disorder.

The symptoms range from person to person, but they may include headaches, memory lapses, poor concentration, slurred speech, loss of balance, panic attacks, difficulty handling authority, a short temper or anxiety in a crowd. Some vets suffer from one symptom only. Some suffer from a combination of symptoms. Regardless of the severity, these symptoms make it difficult for an individual to adjust in the workplace, but there are basic accommodations that can be made to help wounded vets become thriving members of a team.

When disclosing PTSD to a current or potential employer, it is important to express that you have a handle on exactly what your symptoms are, and come prepared with a list of simple accommodations that can be made – many of which will not cost the employer a dime.

For those dealing with memory issues, asking for written instructions can keep productivity high. Posting instructions on equipment can also reduce the need for the employee to ask for assistance if he has a memory lapses. Employees with memory issues should ask if meetings can be tape recorded, and they should make use of wall calendars, daily and weekly task lists. These written and aural cues mean less confusion, less questions, and less mistakes.

Many veterans with PTSD have found that “white noise” machines or soothing music helps calm a variety of symptoms. Those who have trouble concentrating, find white nose blocks out a lot of distraction. Vets with stress issues find that soothing music helps keep their anger levels manageable and regular, brief break times can help employees with PTSD regroup and refocus.

If you are a veteran suffering from PTSD and you need assistance finding employment, GettingHired.com can help. GettingHired.com offers a variety of resources available to point you in the right direction and help you connect with mentors and peers who understand your unique set of circumstances. GettingHired.com is committed to helping individuals with all types of disabilities – both mental and physical – and contributes 5% of all net profits to the GettingHired Foundation which supports organizations dedicated to the advancement of people with disabilities.

Disclosing PTSD in the Workplace

BusyBee — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:12:00 GMT

By Prudence Shank

Veterans returning from combat who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have a difficult time in everyday situations, and the disorder can make finding and keeping employment very tricky. Choosing to disclose your PTSD is a personal choice, and gathering the courage to share this information with employers, potential employers and coworkers can be difficult.

If/when you choose to disclose your diagnosis, it helps to come prepared with a short fact sheet on PTSD. The National Center for PTSD produces http://www.familyofavet.com/files/fact_sheet_what_is_PTSD.pdf and America's Heroes at Work also produce a fact sheet http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov/forEmployers/factsheets/FAQPTSD that are very helpful. You can give them this brief literature or offer to view the websites with them, so that they can get an overview of exactly what PTSD is, and what PTSD isn't.

You can choose to divulge your individual symptoms, or not. The decision is yours, but whether or not you share your individual symptoms, that you explain to your employer or potential employer what you are doing to cope with your PTSD. Also explain that these coping mechanisms will not interfere with your productivity at work.

Also come prepared with how you will cope with these situations at work. If your PTSD causes you to forget things, share your personal tips and tricks for remember things. It could be written instructions, post it notes, or color coded reminders. Let them know that you know how to manage your symptoms to keep your attendance and productivity as high as possible.

It is also important to note that PTSD is covered under both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. If you have been officially diagnosed with PTSD, you have legal protections to fall back upon, should you believe discrimination has occurred.

The ADA requires employers with more than 15 employees to make “reasonable accommodations” which are defined as "any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in employment equal to those of employees without disabilities." This means, according to the ADA's web site, that employers can do things like, restructure a job, modify a work schedule, modify training, modify examinations, etc. Asking to be able to take two years off probably isn't a “reasonable” accommodation, but asking to work late if you have to take an hour for therapy, asking for written instructions, asking to tape record meetings, etc., would fall under reasonable accommodations.

An employer is not required to make any accommodations, however, if they do not know about the disability. In order to expect your boss or potential boss will be willing to accommodate you, you have to officially disclose your diagnosis.

The Family Medical Leave Act also applies to Veterans working in specific environments, as stated by the Act itself. If you are covered by the FMLA, you can receive 60 work days of unpaid leave each year. This leave may be taken at one time or sporadically by day or by hour. When using FMLA benefits, you will not be paid, but your company benefits and your job are protected by law.

Coping with PTSD in the workplace can be extremely stressful, but it is imperative that veterans know their rights under the law. Being comfortable discussing the disorder, your symptoms, and your needed accommodations can make the transition back into the civilian workplace a bit easier.

Disability Benefits for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Department of Veterans Administration provides Compensation;Pension Programs; VA Medical Care

BusyBee — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:07:00 GMT

Via: Learningandfinance.com

By, Stephen Johnson

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a growing concern in America today. It is a disorder that can occur following a life threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents or various other types of intense physical or emotional trauma. Serious physical trauma could include critical body injury, wound or shock. Serious emotional trauma could include a strong psychological/emotional response to an extreme event. People who suffer from PTSD often have nightmares and flashbacks of the original event or events that caused the distress and this can lead to depression, substance abuse, memory and cognition problems and other physical and mental issues for the individual.

PTSD is becoming an increasing concern for the United States military as more and more soldiers are being identified with the disorder. On top of this concern is the concern of caring for these individuals from a mental health standpoint.

President speaks at 89th National Convention of Disabled American Veterans

BusyBee — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:00:00 GMT

President Obama spoke earlier this week at the 89th National Convention of the Disabled American Veterans, and noted the challenges that our disabled veterans face upon their return from having served our country. He addressed the significant changes that have recently been made in the handling of claims for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, changes that will make it easier for those veterans suffering from PTSD to receive the care and support they deserve. And the President spoke of the challenge that veterans face in trying to find civilian employment in a challenging economy, saying "And for veterans trying to find work in a very tough economy, we’re helping with job training and placement. And I’ve directed the federal government to make it a priority to hire more veterans, including disabled veterans. And every business in America needs to know our vets have the training, they’ve got the skills, they have the dedication -- they are ready to work. And our country is stronger when we tap the incredible talents of our veterans." Here at GettingHired.com, we couldn't agree more that our veterans do indeed have the skills, the training, and the talent needed today in both the public sector and by private sector employers. And we take this opportunity to again thank our veterans for their service to us and our country.

We invite you to check out the full text of the President's remarks

PTSD Claims: Making the Process Easier for Our Veterans

BusyBee — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:56:00 GMT

via The White House Blog
By Tammy Duckworth
July 12, 2010 at 04:50 PM EDT

We often hear the cliché, “the fog of war”—a simplified expression used to describe the chaos and confusion so often found in a combat zone. It’s something all combat Veterans understand. Whether you’re running toward a hardened shelter during a mortar attack or gripping the wheel as your truck races through an area known for ambushes, combat is not a place where troops often stop to document the details. Those details may be forever burned into our minds, but we often don’t come away with hard copy proof of what occurred.

Unfortunately, for years now, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has required Veterans filing disability claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to do just that—to document in detail what caused them to become symptomatic. We call it a “stressor.” Our rules have been even more stringent for Veterans who didn’t serve in a combat branch of the military—like the infantry, artillery, or armor. Essentially, if a former military intelligence soldier is continually late for work because he can’t sleep at night, we ask him to provide photos or a written radio log proving he was rocketed when he says he was. If he can’t, we might deny the claim. If a former medic shows signs of depression and blames it on having watched people bleed to death, we ask her to get a written statement from her former boss. Again, if she can’t, we may not award her benefits. But starting today, we’re making this process simpler and easier for all Veterans.

The previous arrangement is neither fair, nor sustainable. This is especially true in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan where there are no static front lines and the combat zone is everywhere. In reality, life in a combat zone is both complex and it affects each of us differently—as demonstrated by a number of scientific studies. Some who’ve been in the most terrible fighting can emerge relatively unscathed. Other non-combat troops, whose wartime experience came only in the form of a blaring air raid siren, can live for decades haunted by the sound and the threat it represented. The base where I was stationed was mortared—almost on a daily basis—enough that it gained the nickname “Mortaritaville.” My physical wounds make my combat experience clear, yet other troops on my base must prove they were at an actual explosion from one of those daily attacks. At VA, we’re now moving to treat all Veterans equally when it comes to filing a disability claim for PTSD.

From this point forward, VA will not require corroboration of a PTSD stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. This means that if a Veteran was in a certain place at a certain time—and they present to us with diagnosable symptoms, then we’ll presume those symptoms were caused by their experience in combat.

By doing so, for the first time, we won’t be assuming that a truck driver is any less likely to have PTSD than an infantryman. And by giving this benefit of the doubt, we will relieve pressure on thousands of Veterans—making their trek for the benefits they deserve much easier. Instead of acting as an inadvertent obstacle, we will now aim to lift some of the heavy fog under which so many of our Veterans have lived—both in combat and after returning home. It’s something I’m proud to be a part of because I, like so many millions of Americans, believe this is the least we can do to show our gratitude for the sacrifices they have made.

Tammy Duckworth is the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Finding Resources For Your Anxiety

BusyBee — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:12:00 GMT

When people talk about anxiety or being anxious, we tend to take it lightly. Anxiety is considered to be a normal emotion. But did you know that there are people who are suffering from anxiety disorders? The anxiety disorder is a term utilized to refer to the different forms of atypical fear and anxiety. There are seven classifications of anxiety disorders. These include the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic disorders, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), separation anxiety disorder and childhood anxiety disorder.

Those suffering from anxiety disorders have a hard time dealing with their condition but thanks to today’s anxiety resources, the load has just become a lot more manageable.

Being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder is a bitter pill to swallow. Your perspective on life has changed and you have to undergo several treatments to help you deal with your abnormal anxiety. Now you know why you suddenly experience panic attacks out of the blue or out of seeing something you’re scared of. But the bright side is that you can do something to minimize the attacks of pathological fear and anxiety you’ve been feeling.

With the existence of anxiety resources available all over the globe, the life of an anxiety disorder sufferer has gotten easier. One of the renowned anxiety resources is the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA). This is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide adequate treatment and intervention to people suffering from anxiety disorders. The anxiety resources provided by this organization give those who with anxiety disorders the chance to improve their lives dramatically.

Another known organization that provides anxiety resources worldwide is the Freedom From Fear. This is also a nonprofit organization that caters to mental health advocates. They provide help for anxiety disorder sufferers through advocacies, providing education and community support. Another huge organization out to help people with anxiety disorders is the National Mental Health Association. This provides anxiety resources in the forms of education, research and community services. They have the largest number of members that is tantamount to 340 million all over the world. Another organization is the Screening for Mental Health Inc. which provides free screening and diagnostic exams for mental health disorders. They also provide an online program for people suffering with mental health disorders.

Having anxiety disorder might be difficult but knowing that there are people and organizations out there willing to give you anxiety resources that can help you live a prolific life can be relieving.

Groups Find Trauma Rule for Veterans Lacking

BusyBee — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:35:00 GMT

Via: NYTimes.com

By JAMES DAO

Published: July 12, 2010

A new federal regulation that is intended to make it easier for veterans to receive disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder is coming under fire from some of the advocates who had pushed for it.

The rule, which takes effect Tuesday, eliminates a requirement that veterans document specific events like firefights or bomb blasts that might have caused their P.T.S.D., whose symptoms include emotional numbness, anxiety, irritability and flashbacks. Such documentation was often difficult or even impossible to find, veterans groups say.

In his weekly radio address on Saturday, President Obama hailed the new rule as a “long-overdue step,” saying, “I don’t think our troops on the battlefield should have to take notes to keep for a claims application.”

But veterans advocates say that while the rule is a major improvement, it does not go far enough in lowering obstacles to veterans seeking health care or disability compensation for P.T.S.D.

At issue is a provision saying that a final determination on whether a veteran’s disorder is tied to service — instead of, say, a car crash — can be made only by a physician or psychologist working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Advocates have urged the department to allow private clinicians to make those determinations as well.

Department officials say the provision is intended to ensure consistency in examinations. They assert that mental health clinicians affiliated with the department are likely to have greater experience with P.T.S.D. and be better able not only to detect it but also weed out “malingerers.”

But veterans groups say private clinicians often do more thorough examinations than federal ones. In many of those cases, the private clinicians are already treating the veterans and are thus familiar with their problems.

In such cases, the advocates say, the government should accept the word of the private clinician that the disorder is related to service, making the veteran eligible for benefits. Those benefits include free care in the veterans health system and monthly disability checks that can range up to about $2,700, depending on the severity of the disability.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) doesn’t have to keep you from having a successful career. Some simple job accommodations can help.

BusyBee — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:08:00 GMT

By Christy Eichelberger

Employees with PTSD do not have to disclose their disability unless they require an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of their job. Likewise, they do not have to disclose their disability on a job application or during an interview unless they need special accommodations during the application or interview process. Not all people with PTSD will require job accommodations, and some may only require minimal accommodations.

While PTSD may not be a visible disability, its effects may cause difficulties on the job including trouble concentrating, lack of sleep, trouble with memory, and disorganization. America’s Heroes at Work has identified a number of ways to help manage these issues. Some include:

-Developing flexible work schedules or job sharing with another employee

-Using schedule reminders (telephone, email reminders, alarm clock)

-Scheduling rest breaks to prevent overload and fatigue

-Using work task checklists and voice recorders as memory aids

-Using stop watches or timers for time management

-Having a job coach

-Using white noise to help eliminate distractions

-Being mentored by a co-worker or retired worker

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn’t include a list of medical conditions that qualify as disabilities. Instead, it has a definition of disability that an individual must meet. Therefore, it is determined on a case-by-case basis whether someone with PTSD qualifies as having a disability under the ADA.

Even if you decide not to request an accommodation, or if it’s determined that you don’t qualify as having a disability, you can apply many of these tips on your own to help improve your job performance. Using schedule reminders, scheduling breaks, and using checklists and timers are all cost-free tools you can implement on your own. If you do request an accommodation, the suggestions above are simple, low-cost solutions that you could recommend to your employer.

Anxiety disorders in the workplace

BusyBee — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:37:00 GMT

By Kaitlyn MacDonald

I am an anxiety disorder sufferer. Though anxiety is actually a normal reaction to every day stress, it is debilitating when not under control. There is good stress, eustress that is healthy and gives a person a feeling of fulfillment. Then there is distress that can include great pain, sorrow and physical and emotional suffering.

Anxiety is a coping device that helps keep one focused when working on a time-sensitive project or giving an oral report. However, my anxiety disorder is disabling. Certain stressors in my life cause extreme reactions to everyday situations, including "dread" and apprehensiveness of simple situations.

I am not alone. 40 million adults in the United States are affected by anxiety disorders annually. The typical anxiety disorder lasts for a minimum of six months, which could get worse if left untreated. In many instances, anxiety disorders come into being with other psychological and physical illnesses, such as alcoholism or substance abuse. These illnesses may only mask the anxiety symptoms, leading to a larger problem later on.

There are therapies that are effective in coping with anxiety disorders, and research is discovering a number of new ways to help those living with these illnesses continue on productively and with promising futures.

There are five prominent types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Panic Disorder

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)

If you suffer from anxiety disorders, and are aware that it may affect your work performance, most employers should be willing to accommodate you. There are laws to protect those who suffer from anxiety disorders.

Steps to managing workplace anxiety

Identify sources of anxiety.

Speak directly with your supervisor.

Make a shift in work responsibilities if that is possible.

Ask to change your schedule, use flex, sick leave or vacation time for health related appointments.

Ask for more resources or training if you need it.

Ask for training if needed

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is law that was passed on a federal level to protect workers in the U.S. The Department of Justice will enforce the requirements of ADA in the employment practices by units of state and local government, and has successfully litigated and mediated cases as a result.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces its Title #1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as it applies to those workers with psychiatric disabilities. The Federal Government recognizes that there are many people in the workplace who have psychiatric disabilities such as anxiety disorders, who are faced with employment discrimination due to their disabilities being misunderstood.

New Department of Labor Resource to Assist Returning Servicemen and Women Who Are Coping with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

BusyBee — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:25:00 GMT

The U. S. Department of Labor (DOL) has undertaken a project that focuses on the employment challenges of service members returning to the United States with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The goal of the project is to educate employers and the workforce development system about TBI and PTSD, as well as about work-place accommodations that can assist people with these disabilities.

The America's Heroes at Work project team has launched a web site that provides links to information and tools that can help service members who are affected by TBI and/or PTSD, primarily those who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, to succeed in the workplace. Resources include: job sharing, coaching and mentoring programs, fact sheets, training tools and success stories. For all these resources and more, visit: http://americasheroesatwork.gov.