Domestic Violence Among Vets with PTSD May Sometimes be Inadvertent, Argues WoundedTimes

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2009-11-24 08:09:00 UTC
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Exploring issues of war trauma and post-traumatic stress, I came across an interesting blogger who makes an important clarification on domestic violence among returned veterans.

Kathie Costos, writing for her site WoundTimes, explained that sometimes veterans--and this likely includes many others who have war or domestic abuse trauma--have particular kinds of sleeping trouble. Often exhausted from not being able to relax at night, they may become locked into dreams so vivid that when their spouse tries to wake them the veteran strikes out and fights believing the spouse to be the opponent feared in the dream.

She also makes the important distinction that issues like domestic violence, being a veteran, having experienced trauma, and having clinically-diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated but are not always tied to each other. If this issue is important to you, explore her blog here. Also, check out the US Veterans Administration for their take here.

[Photo: Santa Rosa, CA, residents post purple flags representing each domestic violence call to the local police station, Sonomabuzz]

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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