Gateway to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Information

Thank you for visiting PTSDinfo.org to learn more about coping with traumatic stress.

PTSD is a medical diagnosis, established in 1980, defining symptoms that last at least a month after experiencing a major trauma. These symptoms include remembering or reliving the trauma when you do not choose to; feeling numb and withdrawn; and, having forms of anxiety that interfere with daily life.

Four national and international organizations are here to help, with articles, references, web-links, mini-courses, 800 phone access and e-mail pen-pal resources.

The National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) is the Federal research and education agency within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is the best place to find scientific information about PTSD. Learn More...

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma educates the media about PTSD, but also provides a short "cyber-course" on the subject that would help anyone learn more. Learn More...

Gift From Within exists to inform and support survivors of trauma and abuse. It includes an e-mail pen-pal service, an art gallery and many useful essays, articles and links to other resources. Learn More...

The National Center for Victims of Crime serves victims of any kind of crime, including those whose victimization results in PTSD. They have a Helpline, 1-800-FYI-CALL, and welcome your call. Learn More...

And please click here if you'd like to view the public-service announcements on PTSD that aired in 15,000,000 homes.

Frank M. Ochberg, M.D.
Representative, The Dart Foundation

Welcome,

The VA National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder's mission is:

To advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders.

The Center was created within the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989, in response to a Congressional mandate to address the needs of veterans with military-related PTSD. "Advancing science and promoting understanding of traumatic stress" is the Center's goal.

In 1995, the National Center created a website. Since September 11th, website usage has grown considerably, and in fiscal year 2006 the site had over 1 million unique users! The website strives to provide current, valid, professional information on a range of topics related to trauma and stress. The site is separated into sections each for one of a variety of audiences, including veterans and their families, clinicians, health care providers, researchers, and others who have or know someone who has experienced a trauma.

The website currently contains more than 1,600 documents, several newsletters you can subscribe to, extensive Web Resource links, and much more:

140 fact sheets
800 downloadable articles
Videos for veterans and their families, and for clinicians
PTSD 101: a series of expert lectures on PTSD
The PILOTS database (the largest interdisciplinary index to the worldwide literature on traumatic stress)
The Iraq War Clinician Guide
Information for disaster recovery including the Psychological First Aid manual

Listed below are some of the specific pages that we recommend. If you are just getting started please visit the PTSD Information Center where you will find the most general information.

Sincerely,

Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD
Executive Director, VA National Center for PTSD
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Dartmouth Medical School

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Additional Resources:
Web Resources

Dear Guest:

Welcome. My name is Joyce Boaz and I'm the Director of Gift From Within.

I hope you find our website and its information supportive, educational and inspirational.

Gift From Within (GFW) is dedicated to those who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), those at risk for PTSD, and those who care for traumatized individuals. This is done primarily through our website.

Educational materials include videotapes, books and articles for both clinicians and those experiencing PTSD. An innovative feature developed by GFW is the Support Pal Network, which connects survivors with one another for emotional support through e-mail. GFW has been gifted with clinicians, writers, and educators who contribute real life experiences through articles that appear on the website. Many of these experiences are used in developing Gift From Within's videotapes on trauma and victimization as well as the recovery process.

The name "Gift From Within" represents the Gift we give ourselves when we begin on the road to healing. It's full of hard work, joy, sadness, and plenty of ups and downs, but we are not alone. When we are ready, we give the Gift of support and hope to someone else as they begin on their road. That is truly a Gift From Within. Remember, "We're all in this together."

Gift From Within does not give medical advice or recommendations for therapists, but there is information on our "links" page.

Before you enter the website I thought I should recommend a few pages that you might want to start off with. I've also posted our "Survivor Psalm." Many people have told me that it has been a beacon of support. If you care to, please let me know what you think of our site by signing our public guest book.

Warm regards,
Joyce

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Articles:
Veterans and PTSD: A Conversation with Frank Ochberg
Acquaintance Rape: A Matter of Consent
Partners With PTSD
Post Traumatic Therapy
Guilt Following Traumatic Events
Helping Traumatized Children at School
Recovery From Unnatural Death
Understanding and Preventing Compassion Fatigue - A Handout For Professionals
Understanding the Victims of Spousal Abuse

Resources:
NEW:So what is and isn't PTSD? And where does the science, the public conversation and the public policy around PTSD need to go next?

Listen to Dr. Frank Ochberg on NPR Chicago about Sgt Robert Bales and the Nature of PTSD.

Military PTSD Family Resources
Survivor Psalm
Q&A on PTSD
Inspirational Stories
Poetry, Art and Music Gallery
Support Pal Network Email
Educational Webcasts from Gift From Within on PTSD
Podcast: Practical tips for military families living with combat stress and PTSD

Professional Resources:
DVD Living with PTSD: Lessons for Partners, Friends and Supporters
DVD: Surviving Trauma & Tragedy: Lessons For Future Physicians & Mental Health Professionals
DVD: Resiliency After Violent Death: Lessons For Caregivers
DVD: Explaining PTSD is part of Treating PTSD: Lessons for the Mental Health Professionals
DVD Survival From Domestic Violence: Stories of Hope and Healing
DVD PTSD & Veterans: A Conversation with Dr. Frank Ochberg
DVD Making Peace With Chronic PTSD: Marla's Story

This new website, administered by GFW will collect and display endorsements from individuals and groups who consider a change in title from PTSD to PTSI an advantage for individuals who are so diagnosed.
Support Changing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to Post Traumatic Stress Injury.

Welcome:

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, based at the University of Washington, is a global resource for journalists, news media, journalism schools and the public about emotional trauma and its effects on those who observe or suffer from violence. We are pleased to be a part of this campaign to provide useful and accurate information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Our website (www.dartcenter.org) offers resources on trauma to the working press and journalism students. We believe that journalists work most effectively when they understand the nature of psychological trauma, and have training to help them report compassionately and ethically on those effected. We also encourage journalists and media organizations to understand the risks of emotional injury to news professionals themselves.

I encourage you to explore the Dart Center website. Among many other resources, the site officers an interactive self-study unit on traumatic stress; an on-line version of our booklet, "Tragedies and Journalists," which gives journalists tips on coping with emotional assignments; and a reporters' tipsheet, "PTSD 101," providing a clear, readable overview of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Dart Center website also summarizes the latest research on media and trauma, and highlights exemplary reporting by leading journalists around the world.

Sincerely,

Bruce Shapiro
Executive Director

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Recommended Resources:

SELF-STUDY UNITS:

Journalism & Traumatic Stress

Covering Terrorism

Photography & Trauma

The First 24 Hours

PTSD 101: By Frank Ochberg, M.D.
A leader in the investigation and definition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder explains how emotional injury affects a person and offers guidance for coping with its effects.

TRAGEDIES & JOURNALISTS
A Guide to More Effective Coverage This on-line version of a newly published booklet for journalists shows how they can work effectively in stressful or violent situations.

LANGUAGES OF EMOTIONAL INJURY
A Symposium on Writing about Trauma Hear and see noted journalists talk about how events shaped their awareness of traumatic injury and how they chose to write about its effects.

NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER SURVEY: How Trauma Affects Photographers

Dear Friend:

The National Center for Victims of Crime is dedicated to helping crime victims rebuild their lives. Every year, more than 20 million Americans become victims of crime, many of whom struggle with the emotional aftermath of trauma—which can range from depression, anxiety disorder, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If you or someone you know is struggling with the emotional impact of crime, I encourage you to turn to our wealth of resources on the National Center Web site at www.ncvc.org.
Highlights of our resources include the following:

Help For Crime Victims
http://www.victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crime-victims

Stalking Resource Information
http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center

Information for Victim Service Providers
http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/national-crime-victim-bar-association/for-advocates

We hope this information is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Mai Fernandez
Executive Director
National Center for Victims of Crime

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