Support group for spouses deals with post-combat stress

By Lisa R. RhodesMarch 9, 2012

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. -- A Soldier wakes suddenly from his sleep.

Drenched in sweat and disoriented, he is experiencing a flashback from his service in Iraq. His screams wake up his wife, who manages to stop him from reaching for his firearm in the nightstand drawer.

The scenario, said Lt. Cmdr. Marivic Fields, director of Behavioral Health Patient Care Management at Kimbrough Ambulatory Center and a licensed social worker, is a classic symptom of service members with post-traumatic stress disorder.

While many service members who are diagnosed with the disorder undergo treatment at Kimbrough, Fields said there are few resources on post for spouses who must also cope with its challenges.

That is until now.

On Wednesday evening, the installation's first Spouse PTSD Support Group was scheduled to meet at the Warrior in Transition Soldier and Family Assistance Center at 85th Medical Battalion Road.

The four-week support group will meet March 14, 21 and 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It is open to spouses in all service branches whose partner is diagnosed with PTSD, or is not receiving treatment for the disorder. Spouses whose partners have experienced traumatic events outside of military combat may also join the group.

Free child care is available for all participants.

The initiative is a collaboration between Kimbrough, the Army Substance Abuse Program and the installation's Religious Support Office.

Janine Byrnes and Therese Boucher, social workers with ASAP, and Fields are volunteer co-facilitators of the support group.

Deputy Garrison Chaplain (Maj.) Bougslaw Augustyn, a Catholic priest, and Fields came up with the idea for the support group to help spouses dealing with PTSD.

Once called shell shock or battle fatigue syndrome, PTSD is a serious mental illness that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic or terrifying event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened, according to the WebMD website.

Individuals with PTSD often experience a wide range of symptoms including insomnia, lack of intimacy, isolation, depression, anxiety, increased alcohol and drug use (including prescription drugs), and increased risky behaviors, such as reckless driving. Some people also experience problems in the workplace.

Service members who are enrolled in ASAP for drug and alcohol issues may also suffer from PTSD, Byrnes said.

Installation Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Sid A. Taylor said some service members with PTSD may struggle with feelings of guilt and shame.

"If you were not able to save your buddy or know that your actions in combat may have led to the loss of the life of others .. if you can't reconcile that with yourself, those feelings can continue and become a ghost that leads to internal pain and confusion," he said.

Spouses deal with the aftermath of such trauma firsthand, said Byrnes.

"If that service member does not talk to anyone and is still experiencing symptoms, the spouse is left to deal with it," she said.

Partners have good intentions and want to help mates who struggle with PTSD, Fields said, but they often don't know what to do and the conflict can become overwhelming.

The support group provides a safe environment where spouses can share their feelings, learn coping skills and connect with others, Byrnes said.

The group's discussions are confidential and will not be documented. However, the co-facilitators, who are all licensed social workers, are required by state law to report incidents of child abuse and neglect and threats of suicide and homicide.

In addition to learning about PTSD, Byrnes said members also will explore ways to better care for themselves.

When the four weeks are over, the facilitators will ask participants to evaluate the group. Fields said they hope members will continue to support one another and that the facilitators will keep in touch to find out if participants need additional help.

If the support group is a success, other sessions may follow in the future.

"If we're meeting their needs, our intent is to keep the support group going," Fields said.

Editor's note: For more information about the Spouse PTSD Support Group, call Lt. Cmdr. Marivic Fields at 301-677-8870.

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