let's take ptsd, for example.with ptsd, post-traumatic stress disorder, there are certain clusters of symptoms that we typically see, including what we first call avoidance symptoms. so, individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder may avoid places or circumstances that may remind them of the traumatic event that they experienced during war time or other situations that might have been the precursor, if you will, to the post-traumatic stress disorder. individuals with ptsd also often experience numbing symptoms, if you will, to block the pain associated with the post-traumatic stress disorder and so, sometimes individuals will engage in certain behaviors to block that numbing. they'll not confront the emotional experiences that they may have, try to stuff it down. sometimes alcohol or substance use is a way to try to block those emotional pain symptoms. and another common type of symptom that individuals experience with ptsd is hyper-vigilant symptoms, where individuals might be sometimes easily startled, for e

. >> since then, he has struggled with ptsd.ften anxious, angry, and oppressed. >> i was pretty sure i would shoot myself. >> when he came back, he was not the boy that i raised pit >> medications and therapy did not tell. but then he joined a steady four vets with ptsd using transcendental meditation a practice involving repeating a mantra. >> from then on, i knew what i would do for the rest of my life. it made me feel. it was the greatest sense that i lost. >> it has been published in this month's "military medicine." >> it has a 50% reduction in symptoms. >> he says that transcendental meditation settles down nervous systems. >> people become colmar. they become less reactive. less jumpy. >> george meditate twice a day and says he finally feels like himself again . >> there is something else then pills and therapy for substance abuse. it is yourself that you can always count on. >> george is working with operation boy and walden'swellness.

in addition, dha has diagnosed 20% of patients with ptsd.he rate is relatively high compared to published studies of problems, which generally range from about 5% to 25%, but is not surprising veterans who helped problems are more likely than others to seek care. the number of veterans eligible for vha bennett said the next that will affect future or vha costs. about 1.3 million veterans have become eligible for health care through vha. just over half of stockier through march the 2011. the number of veterans who have ever used vha has grown by 100,000 per year since 2005. roughly half of those, those who have ever used bhi are 12 months from separating airbase. their use is typically highest in the months immediately after they enrolled the system. vha spent almost 1.9 million or $4000 per patient in 2010 and accumulated a total of six lane dollars to treat cocoa veterans through 2010. although veterans for 7% of all veterans treated 20 times, and they represented 4% of dha spending. cbo is projected resources of dha would be between 2011 a

particularly for those who are suffering ptsd? >> sure.ur fellow government in this administration has taken a lot of great strides to try to answer the call here with a number of legislative fixes but i believe it is up to the small communities and the state and local governments to fix some of these issues. for instance, if someone breaks their leg, they go to the doctor. that's not an issue. they come back with ptsd and it is kind of taboo to talk about it. it is important for the nation to discuss that issue and make it okay. i can talk very frankly about the embarrassment that comes along with ptsd and the night tremors and the nightmares and just all sorts of things that are difficult to talk about. we don't have really open discourse around the country about that. we need to work in our small communities who can open our arms to the returning warriors and bring them out and make them feel comfortable and talk about these issues. >> did you feel like everything was in place? whether it be the physical injuries that you endured or eve

and ptsd. today, congress has the opportunity to appropriate funds that would be used to treat our active duty and veterans suffering from t.b.i. and ptsd. my amendment specifically moves $10 million from the more than $19 billion in research, development, test and evaluation of the program to increase the test program by $10 million, once again. this money will assist directly to these soldiers and others in the military who have t.b.i.-related injuries to be able to go to private sector facilities with the utilization of taxpayer dollars for them to get leading edge treatments on these issues. in april, 2007, the department of veterans affairs screened veterans who were serving in iraq and afghanistan since october, 2001, for symptoms associated with t.b.i. more than 19% of these veterans screened positive for t.b.i. symptoms. this is a big issue. according to the u.s. army, the number of soldiers leaving active duty service has increased 64% from 2005 to 2009 due to brain health. whether it

. >>> and how to deal with ptsd. there is an app for that. the pentagon and veterans affairs department developed a half dozen atmosphere apps like ptsd coach and greet relax. they offer information about what the military calls invisible wounds from war and techniques to manage the symptoms. the apps are not meant to replace treatment tore make a diagnosis. >>> the government has issues and apparently we do, too. a new a.p. poll shows half the country is feeling the stress of credit cards, mortgages and other personal debt. less than a year, the poll showed americans were becoming more confident about their personal finances. >>> los gatos-based netflix reports an increase in profits. online video rental company said profits jumped 55% last quarter as it added more subscribers but it warned that it will add customers at a slower pace this quarter because of the recent 60% price increase. >> i heard a lot of people complaining. it's about $16 a month. >> noted that bad. >> and it went up? it used to be like nine or ten bucks. >> not bad. >> i

my kid, has severe ptsd. unless we can heal the wounds. it's not just on the streets of sunnydale. >> yes. the family, what makes up a family, parents children. ultimately, we have to also deal with our families who have their children who are placed with these acronyms over their head that follows them all through their lives. when working with the child. not only are we working with the families and their friends and the places they go before they get home. so the ultimate thing is building that family unit. i was going to run to that. life goes on. we all have a duty not just to the child. but to the family. because the child comes from a family and most the children that we're working with. the families are broken. the homes are broken. so they lived through this years and years. the parents have lived through broken families. >> i do want to say, we have to start with the kids. the kids are actually bring the parents. when the programs are working, then when you put on an event, the kid says, you have to go to this. if you don't come,

we will spend a whole day talking about veterans and ptsd and traumaia-based issues and also i think finally agitated behavior as well. we'll have different trainers we're bringing in so once we kind of get through the curriculum, we'll bring in trainers, vetting trainers, going through that process and really encouraging trainers to be not too poe dan tick. really entertaining questions. some of our values. we identified a few that will run throughout the training so one is really importantly the role of stigma as relates to mental health issues, which is really the biggest barrier is treatment. and effect chull tools for police regarding culture tools, tactical answer traties. we're excited to have sergeant knight and jackson working with us to bring expertise in that and causes and impacts of self-medication. these are things that run throughout the training. instead of just two hours on substance abuse or self-medicating, that might come across the spectrum. really diverse engaging method and for trainers and folks in the committee to not bring political agendas into it. really t

i suffer from ptsd and depression. as a marine, that's just something that i didn't feel comfortable doing. how do you go and say, "i think i'm losing my mind?" i did 7 years in the 82nd airborne division. i had deployed to afghanistan from '02 to '03 and, from that point on, i went to iraq from '03 to '04. i joined the army in 2000, active army, and i deployed to iraq. i was the first round deployment, so i left in january, right before the war started. and i was a truck driver so was one of the first ones over the berm into iraq. the community partnership of southern arizona is the regional behavioral health authority in pima county. and one of the things that, as an organization, we're very much tuned into is kind of the changing needs in the community. i came to the va about 5 years ago and i had worked in the community for many years and had worked with cpsa a lot when i worked at some of the public agencies. so, i had already the relationships with a lot of the people there. and then, once i came over here, i thi

that psychological wounds like ptsd and depression weren't real wounds in the way that losing an arm to an i.e.d. or being shot through the leg or a visible physical wound that those were different. what we're seeing because of iraq and afghanistan those views are shifting. that invisible wounds, mental wounds, psychological wounds, are just as debilitating and in some cases more debilitating than losing a arm or leg. gwen: what is it about these wars that's different from other wars in changing people's opinions about that? >> part of it is the sheer number of tours. you have people going three, four, five, six times to these war zones. and part of the nature of the war itself. in world war ii, you had big battles where the guys to your left and right of you were shooting at enemies. and it was more of a conventional fight. in iraq and afghanistan, you could be walking as has been the case where i've been there, and a person who's a friend of yours suddenly disappears in an i.e.d. you never see the enemy who took his life. a very different kind of challenge. you are constantly afrai

veterans administration is offering half dozen applications that offer information about ptsd and advice to do about it. they have named like pt mood tracker and breathe to relax. officials say they are not student to replace treatment or to make a diagnosis. >>> still ahead, the other attack. new information about two men arrested for the beating of bryan stow. >>> and we had a deal with a lockout over find out when the 49ers and raiders get back to work. >> here is a look at the airport delays. houston, philadelphia and j.f.k. and new york. flight tracker is there for you at abc7news.com. if they are not weather-related they will have flight delays and time it will take you get through security. possibly severe weather around minneapolis and dallas. check out flight tracker any time at abc7news.com. more news and weather and traffic for the bay area right after this break. -dad, why e you getting that? -that's my cereal. is there a prize in there? oh, there's prize, all right. is it a robot? no. is it a jet plane? nope. is it a dinosaur? [ laughs ] [ male announcer ] inside every box o

a handful of apps such as ptsd coach and t2 mood tracker, they've been developed by the pentagon andffairs department. they offer information about what the military calls the invisible wounds of war. they also offer tipping on how to manage symptoms. >>> a northern california couple claims to be making progress in the search for big foot. >> kathy and bob strain say that sound is a recording of big foot itself. they are lasting the recording into stanislaus hoping to find the creature. bob strain claims he saw big foot at age 19 when he was hunting with his dad. >> it stood up on its legs, and walked off to the mountainside. i got a good look at him. >> reporter: they have dedicated a website to the search for big foot. we have posted a link under web links. >> got it. just tell him to stay away from the toll plaza because sal will be watching if it goes by. >> yes, i will dave. let's go and take a look at what we have now with the westbound bay bridge. we have followed this on mornings on 2. it has backed up on a short delay about five minutes. we will cover that next coming on mor

almost 4,000 veterans are being treated for ptsd at va hospitals in san francisco and palo alto. >>>a suspected picasso thief may also be an art fan. the new evidence police say this isn't the first time the man has lifted expensive art work. >>> and netflix announces an increase. why some say could hurt their bottom line. >>> the m n murder trial captured national attention. now the death of a 2-year-old girl caylee anthony pay prompt changes right here in california. these stories and much more coming up at 6:00. >>> a new study suggests that being on top of a higher archy may prove more costly than first thought, at least in baboons. alpha males had same stress hormones as lowest members of their troop. >>> some walking into the station this afternoon and i saw somebody looking up into the sky and i said, what are you looking at and they said the sun. it's the first time i've seen it in days. >> the sun did come out this afternoon. you will see more sun on your friday. this is the isotherm map. i just want you to look at the central valley. those should be bright red temperature c

>> reporter: it's worked miracles in getting greg to work through the ptsd from the explosion. >> hegets a little a little better. >> he is like being reborn. >> they are motivating me. i'm sick of doctors and psychologists. i'm sick of every kind of person that wants to talk to me about the fire. >> that's the family that finds triumph through tragedy. it was a terrible thing that happened but if it didn't happen, i'm not sure gets back into the roots of how he became appear olympian in the first place. >> he will be fine no doubt about it. >> see you at 10:00 and 11:00. flo is a gentle giant. bundle home and auto at progressive.com.

diagnosed with ptsd after her return from iraq she says the adjustment back to normal life has been slowometimes i'll be somewhere let's say say for instance in a mall or something and then i'll see myself back in iraq. >> then imagine wrapping all of that experience in something like a bubble or a balloon. >>reporter: the session isn't taking place at the va as you might expect. it's part of a program being organized by the institute for health and healing at california pacific francisco. counselor davenport says the institute integrates variety of alternative therap therapies from this session known as guided imagery to massage and acupuncture your treatment. >> then we have a whole array of classes including yoga, tai chi, chicago gong various kind of movement. >> help me learn to pay attention to my breathing. and then pay attention to what is going on when things do arrive like if my heart starts pumpin pumping. >>reporter: the ps institute partner with the va and veteran group to extend the services to more returning female soldiers. star which is this program. >> biggest thing whe

somebody who might be going into a therapy session, receiving an effective exposure-based treatment for ptsdouble remembering what their therapist tells them during the session, and so having an application that provides them many of the same tools, using the same language and guidance can really reinforce those strategies that they are learning during therapy. >> also, unfortunately, iç thi there's still a stigma involved with therapy for a lot of people, so putting this convenience in people's pockets, sonja, so to speak, is really going to help alleviate maybe part of the stigma but also directly get to a patient that would need it. >> absolutely. i think you make two good points there. one is that it -- you know, the really cool thing about having the smartphone apps is people carry them around all the time so they can have it at a moment's notice if they need help getting through a difficult or stressful moment, but the other part is for -- maybe for people who haven't quite gotten to the point where they are ready or feel like they need to access care. this can provide reliable sort o

if you are a member of the individual ready reserve suffering from ptsd, you are on your own. the same category applies to other categories of reservists, the i.m.a.'s and the members of the inactive national guard. according to the defense department, there are at least 123,000 i.r.r., i.m.a. and i.n.g. members who have done at least one tour in iraq and afghanistan. this would give the funding needed to expand the suicide prevention outreach program to ensure that members of these reserve units who have served a tour in iraq or afghanistan will receive a counseling call from a properly trained counselor not less than once every 90 days so long as the service member remembers in these three units. in these calls, the trained counselor would be required to determine the emotional, mental, medical and career needs and concerns of the reservists. covered reservists identified being at risk would be immediately referred to the nearest military treatment facility. i have discussed this program with the pentagon, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. dr. stanle

the idea being, trying to destigmatize some of the ptsd and mental health issues that troops are facingy doing so, it diminishes the sacrifice of those who die in battle. but families of those suicide victims say this is long overdue. >>> also we're looking ahead to tuesday where the president will award only the second living recipient in these wars of iraq and afghanistan, the medal of honor. sergeant first class leroy arthur petrie will receive the medal of honor on tuesday. he was in afghanistan, about three years ago, had taken fire, taken shrapnel and when a grenade landed just a few feet away from he and some other soldiers, sergeant petrie picked up the grenade and tried to throw it away. it saved his soldiers, but in the process, it detonated and immediately amputated his right hand. president obama will award him the medal of honor on tuesday. susan? >> certainly a a good definition of a hero, chris lawrence, thank you. >>> the navy's ace flying squad performs aerial acrobatics before a hometown crowd, where the blue angels are wowing crowds this weekend. [ male announcer ] wh

military personnel returning from war who were suffering from ptsd. annenberg. >> "situation room" starts in an hour. if there is a verdict, we'll bring it to you immediately. here's an hbo documentary, a 50-state road trip. >> mr. president, this is your newest citizen. he just passed his citizenship and he's going to become an american. >> her husband. >> i pledge allegiance to the united states of america. >> to the republic. >> and one nation under god indy visible. >> with liberty and justice for all. >> thank you. >>. ♪ i pledge aallegiance to the flag ♪ ♪ to the flag of the united states ♪ ♪ of america of america ♪ >> i hereby declare -- >> for long, long time i wait for this day. >> this is greatest day of my life. >> i would rank today as my very top of the line on the best days of my life. >> i love this country to death. god bless america. >> it's a pleasure to call you a fellow citizen of the united states of america. this is now officially your country. so help me god. >> so help me god. >> reporter: eight years ago, my husband was one of

i know that you've mentioned that you've experienced ptsd. is that still the case for you?having a job like this? >> it's very difficult to come back to civilian life after participating in that job in particular. when i finally was able to make my way into a va and see a counselor, i was diagnosed with posttramatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and substance abuse. it's been very difficult. i feel, though, that now i am on a healing path now. >> well, jess, we certainly appreciate you coming on. your book is really something that everybody should read, "shade it black." and we congratulate you on being so brave in serving your country in such a difficult way. so, thank you so much. >> thank you very having me. >>> all right. let's check the hour's top stories. the disgraced former head of the international monetary fund is free on his own recognizance following a bombshell from new york prosecutors. they told the defense and then the court they now have serious questions about the credibility of the new york hotel maid who says dominique s

lay down both of how tbi administered the detection for tbi and how the flow is ultimately in the ptsd so we have one comprehensive answer. >> thank you. i want to thank both of you for the very informative and forthright testimony that she's giving today. it's been very helpful and i would like to pursue the additional information that is mentioned. thank you are a match. >> let's try a three minute second

lay down both of how tbi administered the detection for tbi and how the flow is ultimately in the ptsd so we have one comprehensive answer. >> thank you. i want to thank both of you for the very informative and forthright ttimony that she's giving today. it's been very helpful and i would like to pursue the additional information that is mentioned. thank you are a match. >> let's try a three minute second round. we cannot get three minutes of questions then. when they first ask you, general allen about the questions of deadlines, but be aware of deadlines for previously said were supported a military commanders i believe. in iraq, back in november of 2008, president bush greed to to deadlines for u.s. forces. one in june 2009 deadline for thwithdrawal of u.s. combat forces from iraqi cities and fatcat, a december 31st 2011 deadline for the withdrawal of all u.s. military forces from iraq. is that accurate? >> chairman, thank you for that elaboration. >> did they have the support of the military? >> they did, actually. remember the withdrawal from the cities that were quite willing. >>

return from the war front is a lot of their fellow service men and women have been suffering from ptsdon in general, unemployment, and they feel that not a lot of attention is being shed on these issues and we've tried to do quite a bit about that here on "fox & friends." do you think these issues are getting enough attention? >> it's certainly better than, you know, if you compare it to 30, 40 years ago when our vietnam veterans came back from war, it's certainly better than that. but, you know, while we -- while we're doing, you know, there are organizations out there that are trying to fill those gaps. we can always do more for our veterans as far as i'm concerned. i'm trying to fill some of those gaps by going out and supporting organizations that, you know, have stepped up and, you know, kind of, you know, gotten stronger over the years in terms of their support for wounded warriors and the children that are fallen. mental health issues, what not, grief counseling but, you know, there's never going to be enough. as long as we're deploying our troops to war zones and expecting them

combat situations in afghanistan and iraq have left many vets suffering significant injuries, including ptsd and t.p.i. we have a moral responsibility to take care of those who have put their lives on the line to defend our nation and it would be shortsighted to cut funding for critical research designed to improve medical outcomes from injuries suffered on the battlefield. over the last several years, tremendous progress has been made by the department in reducing the number of homeless vets. according to the v.a., in 2005, an estimated 195,000 vets experienced homelessness on any given night. today that figure is down to 75,600. progress is being made and this bill continues those efforts. the bill also includes funding for the v.a. to transform from a department heavily dependent on paper to a modern agency that leverages technology to shorten the time vets have to wait for services. the funds contained in this bill are necessary for the v.a. to deploy its automateed claims processing system on time. there are only a few parts of the v.a. title, the milcon v.a. appropriations bill. as i h

returning home who have no opportunity or limited opportunity for job training, returning home with ptsd or returning home now having to face the possibility of limited educational benefits because of this bill and its progeny. mr. speaker, now is not the time tone danger benefits to our -- to endanger benefits to our nation's veterans. when veterans come home without limbs because they have defended our freedoms we should not put in place cut, cap and balance legislation on their backs, the backs that are strained and damaged by the injuries they sustained fighting for this country. we should not stand idly by and watch this congress endanger the welfare of our nation's heroes. today's nation's military remains deployed overseas as it has during the last nine years. the funding requirements we face in meeting the needs have significantly increased as we continue to meet an address the longstanding issues from past and current wars. and we cannot watch the requirements of these fighting men and women who come home continue to die. these needs last long after the last american combat ants

is there any signs of ptsd, or is anybody monitoring their psychological or physical health once they are freed? >> given the way that the international shipping industry works, i should imagine there's very little monitoring of what happens afterwards. the, there is no hard evidence as to what is happening to these people, and that is partly because of the way the international shipping industry does work which is to say it tends not to want crew or officers to be interviewed, people tend to be kept away from the press, we don't know really how these people are dealing with it. historically speaking, um, the vast majority of people who had been pirated never went to sea again unless they had to, and that usually meant, clearly, the people -- the lowest-paid portions of the crew. many of the officers historically did not go back to sea again because the trauma was so significant, but we don't have particular surveys as to what has happened to the people who have been held in somalia. >> let me ask ambassador shinn if you could, you mentioned the somali dais rah and america can be part