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Dr. Anne Freund on how many US soldiers go from the front lines to their front yards with little time or training to transition back
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I get a welcome back to fox news live I'm -- -- thanks for staying with us.
On this Friday last Friday before the holiday weekend I'm so glad you're here -- want to switch gears now from politics to a very important subject matter.
The critical impact of stress post combat reactions.
That is our topic right now on I'm pleased to introduce to here on -- doctor and and I just ask you had to say your last name crying crying eye doctor and find.
The author of taming of the firewood and life after war there we're looking at your at your new book there.
-- and there's there's so much to talk about what this.
Many US soldiers go from the front lines to their front yards as you say with little -- -- training to transition back this is something we've been hearing about for so long that yet.
It's still an issue that needs to be addressed that with them with a lot of care a lot of resource strength.
Absolutely and the truth is that nobody who's in Baltimore doesn't scared everybody it's affected.
And one of the problems is that a lot of the troops and their families are not fully prepared for what the natural post combat reactions that they will experience once they get time.
And that is very different from 41 post traumatic stress disorder.
And I made the -- disorder.
This -- is what implies stigma and I think that's what keeps a lot of people from talking about it and am now getting help.
I think there's a lot of pride a lot of people don't want to come forward and say look I need some help.
But when you're talking about the resources of talking about the transition.
What needs to be got a lot of people may hear that there's not enough being done and that might surprise -- thinking -- surely isn't there.
-- their programs out there why aren't people getting the help they need.
Well I think I think.
That they had the parents are there and certainly there are resources available.
One of the problems is that when people get back you know they're they want to get back to their families who -- to get back to their lives.
And so they -- they try to -- the door behind them on some of the traumatic experiences that they haven't combat.
And I think it's very important.
To educate themselves and their family members as to what's natural and normal and what's to be expect -- Because it really helps them cope with it better and then maybe opens their communication lines for the families to be able to talk about.
What's going on and it's it's time to break the silence.
Now this book tending the fire within the life after war.
Welcome people find in this book what do you write about it there's a tool to help people through this well.
It's it's really -- a very conversational.
Time.
-- explains to the veterans the combat veterans and their families.
You know what to expect -- kinds of natural fit issues are going to arise.
And virtually everybody regardless of which era of war they were -- You have to haven't talked -- -- combat veterans over these years they all report same kinds of reactions.
When I -- -- about it.
Well I think examples like Blake when somebody just comes back from overseas they're likely to be very tense while they're driving down the road because they're used to looking for -- or.
Objects by the side of the road and that's of course where the IDs are located and so that's a natural reaction -- one would expect that's one example.
And you mentioned that there is a free downloadable clip this absolutely.
Absolutely we really wanted to make this available through troops and their families.
And so anybody can go to WWE.
Dot com.
And download a free copy of the book and if not for themselves for somebody else that they know might be able to benefit.
Let's talk about the and that's wonderful because so many people may not you know and in just even getting to.
And online bookseller or go to go have to store can sometimes be something they don't wanna do so knowing that you can get for free and -- huge gift from you.
Object to these people who are coming back let's talk about some of the stats -- post traumatic stress disorder among the general population we house -- -- Information want to put up here on our screen seven point seven million American adults age eighteen and older.
Among the general population.
I think that is a stunning figure.
It has.
But that anybody who goes to very severe traumatic.
And sedans like the first responders involved in the -- has Bryant.
Again -- it they're natural reactions that everybody deaths -- once they've been through something horrific like about.
Right and we also have more information on posttraumatic stress disorder among post 9/11 -- let's put that up an estimated thirteen to 20%.
Of the two point six million US service members.
Again another high figure that is to look at.
And really I'm trying to focus on the 80% to do not have.
Full one PTS -- because.
My stop and think about it 80% of the folks out there are you know they're struggling and are doing with these natural issues.
But again because of the stigma associated with it they -- attention minimize that and nobody talks about it and so my hope is by educating people with this book.
As that we'll open lines of communication trying to make it okay and say let's get real about this this is something that affects everybody -- it's OK let's don't be embarrassed about it let's talk about it.
How many different have you talked to Huntington and you know and thousands thousands -- what are what are the things that they tell you.
What I wouldn't give -- can you give us some examples and also -- -- examples of family members you probably talked to a lot of wives and children as well.
I think one of the one of the reactions normal reactions that affects families the most is probably some of that emotional detachment.
Which can come across as being somewhat cold emotionally cold.
-- reality.
Plan when somebody's in combat they have to be able to set their emotions off to be able to go back day after day after day to face.
The things that they have to deal with and sometimes that can be hard for family members wants the veteran gets time.
You know it's not that easy there's -- and I suspect time right.
And I I would imagine with some of the things I've heard through my work here Fox's.
And when you're talking people who come home from war.
They they just don't seem like the same person like the -- daddy -- the same day long even you know just like there's there's a different things you know obviously been through this.
And this is such an important tool that you have brought forward we want to remind people again.
Of this free download we want to put it up on your screen.
And we want to encourage everyone you know what a great gifts to give somebody knows something to forward to them say hate this this might be something that will help you.
We want to remind people to go to the free download and it's at.
Go you go ahead and do the web -- -- WWE.
Dot com.
And it's on the tribute to the -- -- iPad and active people -- can people find you through this that they have questions or maybe want to reach out there.
Ask you more well thank you so much for being with us and and bringing this important story.
-- and -- spoke to our viewers thank goodness all right so we're gonna take a quick break when we come.
