A big congratulation is in order for our Co-Founder, Shawn J. Gourley, who achieved top honors PTSD research. Shawn has successfully completed her psychology courses to earn her Degree of Certificate in Military Resilience from Liberty University. She returned to school last fall and has been working her tail off since then. During this last semester, she was invited to participate in Research Week. Most of us have heard her speak of Mefloquine and the importance of helping couples “See it from both sides” in the past, but thanks to Liberty University, she was presented an opportunity through Research Week as an Undergraduate to do two research projects, overseen by Dr. Andrew Ferrell, to test her hypothesis.
Eyewitness News
July 17, 2015 6 pm
Valdosta, GA – On July 4th, just days after fireworks became legal in Georgia, a young veteran took his own life, after fireworks triggered his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In response to Mike Kreft’s passing, the Valdosta community is now sending an important message with yard signs.
‘Combat veteran lives here. Please be courteous with fireworks’, the signs read.
We covered Kreft’s story, and the result has been an outpouring of support. One group, called ‘Military With PTSD’, has donated yard signs for local combat veterans to help raise awareness about the disorder.
200 of those signs will be distributed in the Valdosta community at an event on Saturday.
Eyewitness News Reporter, Winnie Wright, covered the Mike Kreft story, and is hosting the event. “This event was all promulgated by the fact that people wanted to support Mike Kreft. They wanted to support his memory, they wanted to support his family and other veterans in our community. So we will be out here on Saturday from 10 to 1 at the American Legion Post 13”, she says.
The combat veteran signs are free to the public.
If you cannot make Saturday’s event, they will be available at the Lowndes County Courthouse, the Georgia State Patrol in Valdosta, the American Legion Post 13, and the VSU Office of Adult Military Programs.
What does the Resolve of a Caregiver video series teach and how can they help?
Video made by Marine Veteran Frankie Hill Pluviose. Showing PTSD from a Veterans view.
I had to shoot a flash-film last week and only had a lil bit of time to do it and I was a one-man crew. I called up my good friend, Mike Hoover, who is an awesome actor to help me out. We knocked all of this out in about 2 hours. This is dedicated to all my veterans. I know what some of you go through. I hope you enjoy it.
Posted by Frankie Hill Pluviose on Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Partners have a number of challenges when living with a veteran who has PTSD. PTSD caregivers feel that they must take care of us veterans and attend closely to the veteran’s problems. PTSD caregivers may respond in ways that worsen the problem rather than help recovery. They may have difficulty understanding, become angry with us veterans, communicate poorly, and/or fail to provide support. (Julia M. Whealin, Ph.D)
You Know You Have PTSD When…