Thank you very much for your input. Both problems have been evaluated at the VA and it looks like you may have a better handle on the problem.
I have had PTSD and I have General Anxiety Disorder from sensory triggered events. This seems an appropriate thread to address PTSD and this other condition on.
If a vet was infantry or had worked in and around loud noises including grenades or even loud machinery, fligh decks, aircraft, turbines, etc their PTSD from events they witnessed can be greatly compounded by the damage the noise did but was never properly diagnosed. This info as such is fairly recent as in the past decade it has become more and more researched.
We all know about vets who have come back home and first loud noise they hit the floor or at least jump as if they had been shot or something. Is that PTSD? Maybe or maybe not or both of the following. This can also be related to nerve damage or sensory processing damage in the Inner Ear. That in turn has been proved to cause anxiety, confusion, loss of concentration, agitation, and even what I refer to as entering a fog of sorts for a period of a few minutes to an hour or more of being detached mentally from your surroundings. These are harmless events but most persons think they are nuts because it happens. It’s simple sensory overload. BTW even surgery can lead to this condition due to going under.
When the person has PTSD from a traumatic event is combined with the sensory damage you have not one but two different issues. The anxiety produced by what is called the Vestibular {meaning Inner Ear auditory and part of the optic sensory system} can trigger a PTSD event at the same time.
Not that many doctors out there realize that many anxiety issues are Inner Ear issues and they treat it with the wrong medications usually antidepressants. Antidepressants given to patients with neurological impairments are more prone to an adverse reaction called Serotonin Syndrome when taking the antidepressants. That is why they have no place being used in combat nor really in active duty. A hundred soldiers may have no issues but one very well could. That reaction can trigger hallucinations.
Ok treatment for the sensory damage is fairly basic. It takes a drug like Xanax, Valium, Librium, or Clonazepam . Xanax IMO has the least side effects and works best. This class of drugs works best for this condition. Getting a V.A. doctor to write it for you? Forget it. It went for a physical check up at the clinic to stay enrolled in the VA auditory program and the doctor immediately freaked and said I want to change that medication. I’ve been on it 17 years safely LOL. He had limited medical history on me and knew me all of three minutes. My family doctor has known and treated me 10 years. Benzodiazepine class medications are the only effective treatment for it.
Many doctors created the Benzodiazepine Boogieman Hysteria by not understanding proper dosages in relation to the bloodstream. A half a MG or .5mg of Xanax taken 3-4 times a day works great. 2mg taken twice a day does not.. The trick is low but consistent levels in the bloodstream. Those medications start too work within 15-20 minutes of taking them. Antidepressants can take up to a month to build up to a therapeutic level and as long to leave the bloodstream if you have an adverse reaction. Warning with these medications can come dependence. Weigh benefits against that. I do not recommend anyone who has had addiction issues to use this treatment. Alcohol intake should be limited as well.
What I have posted can apply to vets or anyone actually. I’m not a doctor but I’ve had this for 17 years and acquired considerable understanding of the condition over the years which improved quality of life and allowed the treatment for PTSD too work after I got the right treatment for the sensory issues. My condition is severe enough I have “jerks” or Myoclonic Seizures with it.
The first attack of it was out of the blue. I did not know where I was at, where I was going, have any relation to time I had been gone, or why I was where I was. I was driving on the interstate. That part of it can be treated and those episodes I can head off. But there is no cure for this disorder. PTSD many times though can be cured with a good therapist. The same conditions that trigger this can trigger PTSD. I’m posting this to ones whom this might help.
If you have a medical history at anytime in life of chronic ear infections, sinus allergies, tubes in ears, etc then you can possibly have this.
OK here is some information on the Hearing and sensory processing system damage I was talking about. Note the descriptions and symptoms.
Sensory Integration Disorder Blog but good information
COGNITIVE ASPECTS OF VESTIBULAR DISORDERS