| Abstract: | Describes the nature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffered by Vietnam veterans and the need of a PTSD survivor to use the social healing process to defuse the influence of the traumatic material and to assimilate it. The healing process is considered to have 2 introspective dimensions—the mourning of losses and the examination of self. Each individual relies on a social context to accomplish the process. If patients do not feel approved of within their social context, then they are unable to assume an objective attitude of self-examination. The combined process of mourning and self-examination can enable the veteran to come to better terms with the identity issues of young adulthood, provided that there is a supportive social network available. It is suggested that every veteran with PTSD should receive some form of social-interaction-type treatment as a primary goal to overcome social isolation. Other forms of treatment should be used, according to the symptomatology and the veteran's suitability. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
