Local Vets Suffering From Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Get Some Help At A Special Conference

(Rockford, Illinois) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD for short, is one of the most devastating illnesses facing veterans returning home from war. Today in Rockford, Stateline vets got some help in learning how to overcome PTSD. That help came in the form of a conference held at Rockford`s Memorial Hall that focused on helping veterans of the war on terrorism, including both Iraq and Afghanistan. Experts say most people don`t realize just how devastating PTSD can be and how it can lead to drug and alcohol abuse or even suicide for some veterans. Many combat vets struggle to deal with traumatic memories of combat, and today`s conference brought in a host of experts who offered advice on how to deal with the increasing problem of PTSD. Robert Kelter, a social worker who works for the Veterans Department in Madison, Wisconsin, helped organize and attended today`s conference. He says the number of PTSD cases has increased today from past wars and adds, "Almost 40 percent of those soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, and that`s a high number." Kelter adds veterans suffering from PTSD can find relief and improvement through a combination of individual, group, or medication therapy, depending on the needs of the individual.