Wednesday, September 8, 2010

True Blood and Real-Life Issues like Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Terry Bellefleur, True Blood, Todd LoweTrue Blood is endlessly entertaining for its multitude of fans, but it also points out many things that are real issues in society. One such issue that's been used in the show is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This anxiety disorder affects a lot of soldiers, as well as some regular citizens in certain cases. In True Blood, we know that Terry Bellefleur is a veteran who suffers from PTSD. We also saw Lafayette displaying early symptoms of PTSD after his imprisonment by Eric in the dungeon at Fangtasia. What is PTSD? Well, according to PTSD Information, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is:
A medical diagnosis, established in 1980, defining symptoms that last at least a month after experiencing a major trauma. These symptoms include remembering or reliving the trauma when you do not choose to; feeling numb and withdrawn; and, having forms of anxiety that interfere with daily life.
Veterans deserve our help and our utmost respect. They risk their lives on the battlefield to keep us safe, which can unfortunately result in physical, mental, and emotional injuries for them. Many need help and aren't getting it. We here at TrueBloodNet.com want to help support any veterans who need it and their families. There are many places online where those who support veterans can get information to donate and veterans can go to get help. One of the better known ways that people can help veterans is to donate to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). They accept donations of clothes, money, cars, and several other things. The Vietnam Veterans of America are a non-profit corporation that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(19) of Internal Revenue Service Code. If you wish to make a donation, please click here to do so. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs — National Center for PTSD is another great source. They even have a page that specifies where people suffering from PTSD can get help if they need it. There is lots of information available on the site that can benefit those suffering from PTSD and their families. Another site dedicated to people who suffer from PTSD, and those at risk for PTSD is Gift From Within. This site helps to disseminate information about PTSD through educational materials. The Veterans Health Council is another great place for veterans to get information that can help them. If someone is a veteran of the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, or the Global War on Terror and have any of the service-related illnesses listed on each page, then they may be eligible for health care, compensation, and benefits. Another great place for veterans to get information is the Veteran's Support Foundation. This nonprofit was created to improve the quality of life for veterans and their families. The Veterans of Modern Warfare is also a great place for veterans to go to learn about services they could be eligible for amongst other things. This site focuses on mutual assistance to veterans from 1990 to the present. Some of the core strengths of the VA health care system have included orthopedics, PTSD treatment, and geriatric care, all of which can be used to meet the needs of modern warriors. True Blood has affected lots of veterans. Some of them have gone on to join role playing groups and create support groups amongst themselves in order to talk with others who understand what they've been through. If you or anyone you know has PTSD and needs help, please don't be afraid to ask for it. As shown above, there are many groups who are ready and willing to help. (Image Credit: HBO Inc.)

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