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Lack of motivation - interesting article re:PTSD. Possible contributor?

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Posted 7/13/2015 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
As one on HT and still struggling with motivation issues, I found this an interesting thread. It drifts off into a depression discussion, but the first few posts sound a whole lot like what I've been struggling with. When I previously posted a thread here about this, a number of fellow HT brethren reported lack of motivation issues too, seeming rather commonly experienced. I'm kind of wondering if maybe those of us on HT may actually have an additional angle of some PTSD due to the disease situation putting us on HT.
/www.myptsd.com/c/threads/lack-of-motivation.19961/

I'm not a big one on scapegoating or blaming some "syndrome" for what I am or am not doing. However, maybe there are some strategies that help people experiencing this lack of motivation due to PTSD that could help some of us having this too, whatever the cause.

Just another avenue to explore. For some odd reason I feel kind of motivated to explore and resolve my lack of motivation!

[Edit - here's a related article from the National Cancer Institute with a slightly different take, describing Post Traumatic Stress (but not full-on PTSD).
www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/survivorship/new-normal/ptsd-pdq
Posted 7/13/2015 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Redwing,

You are spot on, IMHO. As one who has been through both the PCa adventure on too many levels...as well as a Combat Veteran (Infantryman), I have been diagagnosied with PTSD for my exposure and experiences in combat..the things that I saw and did over there I wouldn't wish on anyone, same goes for PCa just the same...

I truely feel that what you, me and many others on here and not on here is an can be directly contributed to PTSD and it is not easy to over come.

I have learned to deal with, for the most part my PTSD dealing with combat and death down range..It took me a long time not to blame myself for people who lost their lives while I was there, having someone die in your arms after you have done everything within your power to safe them is tough...but with time and some help it gets better and you realize that everything happens for a reason, and you can't blame yourself for everything or anything for that matter.

I feel that Prostate Cancer is the same. You can't do anything about it. I have been in such a bad rut for the past 20 months that it's not even funny...but I know it is not right, and nothing can be done about it..some days are good, and others just suck, but I think that this too with time shall pass.

I was last exposed to combat in 2005-2006 and then retired from the Army in '07...it took a long time for me to get better and still have things that trigger feelings etc but it does get better and I think that the same will be true of my adventure with PCa...10 more days until my AMS 800 AUS is activated...then I will begin working on getting my life back to what I call the new normal because it will never be the same as it was for me before 11-12-13....

All the best.
Posted 7/13/2015 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Googling "PTSD and cancer" (without quotes) also produces a large number of hits on this subject, in addition to the ones Redwing57 mentions. After looking at a few, this one struck me as being a good overall view of it:

www.healthline.com/health-news/cancer-treatment-leaves-survivors-with-ptsd-scars-031215#7

This article also presents the term "psychiatric oncology," which, when googled, itself produces a good many probably useful hits.

The term PTSD, originally associated mainly with battlefield mental trauma, seems to be taking its place as an appropriate diagnosis for a good many other psychological impairments.

Aside to WAORGANY:

As a fellow combat veteran (Vietnam), I understand how PTSD might well have gotten a hold of you. I seemed to have escaped it myself, fortunately, but I entirely agree with the point you make, that fighting in a war and battling cancer are strikingly similar in many ways.

In both one identifies and fights an enemy, wins some battles and loses others, accepts losses and regroups at times, plans and executes strikes on the enemy, often successfully, and the list goes on. So it only seems reasonable that something like PTSD would occur in both of these kinds of struggles. And the solutions being tried for military PTSD may well apply to helping with cancer PTSD as well.

By the way, WAORGANY, because of your military service surely you are already aware of the U.S. government benefits available to you through the VA (or possibly Tricare in your case?) and you have applied for them?
Posted 7/13/2015 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
81,

I am very fortunate to be retired and luckily covered by Tricare Prime which has for the most part (minus some meds) , so far covered everything that I have had done and been through.

Yes I need to get back with the VA to try to file a new claim to attempt to get them to acknowledge that my PCa is or was caused if nothing else in part by exposure either while in Iraq or from Agent Organe that was tested at Ft. Drum, NY, one of several places it was tested before being used in Vietnam.

When the 10th Mountain Division was originally reactivated at Ft. Drum in 1985 there was exposed chemicals in creeks in the training areas that we used. I was one of the original cohorts Soldiers stationed there from '86-'91... We walked through those areas all the time, it has since been cleaned up and fenced off and is currently being monitored by some agency....

My daughter was also born with a neurological disorder, that effects 1:4,000 births, one of my best friends who's son is two years younger than our daughter who was stationed with me the first six years has the same disorder...and at one point the Army Did a lot or research on that disorder and Congress devoted millions to it every year... Sorry now back to PTSD...
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