20% of returning war veterans report PTSD or major depression

Jun 4 2010

This past Memorial Day honored those Americans who have died in military service including over 4,000 in Iraq and 1,000 fallen soldiers in Afghanistan.  According to the latest Pentagon study, released in April this year, nearly 20 percent—or one in five returning war veterans—reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depression.  The study also reports that approximately half of them sought treatment.  

Memorial Day this year not only paid tribute to Americans who have died in military service but also marked final day of Mental Health Month.  Paul Huljich chose that same month to share his own story of struggling with mental illness in order to help others like him.  In Betrayal of Love and Freedom (www.betrayalofloveandfreedom.com), Paul Huljich shows that contracting mental illness conditions such as PTSD do not have to incapacitate you for life.  He believes that—through awareness and 30 day regiment of diet, exercise, sleep and stress reduction techniques—anyone can free themselves from the chains of mental illness.  And moreover rediscover their purpose in life outside of a chemical strait jacket and other consequences that befall the victims of mental illness.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a terrifying or life-threatening event, or a series of events causing extreme levels of stress.  PTSD is a complex anxiety disorder that displays myriad symptoms of depression, aggression and emotional detachment.  Often doctors choose to prescribe a number of given antidepressant drugs to victims of PTSD, including Paxil, Seroquel and Klonopin.  According to Paul Huljich, "[the] taking of these drugs without exploring other healthier, more holistic alternatives is extremely dangerous in the long term.  These drugs only offer a band aid to the time bomb waiting to go off at any second."

The New England Journal of Medicine in 2009 reported on a series of cases involving veterans who died in their sleep after taking a cocktail of various prescribed medications.  Its study noted that antipsychotic drugs doubled the risk of sudden cardiac death, a fact that adds to the growing concern about existing speculations on serious adverse effects of psychiatric medications commonly prescribed to emotionally disturbed or traumatized soldiers.  

Paul Huljich overcame his mental illness without the use of any medication.  Through a basic 30 day regiment based on diet, exercise, sleep and stress reduction techniques, he beat the odds and won.  For the past decade he has been symptom-free of the debilitating disorder. He has done what so many of the experts have said couldn't be done, finding a natural, drug-free way to overcome Bipolar disorder and avoid the pain suffered daily by millions.

Now he wants to share his story to help inspire others to fight back!  As featured in CNN, New York Times Book Review, Psychology Today, Harper's, Forbes.com, Organic Food News Today, and interviews in over 30 radio shows across the country, Paul Huljich's message is beginning to change the way in which we regard mental illness and its stigmas.  In publishing Betrayal of Love and Freedom (www.betrayalofloveandfreedom.com), Paul states  "I hope that people will pause for a moment and reflect on where they are in their lives – and where they are headed.  But most of all, I wish for my story to give them hope."