I just read with sympathy reports on the ABC regarding vets suffering for want of a better term, P.ost T.raumatic S.tress.

And with contempt that it is alleged that they are not appropriately cared for.

Again, not to go on, but this is another reason why I am oft to suggest that it is counter productive to give away your vote to either the blue or the red of politics.

For the life of me I cannot understand why you think to be well treated by the likes of those who confine children in desert camps let alone their historical and ongoing treatment of the Original Australians?

But alas, I digress. What off the shelf complimentary therapy is easily available to give these people some relief? If any? Does anyone have a contribution?

I'll offer one that I became aware of after an encounter with an individual who would descend into the depths of mental anguish on mere sight of a "knife." He has since recovered.

Mellow music of choice encoded with "Binaural Beats" which have the capacity to entrain the brain into generating gentle "Alpha" rythms.

I would suggest that image inducing "Theta" frequencies ought be avoided, and deep dark Delta states, if possible, to be sought after.

There are software solutions available on the web and also expensive commercial solutions like HoloSync. (Note - the Holosync product is actually a Binaurally encoded product, but all of their periphery material of the psychobabble nature and subliminal enconding technologies are non-essential. From memory the first couple of levels are available with plain binaural encoding only.)

Slowly, slowly, no more than 5-15mins per evening pre-sleep for the first week or so, and thereafter don't over do it lest you become audio sensitive.

Finally, this tech ought be considered a compliment, and not a replacement for conventional therapy.

Personally, I prefer the traditional style approach.
Sticking sardines in my ears and wrapping my left foot in chicken entrails does wonders, "Laughter is the best medicine".
I don't mean to be disrespectful to our Veterans, but I've found over time that approaches as outlined above tend to be like acupuncture and such, they only work for believers, the Placebo effect. Every case is individual, there are no guaranteed methods, just things to try, till you find the one, or the combination, that works.

Dear DreamOn,

What Veterans suffer - only they know.

What I don't understand however, if we send them
to places/and conditions that we can't even begin
to imagine, why are we surprised that they may
end up with mental problems?

I had a friend whose brother was sent to Vietnam.
This young man was mentally weak to begin with,
however he was assigned the task of a "medic,"
and what he was asked to do, and what he saw -
God only knows. When the head of a mate landed
in his lap however - he cracked up totally.

They tried to help him when he got back, but he
eventually ended up taking his own life.

And, from the stories my friend heard from other
Vietnam Vets - this was a fairly common scenario.

If we send them to do the "dirty work," for us,
why shouldn't we give them all the support they
need on their return.

To me it would seem that we owe them at least that.

cont'd...

I forgot to add that the following website
may be of interest:

http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-
auto/healthnews/trau/525170.html

Virtual Reality May Help Troubled Vets.

MAXIMILLION:

Due consideration is a worthwhile concept I believe. A reading from Wikipedia, a viewing of the research done by the medical science fraternity, an examination of the university papers, a read of those qualified practitioners who currently use binaural therapy in their practices, some testimonials from the sleep clinics perhaps ...

It aint no sugar pill the binaural beat effect rest assured, and a matter about which U could potentially convince yourself of in rapid time if U tried it yourself.

FOXY:

Yes, re:your link, brain waves can also be entrained through the eyes, so the right sort of virtual imagery could well be conducive.

The issue in some cases we are dealing with is localised imbalances of brain chemistry, which have a bio electrical energy potential, and in extreme cases the plasticity of the brain / the brain's inheritant dynamism has been lost to the extent of no longer being self correcting. That could be the result of physical trauma, a failure of the re-uptake mechanism, or otherwise ..

It appears in some cases, and do please note that certain disorders prevent the ability of the brain to discern binaural beats, the underlying brain chemistry which is producing errant localised electrical activity can be entrained into a more regular state. ie if you listen to a 10.5KHz Alpha signal, very quickly the brain will begin to resonate at the same frequency, a phenomenon from the scientific point of view which can be, and has been measured by EEG in a predictable fashion.

Dream on, I was not disputing the effect, merely it's efficacy over-all. I see it as an "influence", just like green paint on the walls, aquariums, children, new-mown lawns, puppies, or a hug from loved ones.
Helpful, but not any sort of a cure, and not worth wasting time on as a treatment therapy.