PTSD: What’s it like to have it? What actions does it excuse?

JBLM sergeant Robert Bales is now charged with murdering 17 civilians on a killing spree in Afghanistan. His attorney says he doesn’t remember doing it, and he may have suffered from a traumatic brain injury and/or PTSD.

What does killing and dodging death do to your brain? How curable is PTSD? And is it an excuse for murder? That’s my topic this week’s Bill Radke Treatment.

I had a fascinating conversation with mental health counselors Peter Schmidt and Linda Green-Baskett and therapist Kirk Honda.

Peter is an Air Force and National Guard veteran who treats vets and their families for the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs.

Linda’s practice is in West Seattle and she volunteers for “Give an Hour,” which offers mental health care to anyone in the military or their family.

Kirk is on the faculty at Antioch University in Seattle and he hosts the “Psychology in Seattle” podcast at www.PsychologyinSeattle.com.

Washington is one of the few states with a Veterans Affairs PTSD program, where mental health providers see service members, Guardspeople, and family members for free. There’s also a program called Vet Corps, where veterans visit college campuses. In case you or someone you know is suffering, here are some resources:

WA Veterans Affairs Dept.

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center