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I hesitantly post here. But I felt I could bring something positive to the table. I am an Active Duty Army Combat Medic Soldier with 19 years of Service and multiple combat deployments. I have seen things no one should have to see, and live with PTSD. I struggled with it silently for many years until my wife finally convinced me to see someone. Some of the things being said here are true, others half true, and still others not so much. The good thing is that you all cared enough about the OP's comments and wanted to help. I can only speak for myself and and my experiences. There is a stigma, a feeling of shame, weakness, about not being understood, this may not apply for everyone. Many of us who have experienced these things don't belly up to the bar and tell war stories. We struggle with it internally,not knowing how to cope with our issues and PTSD effects everyone differently and every one has different stressors and breaking points. Those of you who have never been there may never understand even if I told you, but those who have served understand. I hate to sound cliche, but its true. Anyway, your friend has to be the one to make the choice to seek help despite your good intentions. Even with my wifes urging, it was my decision alone to make. However, if you wish to leave him something, instead of books, leave him this number. The Veterans Crisis Line. A toll free number, 1-800-273-8255. It's manned 24 hours a day, staffed by professionals who wont judge, but who will listen and help. Time to get off my soap box. If you are truly interested in helping your friend and others like him, seek out your local VA and become a trained volunteer. Finally, I would like to thank you, for having the courage and compassion to care. I appreciate you. Thanks - Mac
Last edited by j2mclaughlin; 05-09-2014 at 05:37 PM..
Reason: grammar
Therapy for PTSD doesn't have to involve reliving and discussing the events. EMDR doesn't involve that, and removes the emotional charge attached to the events, so that people are at peace with their memories after treatment. If more vets were aware of this treatment and how easy it is, they might be more willing to do it.
I've heard good things about this. j2, have you tried this? I know a couple of women who've done it, and they say it's great.
I hesitantly post here. I am an Active Duty Army Combat Medic Soldier with 19 years of Service and multiple combat deployments. I have seen things no one should have to see, and live with have PTSD. I struggled with it silently for many years until my wife finally convinced me to see someone. Some of the things being said here are true, others half true, and still others not so much. The good thing is that you all cared enough about th OP's comments and wanted to help. I can only speak for myself and and my experiences with fellow Soldiers. There is a stigma, a feeling of shame, weakness, about not being understood, this may not apply for everyone. Many of us who have experienced these things don't belly up to the bar and tell war stories, sadly many of us do however, fight nightmares and demons with the bottle. I fortunately, am not one of those. Anyway, your friend has to be the one to make the choice to seek help despite your good intentions. Even with my wifes urging, it was my decision alone to make. However, if you wish to leave him something, instead of books, leave him this number. The Veterans Crisis Line. A toll free number, 1-800-273-8255 manned 24 hours a day, staffed by professional who wont judge, but who will listen and help. They may even offer you advice. If you are truly interested in helping your friend and others like him, seek out your local VA like you mentioned and become a trained volunteer. Finally, I would like to thank you, For having the courage and compassion to care. Even though the war is over for the American public and no longer dominates American television, it still plays on for many of us. Thanks - Mac
Thank you so much for your informative post. I will take your advice to my heart, especially the bolded.
I don't want to just make empty promises or say "thank you for your service" I want to do something for these veterans because I have seen what they've been through.
Finally, I hope I don't make you feel uncomfortable but please know that I mean what I say when I say this.
"Thank you for your service, and because people like you and my friends exist in this world. I am humbled as a human being."
Take care of yourself ! I wish you well and all the happiness in life.
Last edited by lilyflower3191981; 05-09-2014 at 06:02 PM..
I've heard good things about this. j2, have you tried this? I know a couple of women who've done it, and they say it's great.
I have not. I have heard about it, but to be totally honest with you I would be hesitant to try it because my memories involve the loss of life would be to painful. I cry enough as it is watching stupid Budweiser Welcome home commercials and such. You would thin I was watching Hallmark Christmas Countdown movies with the wife
I have a very good friend who is a combat veteran suffers from PTSD. Well, obviously, he has never been formally diagnosed, but all the symptoms he experiences tell me that he needs professional help.
He drinks every single day and he even talks about killing himself.
I told him that he needs to seek professional help to treat PTSD. He said he would seek professional help if he feels like it.
As a friend, what can I do to help? Also, what exactly are the reasons why some Veterans refuse to seek professional help to treat their PTSD?
Just want to Thank You for your compassion towards forgotten veterans.
One of the things that go with being a baby boomer and a military brat is you have had the opportunity to meet several veterans of wars. My dad was a vet of Korea and Vietnam. The majority of vets I have known were drunks, a lot of it because of the era they come from.
There have been veterans of war since time immortal and there must have been cases of PTSD since then. It seems the condition popped up after the early 90s war in Kuwait/Iraq as I had never hear the acronym.
Vets of WWII had a much harder time than modern soldiers. Those in Vietnam had a rougher time as well. Take time to ask these guys and you will learn. My dad was poisoned by radiation during Vietnam as he was part of a detail to clean up some serious mess in Iceland in 1968. Everyone involved with that is either dead or dying of cancer.
There was no outreach to the Vietnam vets - they were shunned by some - as I knew many. One guy was a Capt in the USAF during Vietnam and he dropped out of life after dropping countless bombs from his F4 onto people he couldn't imagine. He showed up at one of my construction sites looking for work in the late 70s I hired him and he liked the physical work as well as the company of people on the job.
When did society become concerned about the welfare of veterans? Thousands of years of wars and it became a priority withing the last 29 years?
Forgive me if I seem uncaring but, as I prefaced, I have been around a lot of them - Seals, Rangers, Green Beret, Pearl Harbor survivors, sailors, sharpshooters, pilots and point men on jungle patrols - who never had the luxury of anyone concerned about their PTSD. It was know as being shell shocked before the turn of the century. These guys were left to their own.
I knew a guy who drove a General's jeep around Germany during Vietnam and he was one of the worst head cases. The two Pearl Harbor survivors I knew - how many are left? - were retired from a second career and were cantankerous old guys who made more sense than most up until they died.
In these days everyone on earth should have PTSD from the sheer overload of crap we endure on a daily basis. The world is in a constant state of flux which wears on peoples minds more than most can conceive.
Rough, but I got through it.
People think that treating PTSD is painful because you have to relive the trauma every time you receive the treatment. It is not necessarily true.
People also think that flashback is one of the symptoms of PTSD, but my psychologist told me that what they are dealing with the most is something called "intrusive thoughts." (unwelcome involuntary thoughts, images, or unpleasant ideas that may become obsessions)
Of course different people experience different symptoms. I never experienced flashbacks, I was just really depressed because I have been tormented by guilt every single day.
I don't know how my veteran friends even function daily to be honest, some of them feel like they are still in combat zone on daily basis.
When they do receive EMDR treatment, they can experience immediate relief. One friend's stress level was about 10, but after one session, his stress level went down to 5 or 6. It (EMDR) really works.
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