PTSD stays with troops forever

[pwb]

Can you forget that picture in your head of the planes crashing into the world trade center? No, you will never forget. That is PTSD.

In war there are hundreds of days of killing, seeing fellow soldiers and civilians blown away, bloodied wounded and dying friends. there is no forgetting combat. EVER.

Bring the troops home now.

unite against the bush neocons.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. A dear friend of mine has PTSD from Vietnam to this day.

He was one of two survivors of a platoon (I think 20 soldiers) that was used a "bait" for the Vietcong, only to be squeezed in the center as more U.S. troops surrounded the Vietcong surrounding the platoon.

He had a nervous breakdown in the jungle, was sent back to D.C. for "treatment". But the Pentagon didn't want it getting back to Vietnam that our troops were freaking out in battle, so they classified him as well as others as suffering from "battle fatigue" -- and went ahead and treated him for BATTLE FATIGUE, while cognizant that he had a nervous breakdown. He was left to claw his way back to reality by himself with no meds, no counseling, no recognition.

Forty years later, he has nightmares almost nightly. He wakes up in a sweat, agitated, hypertensive. He can't remember getting an uninterrupted night's sleep.

The Iraqi veterans are in for a looooooooooooong ride.

[unhappycamper]

2. I know a few folks like that myself.

It's very sad.

[JoDog]

3. My friend does, too.

In 1970, he was an 18-year-old with a low draft number who decided to enlist in the Navy rather than wait for the other shoe to drop. He ended up a medic attached to a forward Marine unit, and was one of the few survivors when the unit was practically wiped out in an ambush. Now in his 50s, he still has nightmares, clausterphobia, and cannot bear to talk about the friends he lost--made all the worse because his role as the medic meant that he often presided over their last minutes. All on top of the long-term physical problems caused by the wounds he himself sustained.

My grandfather never spoke of his service in the Air Corps during WWII. His silence makes me wonder what he saw there.

I hope that we can change society to where we give these warriors the help they need to be whole again. Not all wounds can be healed with surgery or a cast.

[lazer47]

4. Speaking as someone who has PTSD

and I will not go into the reason, It is something that cannot be "cured". One can only learn to live with it and try to use certain mechanisms that give you the ability to live a "normal" life. It does not get any better, Unless you knew me In Vietnam and everyday since you would probably never recognize the fact I have it, Thank God I have a wife who understands,, I just hope these Veterans coming home now are as lucky as I am to have people who understand,,

[unhappycamper]

5. Welcome home, Brother. n/t

[lazer47]

6. You too Bro.

What would you bet? that by the time this is over that they don't get their parade either, and it will be the same thing all over again,,

[pwb]

23. But poppy bush had a parade

Not the idiot son.

[malmapus]

12. Hear hear on the wife

Actually freaked my ex out (previous two to think of it, the first was with me WHEN I was in the service). My wife's father was in Vietnam and took him decades to get his life back under some control. He was a big help for helping me gain some sense, I never opened up to anyone like I would with him. Although it kinda worked both ways as we would take each other back to times we would rather not. I guess just knowing that he "knew" that he was there somehow helped me to open up and just not let the shit rot me from the inside out.

I still deal, been out of the service for 12 years now and feel like a noobie compared to the rest of you guys on this board. But yeah those memories are still fresh as if it was yesterday.

I just don't have to put myself to sleep by popping pills with vodka anymore. But I'm still quick to anger and just get all quiet and I retreat back into myself. Man what a beast, espicially since I have a 3 year old daughter and I do my damnest not to let that beast get control of me when she does something "bad" or tests my patience, talk about freaking trial every day. I've learned really well to just walk away and pass off "control". It still sucks though, sometimes I wonder if she or even my wife would have been better off with someone else, like someone "normal" who doesn't deal with this shit all the time.

Bah, now I'm just going on..will go ahead and cut this off now.

[The Wizard]

25. roger that

Same here.
The VA, from my experience, handles PTSD well. They just don't have the budget to address all the veterans with it. The first step is admitting there's a problem. Our basic training ingrained in us the belief that showing any weakness would cause our deaths as well as that of out fellow soldiers. Asking for help is a sign of weakness, especially when there are no physical signs of distress. Most of the guys I encounter in the program waited well over 25 years to do anything. If you run into an Iraq vet, convince him/her to get counseling, and if the VA says they don't have room, insist strongly. One of the characteristics of PTSD is to be easily discouraged.

[ninkasi]

7. I got this today

from a dear, dear friend, and am posting it here with his permission, since PTSD is going to become a huge issue...it already is, but you might want to check into this...

Dear friends,

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held in Houston, TX at Sam Houston Park on May 5, 2007.

I have recently accepted the position of Director of Marketing for THE MENTAL HEALTH CO-OP (www.thementalhealthco-op.com), a residential program for adults with mental illness. Though located in Houston, Texas, I will be working from home in Miami with occasional travel. In the weeks and months to come, we hope to become more visible and active in the community as we grow our agency and programs.

I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my personal walker page to sign up: http://www.nami.org/namiwalks07/HOU/scott. It features a link to my team's page there where you can see who else is walking with me. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation.

NAMI, the Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness, formerly the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those who’s lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.

The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.

NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A+" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars. NAMI has also been given 4 out of 4 stars by The Charity Navigator for short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability.

Thank you in advance for your support.

~ Scott

Scott M. Sasich
Director of Marketing
THE MENTAL HEALTH CO-OP
18735 SW 84 Avenue
Miami, FL 33157
786-735-0507
www.thementalhealthco-op.com


I have known Scott since he was 14 years old, and he is one of the most wonderful, compassionate, people I've ever known. I lost three family members to suicide. It was not related to PTSD, but many of our returning troops are going to be facing huge obstacles in getting the help they need, and deserve.

[ninkasi]

8. Kick

for a worthy cause...:kick:

[Monkeyman]

9. I deal with my PTSD everyday, Since my wife died and I was swift boated along with her the day

I laid her to rest. Its gotten three times worse. I go to group twice a week now. Yes it does stay with you for the rest of your life you just learn to deal with it.

[pwb]

24. Kick, in memory of monkeyman.

[Dover]

10. I really am beginning to sound like a broken record, so forgive me.

Just gonna post this one more time for anyone wishing to explore alternatives to the 'can't be cured' story about PTSD.

Look - http://www.mentorthesoul.com/soldiersheart.htm

Listen - http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/bme/bme070111m.rm

Read - War And The Soul

Talk to those who have been through treatments with this guy.

Nuff said.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[woodyguth3]

13. "Talkng Post Trauma Blues"

Yes, PTSD is a big problem. Expert studies estimate one in four returning Iraq vets are coming home with PTSD or related problems. I wrote this song after reading first hand accounts from PTSD sufferers and their loved ones. Very moving.

Please forgive what may appear to be self-promotion, but I uploaded this video in an honest attempt to increase awareness of PTSD as a serious problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdEJB7UPmUc


(PS - Am a DU newbie. Would have posted this in the political videos discussion, but am not yet permitted.)

[unhappycamper]

14. Welcome to DU woodyguth3

I posted that video in the video forum for ya --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x39485

Are you a vet? If so, Welcome Home, Brother.

[woodyguth3]

16. Thanks for the post

Hello unhappycamper and DU,
Thank you for posting the video.
No, I am not a vet. Long story... but to save you the tome will just say that I "won Nixon's draft lottery" on December 1, 1969. Remember it well. #293. I am not in favor of the draft, but have long thought that if we did have a draft today, the public outcry against the war would be deafening, as it was in 1969.

Regarding this song, I wrote it after being deeply moved by reading several online PTSD discussion forums. Following that with numerous articles in the popular media raised my anger and the need to express myself. Coincidentally, while putting the finishing touches on this song, I learned that my neighbor, a young man who returned from Afghanistan two years ago, snapped and in a reflex reaction killed his friend with a single punch. He is now spending time in jail for involuntary manslaughter, but the lawyer bills resulted in the bank repossessing his mother's house. So, rather than just sing my song in the kitchen, I posted it to Youtube in hopes I can do just a little to raise awareness.

Interestingly, the video was picked up by Neil Young's "Living With War Today" site, and after only a month is listed as #10 out of 240 anti-war videos. So I guess it is a message that others are responding to. There is also an audio version on his site. If you are interested, here is a link to Neil Young's site:
<http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/index.html>

Peace,
-Tom

[unhappycamper]

17. I'd be happy if I missed a draft in 1969.

It was a 'busy' time over there. I'm in the been there, done that club. . .

Are you going to be busy on 8/25? Kennebunkport should be a fun place to visit - http://www.kportprotest.org/index.html

[pwb]

27. i was in basic in 69 when my draft number was 328

i would not have been drafted if i did not enlist. oh well.

[pwb]

28. ditto

[pwb]

21. your song fits well with my post...Thanks

A song about the chickenhawk neocons would be nice.. Peace
PWB.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

15. Still with me

Not as often.

But

still


there

[phildo]

18. Turn and run into the fire.

Yeah, btdt, too.

Did discover that it all warps time right around itself. Yesterday is today is tomorrow, and it is always there until you clean it up. And that clean-up part is an active choice.

dunno if it makes any sense or not, but the only real advice I can give (if you want it :) ) is -- Turn and run into the fire. Makes no sense on an analytical level, but it is only imaginary, now. Scary, yes. But not real.

And things seem calm, cool and peaceful on the other side.

[woodyguth3]

19. Please explain

Hello Phildo,
Please elaborate. What do you mean, "turn and run into the fire". I gather you are actively in the "clean it up" process?
Best wishes,
-woodyguth3

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

20. No, he means when you get ambushed

The opposing force expects you to turn and run away, that is where they are waiting for you. By turning and running into the fire, you fuck up their plans.

It works too.

[The Wizard]

26. Ambush procedure

Throw grenades behind the target, set off claymores when the target runs away from grenades, followed by small arms fire.

[pwb]

22. That makes no sense

What men would follow you using that tactic?