SallyAM

Guess the Medics and Corpsmen are getting more awarness training now in the area of PTSD.

It is more an emotional disorder...and I am glad the stigma is being removed and being replaced by awarness of the symptoms. It is really disconcerting when you know you feel like your actions are not your own...just not you, especially when you don't have a clue what the heck is going on.

quote:

Originally posted by mainedawg:
Sally, I am so glad you went for help. I was told for years that I had PTSD, and I told them where to go and there was no such thing.

5 years of councelling now I am a funtioning memeber of society. Well, some what.

I don't drink and don't fight any more.

The Vet Center had a very good counceller here and made a change in my life.

Never look at my spelling, Please.

Which Vet Center? One in Bangor where the old recruiting center used to be is excellent!

Maybe we can get this great influx from all over the USA going into Maine....they'll never know what hit

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tower_Flower,

quote:

Originally posted by Bob058:
GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

This looks like a good new home and I see a lot of new faces I hope will hang out here and become part of our forumily.

WELCOME HOME!!!

Killer Bee, eh.

Hi everyone. I'm new to this. Forgive me if I ramble. I'm a Christian and a conservative. I joined the Army in 1999 out of love for my country and a sense of duty to it. As a Christian/conservative, I have always felt that individuals should practice personal responsibility for their actions. I still feel this. And this is why it's so difficult to join a disscussion like this.

I have been in the Army for 7 and a half years. I am a 97B (counterintelligence). I just returned from a deployment in Iraq this past September. I was stationed in the city of Hit , which is located about 40 miles west of Ramadi in Al Anbar province.

I was the team leader for a Tactical Human Intelligence Tem supporting Task Force 1-36, 1st Armored DIV. I have been suffering from symptoms of PTSD for the past week.

I did not wittness horrible things... never saw a dead body.... never shot anyone... (never even fired my weapon at all)... I did know of three people who dies in this unit... I did go through an IED attack on my vehicle (no one hurt).... and I did have half my team get wounded during an IED attack on their dismounted patrol.

My only guess as to the reason for my condition is survivor's guilt. This unit I was with was extremely fortunate to only lose three soldiers in the five months I was with them. It should have and could have been much more. Each time I went out of the wire, I would pray and ask God that since I knew were I was going when I died, that He would take me, and only me, if and when we were attacked and someone would have to die. I loved every soldier I was with and would have given my life for them.

I didn't think I would have mental problems when I got back. I considered myself very strong mentally, and with God on my side... who could break me.

It's hard to talk to my wife and others about the soldiers I knew that died. I keep thinking to myself that it should have or it could have been me. I and my team, were very fortunate. In the entire time I was in one of the most volatile regions of Iraq, I, and my team, wer only attacked four times.

I keep having panic attacks. I can't explain the feeling. I feel like I might lose control of myself and hurt someone. I know I don't want to, and I tell myself to calm down, but I feel athat I will hurt someone who does something to set off my natural self-defense mode that I developed while being over there. Also, I cry a lot when thinking of the friends I lost there.

If there are any of you out in Hawaii, I ask that you would please e-mail me, or respond to this forum. I need some people to talk to that have gone through similar thigns.

My wife is so worried for me. I've only been back for three weeks and acting like this is frightening her.

Also, I'd just like to thank all of you veterans from previous wars. I guess that while you're in a war, everything you do seems to pale in comparison to the veterans of previous wars... those whom you've elevated to heroic statii. It's the same in this one. We veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom salute you fellows who fought, and died, in all the past conflicts. Every operation is different, yet the same. Each produces casualties that are physical... and mental. Thank you to all of you in this forum. It is nice that some people recognize the anguish that soldiers and veterans go through.

Please contact me. Thanks.

Pray for those still in harms way, and ESPECIALLY their families.

Joshua D. Hall
SSG, USA
B Co, 205th MI Bn

JOSHUA

WELCOME HOME, BROTHER and welcome to our forumily.
Don't feel bad about rambling, we all do. If you feel uncomfortable, just check in and listen to the rest of us, join in only if you want to.

First of all...Check with your County Offices for a Veteran's Service Office (VSO) and make an appointment. If there is a VET Center contact them.

You are feeling the same things EVERY Veteran feels after returning from a terrifying ordeal. Don't try to handle it by yourself, the VA will help you.

The wonderful people on this thread have all been there in one way or another, trust them and listen to them, ramble all you want.

LINDA (Tower Flower)
The 'Bee was done by a couple of guys from the Battalion, I stole it. But, I haven't seen anyone else using it, so it's mine!!!!!

http://groups.msn.com/AftermathofwarcopingwithPTSDtoo/welcome.msnw

Thank you Soldier

Have you stopped to thank a veteran today?
For the price of freedom they had to pay?
Did you gaze into those distant eyes?
Did you see the ghosts he can't deny?
Did you think a soldier's heart was made of steel?
Because he was trained to kill, he couldn't feel?
Did you see the guilt written on his face,
For the loss of life he can't replace?
Did you know he mourns the lives he couldn't save,
And walks with comrades in their grave?
Did you remember the boy with innocence lost?
Do you really know war's ultimate cost?
Have you felt the blast of artillery fire?
Do you have the courage it would require?
Have you stood in trenches consumed with fear?
Felt the enemies breath so very near?
Have you walked with God on a battleground?
Seen your brothers dead or dying all around?
Have you stopped to thank a vet today,
Or did you just turn and walk away?
From the pain he'll carry for the rest of his life,
Did you consider his family, his children, his wife?
That watch him suffer in silence each and every day,
As he's haunted by memories that don't go away?
Did you care that the soldier is still pulling guard?
That his heart, mind, and soul will forever be scarred?
Do you know how he suffers from ptsd?
Or that our precious freedom is never free?
Do you care that he still hears the blood curdling screams?
Or that he returns to the war each night in his dreams?
Have you felt the sorrow of a combat vet?
Or would you rather just forget?
That war has pierced his hardened heart,
And torn this soldier all apart?
Would you rather our heroes just fade away?
Or will you stop to thank a vet today?

By Chris Woolnough

The Aftermath of War



We found a wounded veteran,

And held him in our hearts.

We've seen the bravest soldier,

Break down and fall apart.



Yet we love our heroes,

Like no other has before.

We're the wives of combat veterans,

In the Aftermath of War.



We had to learn the hard way,

When coping with PTSD,

That their war is never over,

And freedom is never free.



We bandage up their broken hearts,

The best we can each day.

We see the scars upon their souls,

That never go away.



Knowing we can't heal the wounds,

That cut their very core.

We're just trudging through the trenches,

In the Aftermath of War.



We've seen them lose their faith in God,

And in the human race,

As they try to hide the anguish,

That's still written on their face.



We've witnessed all the symptoms,

That they're not willing to admit.

We've dodged the screaming bullets,

And been crawling in the ****.



We've felt the anger, guilt and blame,

Of these men that we adore.

As we stumble on the battlefield,

In the Aftermath of War.



Each day we share the horrors,

Of a pain they can't forget,

And we feel we lived through combat,

Because we love a vet.



But we are all survivors,

And we're learning how to cope.

Hanging on with all our might,

Just holding onto hope.



And our soldier's heart will cry out,

That they couldn't love us more.

Because we're sitting in their foxhole,

In the Aftermath of War.

By Chris Woolnough

please pay us a visit in the aftermath of war!

Thanks to all who are posting here.

To Mainedawg: (A little humor here). I know OF Gary Burns at DAV. Since he had such a strong National background, the docs and rating people at Togus were very intimated by him as he had more information than they did about procedures, law, etc. He'd also had a good relationship with the Secy of VA at that time.

So yeah, his reputation was the best. (Sorry it took me so long to re-figure who he was).

Thanks.

Can a person suffer from PTSD without being or going in a war?

Trauma has many faces.

Hi everyone! A person can have PTSD without being in a combat situation ! I suggest that everyone new and old read Dave's website and the old threads. They have alot of good information on them. I think that God is the reason that I am still here on this planet! If you think that you are having signs of PTSD , you are! Get your body to the nearest mental health treatment. PTSD is a mental disorder and you are not going crazy but it feels that way! I am glad that I got into treatment when I did! I was at the bottom of the pit and no clue how to get out! When I met my husband , Mike, I was nonfunctional. He decided that he was going to help me with God's help. I still have PTSD but at least now I am functional . We all share the bond of living with PTSD! Sally

Darn...I don't see any of those white knights jumping out of the bushes to come to my rescue...I would settle for a healthy relationship with a good man!

Hey TF where were ya a few years back?

Figures.

Anyway, to answer a previous post, PTSD is not confined at all to combat experience. It can come from natural disaster, accidents, abuse; any experience outside the 'normal' experience that a person finds in their life.

There is a lot of misuse of the term 'PTSD' in the entertainment business and movies. You'll find tons of information in the archived threads and by Googling PTSD.

Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for your posts.

Thanks

I don't know according to the VA I do not have PTSD, but then again I do. Then a private therapitst tells me I do. All I know is that it is not good for me to get involved in certain situations dealing with the gulf and related areas, and how my service treated me when I needed help the most. The VA classifies it as Depression, well no kidding if you felt this way you'd be depressed too!! Anyway will check in from time to time nice to see others that are dealing with some of the feelings I do.

God Bless
Don

Don

PTSD can mimick alot of mental illnesses sometimes, and it takes care providers who are familiar with PTSD to pick up on the full diagnosis. It is more of an emotional disorder. Even a shrink in the PTSD program acknowledged his frustration with his peers at misdiagnosing PTSD.

Ask the mental health providers to point you in the direction of a care provider in a PTSD program to assist you in your quest, or go to a Vet Center not connected with the VA if you so desire.

There is a forum here that can assist you also, by directing you to different links...maybe you can figure it out enough to decide what path to take for your health concerns.

Well God bless you mightily also, and thanks for serving!

Joshua,

Dear Brother. Welcome home and welcome to our forumily (forum + family). I returned from Mosul in February 05 and can appreciate your symptoms. I went through a similar situation. When I got back eveything was different. My wife thought I was closing her out of my life emotionally. I told her to just give me some time to adjust and regather my emotions. I have since learned that PTSD has nothing to do with faith or the lack thereof. It is the mind's coping reaction to danger stressed and scarred out of proportion.

There are some great folks on this forum that care about you. You are among friends. They have offered some good advice about seeing the VA and finding a good therapist.

You are welcome to email me: hlrs36@aol.com I have a good ear and a strong shoulder.

Harold "preacher"

OldAFcop,
I am in an Air Nat'l Guard unit and since the war on terror our Ops Tempo rivals active duty. Unfortunately, our guardsmen are coming back home to be put off of orders and sent back to civilian life without the benefit of being on an active duty base and having those resources available. My base now has a track record of discharging those who are having problems re-adjusting punitively. My best friend at the base (an AF Cop) is in the process of being run out punitively. He is a MSgt and was deployed in the center of the war on terror. He has tried to get IG, GAO, anybody that can help him involved, all to no avail. He has lost his civilian job because one punitive measure invoked was the suspension of his clearance. The guy has been of active duty since the middle of may and now has no purpose as he has been barred from the base and has no civilian job. I am extremely worried about him but need help in telling him where to turn. Sorry for the long post but just need help.

WELCOME HOME, BROTHER,
Tell your AF Cop to check in the phone book under County Offices for a Veterans Service Office and call there for an appointment, otherwise if there is a Vet Center nearby go there. These are prelim suggestions and there are many people on here who can help. Stay tuned.

The key here is:

D-O-C-M-E-N-T-A-T-I-O-N

In addition to getting him treatment. It will matter later on.

Protocol is:

1. Call 911 if in trouble.
2. Get to ER/physician ASAP.
3. Vet Centers.

These are times for vets to work together to help each other.

Remember: This is an anonymous internet forum; the best care is by local, trained professionals!

Hi everyone! I am repeating myself self again. Please if you think that you and/or someone you care about has PTSD call and/or get into the nearest VA hospital and /or Vet center and ask for help. Explain to them and have it written down what is happening to you. I was diagnosed as MST, anxiety, depression. After my comp&pen exam , I got the diagnosis of chronic, mild to severe PTSD. When I got out of the service the VA did not tell me anything. At least now , the VA has help for all veterans, we just need to ask and keep asking for help! PTSD is a mental disorder not a mental illness. You are not alone, hang in there! Note: Mike came into my life totally by surprise but we both feel that God wanted us together. I had not dated since the rape and finding Mr. Right was not even on my mind. I am still in treatment for PTSD. Hanging In! Sally