thoughts on ptsd

[alxone]

ok so im kinda on the fence about the subject while yes i do acknowledge that it is a real thing but a part of me thinks that far too many people use it as an excuse to get out of real life .

ok before i have a bunch of pissed off vets crying or asking questions like has the op ever seen his buddy shot ,been shot at or had to run for his life ect . the answer is yes and lets leave it at that . i do not want to start any pissing matches on who had it more ruff ect . this is meant to be a civil conversation on the subject of ptsd

1 . what do you think causes ptsd
2 . what should the recovery time be (believe me when i say some things stick with you forever, but when should real life begin again and you just live with your memories like the rest of us)
3 what do you think the treatment should be , therapy drugs ect. (i personally think drugs are not the way to go because when you sober up you still have to deal with it )

this should be a good read provided everyone keeps it civil

[mcantar18c]

Check out On Killing and On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Gives you a whole new level of understanding PTSD, among other things.
I have both if you'd like to borrow them.

[DD977GM2]

Its real and like anything, ****stains take advantage of it.

1. Everyone deals with PTSD diffrently as far as "recovery" time
2. With the right combination of meds & therepy, "recovery" is possible
What one man considers traumatic is not the same as the person next to him or not. It doesnt necessarily have to be combat related.

I had a short spell of PTSD from a month of seriously bad rock climbing that almsost killed me and my climbing partner. So it can happen in any instance.

I dont volunteer info but when ask I am can open up. In fact I cant sleep right now just because of my mind being a dick to me right now thinking too much of bull****.

My Dad, USMC 66-72, has never told me a ****ing thing about his time in except the week before I left for boot camp and gave some solid advice and it has served me well. He congratulated me when I came home after my enlistment was up and thats been that really.

[BPTactical]

Disclaimer- Never been there-Never done that. You who have been there have. You have my utmost respect.

I lived with a Vietnam vet who had it pretty badly and my father who is a WWII vet battled with his demons.
I think it is the brains way of coping when it is overloaded with terrible events. It shuts down to a degree and disconnects during highly stressful situations such as combat and such.
Certain "triggers" can cause the brain to recall aspects that it had shut out.
The guy I lived with for a while could not stand loud noises, they would send him into a rage. You did not want to startle him either. His coping mechanism was alcohol. He was a functioning alcoholic. He never did get help, at that time the Vietnam vets were demonized by society. He died a tormented man.

I never realized my dad had issues with it until just a few years ago when my mom told me. He would have difficulty sleeping and would be withdrawn at times. My mom said nothing ever triggered him but he would just go quite. I know he saw some heavy combat in northern Italy, he was awarded the Bronze Star for pulling some wounded guys out during an artillery/mortar barrage. He and his driver made 3 trips under fire, after the second trip they had to get another jeep and his driver was full of shrapnel on his left side but they went back in. 12 men lived to survive the war because of them. All my dad ever said is "We went into a sticky spot and pulled out some boys that were hurt pretty badly".
In 86 he went with the 10th Mountain Division Association back to northern Italy where they had been during the war. My mom said he teared up a couple of times but bawled like a baby when they got near the hill where his best buddy from boot camp got hit and died. Mom said once he got over that hurdle is was if a huge weight had been lifted from him. She said "I think he was able to let some ghosts go finally". He has been a changed man ever since, sleeps well and will finally talk about his experiences over there. He never would before.

I fail to see how you can ever really "Heal" from something like that. Memories never really go away. I think it is more of being able to put things in place, realize you can't change what happened, realize you had very little control of what happened, understand it is something that is a part of you forever and make peace with it.

God Bless you guys that have to deal with it. You have seen and done things most have no comprehension of. Don't let it control your life, it was a part of your life that is behind you now.

Yesterday is our history
Today is our responsibility
Tomorrow is our challenge

God Bless you guys

[StagLefty]

^ Well said BP

[jplove71]

^ Well said BP

+1

[Mazin]

Disclaimer- Never been there-Never done that. You who have been there have. You have my utmost respect.

God Bless you guys that have to deal with it. You have seen and done things most have no comprehension of. Don't let it control your life, it was a part of your life that is behind you now.

Yesterday is our history
Today is our responsibility
Tomorrow is our challenge

God Bless you guys

Damn it Bert your a freakin poet...
Thank you to all that have served!

[Chad4000]

I know a guy who bawled on my shoulder about a buddy of his that was shot right in front of him...........

I found out later it was a lie.....

It's hard to say how people deal with ****....... After my motorcycle accident, I go quite (I've been told) and I have a more cynical view of this bull**** existence. but screw it right... Nobody else gives a ****, neither do i.. Just pay the mortgage, and try to have a little left over for a rifle or two..

[hollohas]

Check out On Killing and On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Gives you a whole new level of understanding PTSD, among other things.
I have both if you'd like to borrow them.

Yes. Read these, great books. These are not only good books for those in combat or LEOs they are good for anyone who believes in self defense and even has a remote possibility of using deadly force (those with CCW, etc.).

[Elhuero]

not just soldiers and police get PTSD.

everyone reacts and copes differently to stressful or near death situations. some cope better than others.

things are better now that we're aware of the existence of PTSD and can take steps to treat it. in decades past they'd just call it "shell shock" and send you on your way.

but (and you knew I was going to say this) using it as an excuse for your actions is bull****. the screaming CCW cop in ohio is now claiming he has PTSD.