They're back from Iraq, but are they OK?

[uppityperson]

Very good heartrending story of National Guard guys since they returned 7 months ago. Mr.bush and company, you should be ashamed. How the hell can you keep doing this?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/214804_ephratafolo07.html

A guardsman walks into a local Wal-Mart, freaks, does a 180, and walks back out again. Even after seven months, he can't stand the crowds. Another jerks awake in the middle of the night, holding an imagined gun at his wife's temple. "Uh ... honey?" she asks.

The soldiers tear down highways, swerve to avoid trash in the road. The bag that held a Big Mac could now hide a bomb. One still jumps if you touch his neck. Others refuse to sleep in beds. Those who do may awake in a sweat.

<clippy>


"They say it's like a roller coaster, and sooner or later the ride comes to an end. But it doesn't. There's always another ride that begins," says Sheila Kelly, 41, tears spilling onto her cheeks.

<more clippy>

[Wilms]

1. Soldiers never get to go home. n/t

[jedr]

2. how sad but true;

for two years after I came home from Nam, I couldn't walk into a room without having to know were I could exit as fast as possiable..W has cut vet's help benefits past the bone and the V.F.W dose nothing to help, this is a powder-keg waiting to happen....so in true repug fashion...we'll cross that bridge when we get to it

[applegrove]

3. Oh they have really great drugs for PTSD these days. They can

really get you under control. I know because I suffered a great deal from PTSD until the newer drugs came out.

So please - anyone reading this - be patient. There is help out there. You will get back to a normal life. You really, really will! It may take some trial & error. But they can stop most of the anxiety attacks and pain.

And don't fall into the alcohol trap.

[jedr]

4. very true,

but booze is the easiest answer...and then after you loose your job and your wife and the V.A. is shut down...what happens next? P.S. just counseling helped me , once you understand what's doing this you can get a handle on it

[applegrove]

7. Just so people know that you do not stay at your worst when you

get back home. You get much better - I felt much less physical pain from memories (except for the last week - I have one OUCH momment one hour after taking the pill all of a sudden).

[DELUSIONAL]

5. Just like the Vietnam Vets

Many are still jumpy --

Each war has it's own terror.

Plus -- some of these guys did really bad things (usually under orders from nut case officers) -- and the decent ones will live with what they did.

And bush doesn't give a shit -- he has zero empathy.

Although I doubt Kerry would have ended this war -- I do believe he has an understanding of the difficult transition that soldiers must go through to really return home.

The hell of it is that many of these guys have to go back again and again and again.

[uppityperson]

6. Every now and then I stop and think, what if Mr.bush hadn't taken over

back in 2000? (am not saying elected as that's another issue, just what if Gore had been able to be President.) Then I sigh. As a rhetorical question, how can administrations keep f*cking up our young people and still sleep at night? Putting young men and women (and yes, some not young ones) in situations where they have to do atrocities? I am glad that there is some help for PTSD, but still. Thanks you guys and I'm really sorry.