Looking forward to PTSD...

[Bigmack]

Some relevant quotes about what is happening - and will happen - to our troops the freeps are so busy supporting.

American troops are in combat during their whole tour.... what's going to happen to them, and to our country, when they finally come home?

This country has no soul.
- - - -
“Each moment of combat imposes a strain so great that men will break down in direct relation to the intensity and duration oftheir exposure....psychiatric casualties are as inevitable as gunshot and shrapnes wounds in warfare”... from: Face of Battle John Keegan p 335

“A WWII study determined that after 60 days of continuous combat, 98 % of all surviving soldiers will have become psychiatric casualties... A common trait among the 2% able to endure was 'a predisposition to aggressive psycopathic personalities.'” from: War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning Chris Hedges p 164

“On Okinawa, Americn losses totaled 7,613 killed and missing.... and 26, 211 psychiatric casualties. Of all WWII medical evacuations, one in four was a psychiatric casualty.” from: The War Within War - America’s Combat Experience in WWII. Gerald Linderman p 357

"....38% of male Vietnam combat veterans met the full American Psychiatric Association diagnostic criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the 1980’s.. .. 20 years after their service."
from: Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character Jonathan Shay p 168

[Syncronaut Seven]

1. No one should look forward to PTSD

It's a motherfucker. For me every day is a struggle with suicidal thoughts, rage and hopelessness. Fascists really bother me, as such I haven't slept much these last 4 years, that's bad.

My best days are when I can visualize flaming out in a most meaningfull and spectacular fashion, then I feel better for a while.

I can't even begin to fathom the effect this will have on American society when those kids come home.

criminals
war criminals
facists
sociopaths

The whole society is becoming sociopathic and it's no fucking accident.

Someone please do something to set it right. I don't want to be the lead story on the evening news.

God help us.

[knowbody0]

2. me too

there really is no cure. horrific events in your life cannot be erased by therapy or medication.

[Ladyhawk]

4. Hugs, Seven.

PTSD and current events don't mix. I've also been diagnosed with PTSD, so I can empathize a little bit. :shrug: Klonopin helps.

[Syncronaut Seven]

8. Thanks Ladyhawk.

I'm a big scary dude too, ;) makes for interesting times when I mix it up with LEO's.

[Bellamia]

5. NO, we're not all sociopathic..............

dispairing perhaps, compassionate to the max, I wish I could help. But I did my "time" in the '50's, in a Psych Hospital where any
illusions I had were shattered as I cared for the WWII vets. My heart goes out to any and all who suffer today. Hugs, Seven

[Syncronaut Seven]

7. Thanks Steve & Ladyhawk

Have a little trouble gauging my reactions sometimes. No we're not all sociopaths but I have a little trouble believing it when I face the world.

How could so many be so narcissitic and without compassion. I keep looking for exceptions, that's why I come here. ;o)

Thanks.

[Ilsa]

3. All the war machines returning home, many with emotional

disturbances. I hope we can handle it all. But i have my doubts, the way this govt cuts funding for healthcare for vets.

[Bigmack]

14. One in four...

vets from Gulf War I are drawing disability from the VA......183,000, with another 37,000 with claims in. Out of 700,000 total...some of which were nowhere near combat. http://www.gulfweb.org/doc_show.cfm?ID=748

We lost Gulf War I.

Even if Iraq turns into a love fest for democracy, we already lost this one.

And then there's the poor fucking Iraqis.

[malmapus]

6. Its nothing to look forward to thats for damn sure

Almost tore my family life apart...the first couple years I was totally estranged from my family and parents, even suicidal (have enough slash marks on my wrists to show).

Now I'm dealing with the severe depression, anger all mixed in with the fact that my mind keeps reflecting back almost like in a dream racing wondering if I could have done something different.

Really restful sleep is almost unknown so I'm tired all the time, emotionally and physically.

But yeah there are good days and not so good days when out of nowhere I'll just get a blank look and break down in uncomtrollable sobs.

[Syncronaut Seven]

9. Just tough it out for one more day

That what I tell myself. Mine's from a violent and abusive mother (an actual sociopath) who beat me bloody with belts and strips of hot wheels track & played mind games purely to spite my father.

Later, when I was to large to beat she would just call the cops and lie when shew was pissed at me, thus authority figures now flip me out big time.

Almost thought I had it licked by my 30's then life changing events in 88 brought it back X100.

2004 was the first time I was able to "convince" someone it was in the best interest of society to make help available. Doc says it's a part of me now, not sure how I'm going to deal with that gem.

We are not prepared.
As a side note: I was smart enough to distinguish mom's behavior as not normal. It's my wife who keeps me sane, I'll never know why I didn't end up misogynistic or gay.

[Straight Shooter]

10. Anyone ever studied secondary PTSD? (The effects on the kids.)

My father came back from Vietnam a totally different man. I was young enough that the difference in how he treated me affected me quite a bit. Probably not for the better, either.

Same thing with my brother. When he came back, he wouldn't even hug me (or anyone else in the family). He turned away. That hurt.

I'm not whining, it's just the way it is. But the effects of PTSD always reach out and touch someone. Or slap someone is more like it.

[Syncronaut Seven]

11. Yes, secondary effects are observed here

My daughter now panics and shares my distrust of nazi LEO's (you know who you are) :nuke:

[mopinko]

12. i've got a nephew

his dad is one of those tightly wound vets. they wanted a bunch of kids, but my sister got sick. so he was an only child. boy, that kid could not be tough enough to please his dad. even as a toddler, he expected him to pick himself up and dust himself off when he got hurt. he went to college to be a cop, but couldn't keep a lid on it, and got fired his first month on the job.
yup, shit runs downhill.

[Straight Shooter]

13. War. The gift that keeps on giving.

Thanks for the info. I just want to say I believe my father honestly believed before he got on the plane that going to Nam was the right thing to do, but the government betrayed his trust. So I don't hold it against him what he did to me and what he said to me, or how my brother reacted, either. I wasn't there, and they never mentioned a single word about their experiences.

As for the DU'ers who have served: :patriot: