Combat vets, ever feel like this?

[OneSevenDeuce]

I can't watch movies or documentaries about Iraq or Afghanistan. Gets me jittery. I can feel my heart start to pound and before long I am yelling at the T.V. to "Tighten up that cordon!" or "Get your *** out of that doorway!"

It doesn't happen when I watch movies or shows about Vietnam, or WW2, Korea, etc. That kind of stuff still seems like it is coming our of a history book to me. It's only the Iraq/Afghanistan stuff, and I have never even been to Afghanistan. Iraq is my only combat experience. I have no idea if anyone else ever feels like they connect too much with war films or documentaries from their own era, but not from others.

[11Z50]

Some movies or documentaries trigger things for me while others don't. It's not necessarily the violence, but sometimes a certain situation gets me off on a tangent. Band of Brothers has some poignant moments as does Saving Private Ryan that get me going. We were Soldiers Once gets me a bit stressed. I watched Hurt Locker and I swear I could smell the stink of Iraq. Sometimes it helps to let things "play thru" rather than suppress them. Talking to buddies helps too.

[PatriotnMore]

^^I am a Vet, but not a war time vet. I have heard many times, the best thing for combat vets to do, is talk about it with each other, to just let it out. Talking with someone who has walked a mile in your shoes, seems to be a huge difference, and I can understand why. Perhaps some of you could get together over coffee somewhere private, and just have some time to say whats on your mind.^^

[C.W.M.V.]

I have a simple solution, I just stopped watching war movies and the news. I get really uncomfortable and then I get pissed at all the civies around me because they dont have a god damn clue what its like or what life is really about. I keep telling my wife its like watching black and white TV for your whole life, and then for a moment you get to see color TV, then your told that you have to go back to black and white and forget color.
Needless to say my "reintegration" has not gone well.

[Soldier415]

Yeah.

I watched the movie "The Messenger" and it took me about 15 smoke breaks and a halfa bottle of Jack Daniels to get through it

[OneSevenDeuce]

I think I know what you mean. About the civilians, there was a friend I have on facebook who posted a video of U.S. troops firing on, and killing, and Iraqi insurgent. In the video the soldiers were laughing and high fiving. This friend of mine was horrified and condemned in strong language what was going on in the video. Totally justified kill, they were just celebrating what they had done. I wanted to make a comment but I didn't. I know for sure I'd have a few less friends if I did. And I don't have many as it is.

[nick]

OT, but listening to you guys (and many others), am I glad I didn't stick around for the "winning hearts and minds" part.

[freds4]

Yes, I feel just like that. I watch them anyway because I feel like I need to prove to myself that I can get through it; I need to feel "normal". A couple of times I came close to walking out though. I retired in 2006 after my 4th tour in Iraq and it IS getting better with time.

[steelrain82]

I find I always get mad when I see people entering a room all half assed. I know the books and dr.s say to avoid war anything but I find I'm drawn to it. I guess to critique it or I guess try to get the sensation again. But yeah hurt locker and even the green zone brought back the smell. I hate the night time but find it a comfort at the same time.

[1lostinspace]

I have never been in combat well officially more like growing up in LB and been shot at from time to time.

Anyways I see movies like that and right away you can tell they are actors and not actual soldiers, you can tell by the way the take a building even hold the weapon, you can see the butt stock slipping off because it's their first time wearing armor and so forth.

[winnre]

I was yelling at the screen watching Hurt Locker. I was and still am unable to watch Blackhawk Down because I know too many folks there.

[Bravoav]

War....

I'd like to say to any "combat veteran" I understand what you feel...
There is a huge difference between a "combat veteran" and one that has never tasted the sting of combat. WAR IS HELL... but "COMBAT IS A Mother F----r" ...
it took me 35yrs. to walk thru the doors of a vet center. I am sure glad I finally made it! It never goes away but ,we can learn about what happened to us... Get into a vet center... All the best, BQ S.Viet Nam 68-69 First Air Cav...

Never ask a vet who landed on the beach in Normandy How was it?...

[OneSevenDeuce]

A non veteran friend of mine was talking to me today about her own PTSD and the help she got from counseling and all that. Really made me think it might work. We'll see.

[CavTrooper]

There's two things that get me: people who have never BTDT trying to relate their own "war stories" to actual combat vets, and combat vets who talk about how messed up their head is. I've felt great ever since the day I came home, I loved every a**puckering minute of my experience and can't wait for the minute I can kit up and get back in the fight. However, hearing about other peoples issues make me think that maybe the fact that I am cool with my experiences is actually me being F-ed in the head...seems like everyone has the PTSD.. makes me wonder, am I SUPPOSED to be "messed up" in the head?

[trautert]

Hamburger Hill and We Were Soldiers Once both bring me to the verge of real emotions, but Blackhawk Down puts me over the edge. I like to think I adjusted pretty well (quit drinking finally at age 38), but like Cav Trooper said, maybe that meant I really was/am messed up. Who knows?