Veteran Needs Forgiveness

[ducky_0811]

What exactly does the military do? [with all do respect] Joining the military is more than a job training ,welfare program,you may be asked to go kill someone, that is exactly what the military does.

first off, you're generalizing, only about 25% of the military has combat jobs, the rest are supporting roles. second off, a job training, welfare program? im not sure what you mean by that. the originator of this thread asked for supportive comments or combat vets to share their oppinions.

so unless you have a supportive comment, or you are a combat veteran with something to contribute to this conversation, "with all due respect", go find a nail sticking out of a wall and head butt it.

[MustangSteveGT]

Even though I'm sure the person going through this appreciates the support from fellow Americans, survivor guilt and other symptoms experienced by people with PTSD symptoms really require more specific support from VA mental health physicians, counselors and other combat vets during group therapy.

Combat PTSD is something civilian physicians are ages behind on and likely do not understand the signs or latest vet relevant treatment methods. Service related PTSD really is another animal. Civilian clinics don't even know how to process people with such symptoms mostly due to lack of familiarity to that level of psychological trauma. So as nice as it is for this guy to get a pat on the back it isn't fixing the deep rooted causes for him feeling such anguish.

He will need professional help.

Vet Centers (not VA clinics, vet centers), VA hospitals and VA clinics have personnel assigned to help people specifically dealing with problems that this veteran is experiencing.

VA hospitals/clinics and Vet Centers even have supports groups where veterans groups get together and talk about their problems. Locally here in Humboldt County, there are mental health services available and the VA Clinic. Also counselors and veteran group sessions at the Vet Center. Such groups are generational such as Vietnam support group and OIF/OEF vet group that meet weekly.

Those are the type of skilled resources a PTSD sufferer needs to utilize. A lot of outside providers/physicians just don't know what the hell they are getting themselves into and PTSD vets don't always know who/where to get PTSD skilled treatment or continue to go undiagnosed/untreated.

It's a pretty serious thing actually that you don't want to mess around with and procrastinate in reaching the correct services for. That's what concerns me also about gun grabbers going after PTSD vets, is that vets will deliberately forgo diagnosis/treatment in order to keep their 2nd amendment rights.

Not everyone who has PTSD is violent or commits murder because of mismanagement of their symptoms. There are still a number of ways it can hurt your life, your education, your relationships, literally everything. Those close to a PTSD sufferer endure a number of the signs of PTSD. The PTSD victim is usually not the only one who suffers and also for that reason a PTSD victim should seek professional help for the benefit of their family and friends also. True professional help is a must. We can deny it all we want or blame the symptoms on everything but PTSD but it almost always comes right back to that and the experiences that brought it on.

[m1a1driver]

As stated earlier by others, everyone handles stress differently. I had to shoot and kill a bad guy during my first tour, I dont feel bad about it but some people take it differently. I had great success at the PTSD treatment centers in VA hospitals, group therapy also helps too with some other combat related problems I was having. If you need help you should be able to seek it without fear of stereotyping and reprisals.

[tanksoldier]

I've had the occasional nightmare ever since GW-I back in 91. The current unpleasantness just added to my repertoire.

As mentioned everyone deals with things differently. We had mechanics who never left the FOB have problems just from the rocket and mortar attacks, and in 91 we had one admin guy lose it when he saw the "Highway of Death" in person.

There are guys who are just looking for sympathy, or a VA disability rating, but that's not necessarily the case here.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

+1 for encouraging him into the VA or similar program. We lose more good men (and women?) to suicide then combat deaths nowadays. My reserve unit medical officer just retired from the VA and can speak first hand to some of the programs available. I'll check FB later to see if that's been suggested repeatedly to him.

Disclaimer, I never stepped foot in country, or even got to float with Ducky and my bros - though I did get two visits to scenic Yuma. Shudder... But my brother and cousin did time for GW and IF and OEF, including trigger time. From speaking with them, and guys in my unit, i would concur that different people handle it differently.

SF!

[FMFdevildoc]

I never pulled a trigger nor do I rate a combat action ribbon. Needless to say, my time overseas has permanently altered my perspective of life. I'll never look at many things the same.

Ultimately, I firmly believe the working hypothesis / anecdote that each individual handles the effects of deployment and/or combat differently.

God bless my brothers who are battling the personal demons of PTSD.

[whatpain]

honestly i wish i had gone over there. i did 5 years but i didnt get to go to iraq or afghan. i got to see some of the effects on some of my buddies though, even my grampa delt with all the chinese and north koreans he killed in korea. even the hardest dude can be affected by it. its about time the military started finding better ways to help vets with this issue