Posted on 04/29/2019 2:01:00 PM PDT by Chainmail
I was listening to the Larry O'Connor Show this afternoon on WMAL and while he was discussing the latest mass shooter atrocity at the synagogue in Poway, a caller named Todd called in and described being in shock that VA facilities had "no security checks" and after all, "veterans have PTSD" and "could bring a weapon in at any time".
I tried to call in to the show to talk to Larry but he very shortly segued into Redskins football and the bored-sounding lady screener let me know that I wouldn't be on.
First of all, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the completely normal human response to some period of time where the person is subjected to experiences that they would never ordinarily experience: strong, unrelenting fear, seeing people killed, including friends, and maybe suffering wounds and permanent damage. When we send our young men and lately women into combat, they are all in some way changed by that experience. During my war, the war in Vietnam, we had mines and booby traps that made you watch the ground very carefully, snipers that could pick you out of a group and kill you, mortar and rocket attacks to hit you in your positions, and ambushes, night attacks, infiltrators, and so on.
PTSD or the "Shakes" were a given. Everyone had some form of it and when we got back, it caused nightmares, the Fliches, maybe broken marriages, maybe drinking, and in some rare cases, suicide.
It has almost never caused violence against others. That was a Hollywood myth that sold a lot of tickets during the aftermath of our war - you know, the "Crazed Vietnam Vet" going bugeyed nuts at the smallest provocation and slaughtering everyone their paths. You know, Rambo and Billy Jack and scores of others on the big screen and TV.
The reality is that most or all of us came home, adjusted, healed and went forward with our lives. If anything veterans are the most stable and solid members of our nation and all that I have see of our latest veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq confirm this view.
I wish that Larry had immediately countered that caller and came to veteran's defense but he didn't.
There’ a new form of PTSD called “being the male child of a feminist single mother”.
“My 13 year old daughter suffered an attempted kidnapping recently and she was deeply affected. She too, suffers from PTSD”
That would give me PTSD. I have a daughter around that age What happened?
I was diagnosed with PTSD after the 3rd time I was T-boned in my vehicle. I had very painful injuries the 1st time, no injuries the 2nd time and totally lost my s-t the 3rd time. I found that I couldn't drive on crowded highways and am terrified of free-ways. I was prescribed medication, but I just didn't want to be dependent on pills. So PTSD is a very normal reaction to stress, but I can't see how it would lead to violent behavior if you didn't already have that bent.
“”I will snap right back to various points in time during the event as if I was there again - in the dark, smoke-filled stairwell packed in with thousands of others like sardines and barely moving””
I hope you’ll forgive me for not understanding your two posts/replies...You were there in one of the Twin Towers on 9/11/01 and then this:
“”I was supposed to have had an interview in the trade center that morning, but I didn’t show up because the fear of going back to that building stopped me from motivating for it.””
It is true that almost all veterans are the safest and best people to have around: no aggressive ideation but a well-proven ability to face danger to help people who need them.
Thank You!
My Dad was a bombardier on a B-24 in the Pacific Theater In WWII and went on many missions. One time a Jap Zero clipped the top of his plane in flight trying to take out the plane. In addition, his base in New Guinea was bombed several times. He never ever talked about the war until just before he died in 1988. He would not fly and you couldn't get him near an airport.
Good post, thanks.
We were in the Target store together a couple of months ago in the early evening and while I browsed the DVD section, my daughter wanted to go to the Kid's books section two aisles over. Within one or two minutes, she ran up to me, skin pale, eyes moving all over the place and she couldn't speak.
I kept asking her what happened and she finally was able to get out that a man tried to grab her but she saw him coming at her and ran to find me.
I asked her if the man was still there and she said that he was, so we headed towards the kid's book aisle but I spotted someone watching us to our right, , about 12 feet away. I asked my daughter if that was him and she said yes. I turned to face him and I asked him if he tried to snatch my daughter. He said "don't make a big deal out of it" and ran out of the store.
I couldn't chase him because I didn't want to leave my daughter's side.
My daughter has nightmares and asks me every evening "what would you do if someone takes me"?
It highly varies. Just because a guy can pick up a rifle and follow some orders does not make them a warrior. I saw a high number of sheep wearing a uniform. Based on my experiences, I’d say 20% are the sheepdogs and the rest thought they could get some adventure and excitement and make some money along the way or get some schooling, but when the bullets start to fly all bets are off. After three tours I can say I had no negative effects, but I’m a Christian. Mileage may vart.
My opinions are not popular, but I’ve lost friends to suicide etc and I can only say knowing them, they weren’t mentally able to comprehend the job.
I have two friends up here I work on. Both of them claim PTSD, but I told them to turn their hearts and burdens to God.
I was in the WTC during the 1993 bombing.
Just goes to show how far out of mind that event has gone that even on a site like this people don’t remember it. But that’s what started the new era of the “War on Terror”.
Everything changed that day even more so than on 9/11, it just wasn’t evident at the time. After that, buildings started getting security guards as a matter of course, but before 1993 it was not like that at all.
Thanks for starting this thread. I gives those who have experience an opportunity to educate us...
The vast majority are what we used to call "noisemakers" and were never particularly proficient but they were steadfast and I never saw cowards.
There was a last group we would call "fodder" who had no skills or talent at all and never improved, They would stand on skylines, open gates, walk down the middle of trails, talk or smoke during night ambush/Listening post, etc. etc. Standing near them would get you killed.
But where I differ with you is that all three groups could suffer afterward: seeing friends blown up ( or in my case have a best friend captured, then murdered over a two week period) or having to kill somebody close up would affect anyone, even those with strong faith. Faith will help you get through but there is still a path that has to be followed.
Even morally deficient people can get PTSD. I deal with people who have PTSD, they may hurt themselves to deal with the pain but they don’t want to hurt you unless there is something else going on.
Hurricane Maria’s legacy: Thousands of Puerto Rican students show PTSD symptoms
I know a CAT 4 hurricane is something to be reckoned with, but it also makes me wonder how humans have ever survived anything, ever.
The vast majority of PTSD suffers are not dangerous to anyone but themselves.
However, there is a very small number that are outwardly dangerous.
The Military Docs and the VA have very good tools to discern one class from the other. And it’s very, very rare that one slips through the cracks.
So, if you don’t want somebody with PTSD near you with a gun, you’ve eliminated about 50% of all combat vets.
Feeling safe now?
According to Stanton Samenow, Ph.D., an expert in criminal behavior and the author of many books including Inside the Criminal Mind, in a Psychology Today article, he states, “Most military personnel who experience horrendous traumatic events during combat do not come home and kill civilians. In fact, their more likely reaction is to withdraw, become anxious, and become fearful of their surroundings. They are far more likely to become avoidant rather than lash out at others.”
A person is thought to have become violent because he was a victim of violence. Yet someone else experiencing similar trauma does not engage in violent behavior.
rwood
“Now, everyone has “PTSD.” Just ask them.”
The VA certification exams for PTSD are rigorous and cannot be faked.
Get a clue.
That’s his specialty.
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