I heard he had mental/emotional problems prior to joining. Did anyone know if this is true? And does the military allow that? It cant possible be good to put an unstable individual in a stressful atmosphere.....especially if he is responsible for protecting the lives of others. It seems that would be grounds for disqualification.
Here's an article that gives some of his history including military. Argument may have preceded deadly Fort Hood attack He wasn't a green recruit. Being a truck driver in an artillery unit he could have been close to a fire mission meaning battery fire. It is possible being near an explosion to damage the Inner Ear. Damage to the Inner Ear can trigger Panic Attacks aka Anxiety, lack of sleep, etc. Loosing his mom on top of that could have began the onset of PTSD.
I think he was possibly in deep mental troubles of which the dangerous manifestation could have developed literally over his last few hours for example the argument. "IF" the medications they were giving him were triggering an adverse reaction within his brain chemistry he would have had no sense of reality. He could have been seeing things that weren't there, hearing voices, and/or Tripping much like being on LSD.
I've heard Ambien mentioned. I have seen Freepers post before because they were in crisis taking that drug usually with an antidepressant their doctor of which prescribed both.
The mental health treatment in this nation stinks. It's far better than third world but many doctors are using information out of the 1950's. Psychiatrist in general treat symptoms and do not many times seek out the cause. There is also no such thing as a Psychiatrist couch where you sit in a session talking to him/her on a regular basis. Most patients are on a once every three months 20 minute office visit routine.
The backbone of our Mental Health Care system are LCSW's and Psychologist as they are they ones whom the patients will talk too and listen to the patients. The interaction there on an outpatient basis can be as frequent as once a week for up to an hour and possibly group therapy with that as well. They can not prescribe medications and most dare not tell the Psychiatrist that a patient isn't doing well on their meds because Psychiatrist do not like being told they are wrong or their favorite medication of the month isn't working.
Some of the most screwed up in the head persons I have talked to were Psychiatrist. Look in their office. See the patient to Pharm Rep ratio waiting in the waiting room? LMAO. Yes there are some good Psychiatrist and high dedicated and compassionate. Most however simply aren't. In a military environment in the treating of mental health it gets worse. The military is no place to be treated for a mental health issue.
The right thing, the sensible thing, the safest thing, to do is to help the service member in a civilian venue. I'm talking about long term issues like PTSD and usually anxiety disorders. Send them home on temporary conditional disability that they seek treatment to receive disability.
Many persons do not know this. In the DOD/DOE weapons plants working as a civilian you can have your security clearance pulled if a mental health issue is suspect until the worker seeks help and is cleared by a licensed professional who has treated them. That has been a long standing policy.
Our Troops deserve the best we can give them. They also deserve medical treatment including mental health that follows the creed of "Do No Harm" in treatment.
The major who shot up Ft Hood did so for religious purposes. That man was the one treating soldiers with mental health issues at that time. Warning signs were ignored in the name of Political Correctness. The families involved and the soldiers involved in this shooting the victims and the shooters family all deserve to know the truth however it may fall.