Posted on 07/01/2004 5:58:38 PM PDT by neverdem
Keep an eye on it. Things like this have a way of coming back on you when you least expect them.
In my case, I didn't start having "issues" until years after I got out. Fortunately for me, it's relatively mild stuff. I don't live under a bridge, have done well in my career (I'm happily retired in my early '40s) and am quite satisfied with life in general.
But happiness and success in life doesn't necessarily mean "symptom-free". As an example, my mom has a friend (an awesome guy who retired very well off) who was a navigator on a B-17 in WWII. He's fine, quite happy and not doing bad for an old codger in his '80s.
But one winter a few years back, he was driving down a snowy road, and some kids threw a snowball at his car (he later assumed, he didn't see them). The sound of the snowball hitting his car sounded exactly (to him) like the sound of a flak burst hitting the fuselage on a B-17.
It was such a surprise and shock to him that he had to pull the car over and sit there for a few minutes before he could continue. Aside from the shock, it brought back a lot of memories of his days in the "Army Air Forces".
As others have pointed out, it's not just veterans who can have symptoms of PTSD -- which, by the way, is only a "disorder" if it interferes with your ability to enjoy your life and interact with loved ones, family, friends and society. Lots of people show signs, a much smaller percentage are subject to having it wreck their lives.
All that aside, THANK YOU FOR SERVING IN IRAQ. There are many who lack the vision to see just how extremely important the mission there is. But in time, even the dimmest among them will see the truth. THANK YOU!
I think it's probably more than 1 in 6, frankly.
What distinguishes combat/military PTSD is the group that gets it, the common factors that cause it and the fact that so many veterans can relate both to the symptoms and their underlying triggers. Of course, everyone is different, but there is a definite commonality factor for vets, even of different services.
As for non-military, I grew up in some pretty bad parts of town, but nothing like "the projects". I have to imagine that just about everyone in a crime-infested inner city will show symptoms.
I was also in various elements of the computer biz. If you want to talk about psychological "color", look there. I've seen it all.
No problem. I am sorry for the trials you have been through with your friend.
Footnote on that: He's now quite happily married (12th aniversary this year), has a son, nice house, a good income, and we're still best friends.
All's well that ends well.
"As the mother of a soldier who has been in Iraq..."
That is the reason why I wrote my message about you. If anyone has a right to an opinion it is someone who has seen off a loved one.
I'll never forget my mother and father crying when I said good-bye and left for Vietnam. It was one of the few times I had ever seen my dad cry.
My hat is off to you dear lady and thank you for raising such a son as yours.
I have found a fellowship with other parents of those who have in the past gone off to war. We share the same grief mingled with great pride.
The difference now is that my son has been welcomed back with open arms and great love from practically everyone, and it was not so with you brave men who served in Viet Nam.
Our country may never be able to pay the debt we owe for your pain and sacrifice.
Thank you, sir, and welcome home!
My friend is home 3 months now and is showing signs. Not sleeping at night, etc. He would do it again in a heartbeat, in fact, looking forward to his next deployment. I would have him do it again, although what he is suffering and unable to deal with breaks my heart.
He will not admit that anything is going on, missing the first part of getting better, as far as I am concerned. And that behavior is definitely a result of his not wanting to be perceived as "weak."
I am seeing my friend do the exact opposite. He is getting more on edge, easier to upset.
All I can say is when our soldiers went into Iraq, I felt like each one was one of my heroes.
The years have passed quickly and now a new generation is fighting instead of me.
IF there was any debt, it was settled long ago.
Thanks for your posts.
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