When someone knows something definate, please post!!! The 2 boys "of ours" that have come home are both having troubles, nightmares...One was just 18 when he left to go to Iraq, (youngest daughter's best guy pal) turned 19 while there, and he is having trouble coming to grips that he had to kill..he talks to my daughter, and she has been very good about showing no reaction to what he had to do, but I think he needs someone who is trained to know how to help him...his parents don't see it, or don't want to.
Also, if you have a VA hospital or rest home where you live, I know those vets who are laid up for one reason or another would love to have someone to talk to, and your boys might get some comfort talking to those vets in person.
Just a couple thoughts.
The two boys really need to talk to another combat veteran who saw his combat years ago and has come to terms with the memories -- among other things by accepting that he will never be the same, but that it's hardly the end of the world.
My brother is in Afghanistan and got his first taste of combat on March 26 when the vehicle directly behind his was blown to bits by an IED, killing 4 of his men. (This past weekend he was in action again, involved in that battle where 64 Taliban were killed.)
He talked to chaplains and other grunts and officers, etc., after the first incident but he didn't start making any progress until he found a chaplain who had been in combat too. He has memories that will haunt him and pop up in the form of nightmares from time to time until the day he dies, BUT...he will still lead a productive and happy life, as the vast majority of combat vets do.
Find these boys a combat vet to talk to. Nobody -- say again, NOBODY -- who hasn't seen what they've seen can help them. They need to talk to somebody who's been through it and made it to the other side to live a productive and even happy life to give them hope and confidence that they can do it too.
PTSD - he needs to see a professioinal immediately.
The have wonderful advanced (and very simple) treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder that does not require drugs. It was developed in response to the PTSD suffered by Vietnam Veterans.
"The 2 boys "of ours" that have come home are both having troubles, nightmares...One was just 18 when he left to go to Iraq, (youngest daughter's best guy pal) turned 19 while there, and he is having trouble coming to grips that he had to kill.."
Under the Violence Against Women Act, billions have been spent to help women who have "allegedly" been victims of violence, and some have, but often that includes things like, "he kicked our house plant," or "I was just afraid of him," or "he wouldn't let me drive drunk" so women can use a false allegation to get an advantage in divorce of child custody proceedings, and frequently do.
There is nothing available under this program to help men who are victims of violence in America at much greater rates than women are, yet VAWA is coming up for billions more in reauthorization money. VAWA is another gender feminist (Femi-crat) pork program.
Where is the Violence Against Men Act (VAMA) for our returning war vets? At last count about 97% of war dead and wounded were men. Historically, its 99.999%. Spending billions more on a fraudulent Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that does nothing for men, and is heavily lacking in any kind of scrutiny or accountability, while our returning war hereos have far more serious problems from the violence they were exposed to (and their needs go wanting) is a National disgrace.
VAWA - One of the Biggest Taxpayer Fleecings in the History of America
Make the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Gender Inclusive, or Dump It!