Bump to your post.
Bears repeating.
We do the annual benefit ride for the WV VA to raise money for them.
I have seen -real- war induced PTSD patients.
[they’re usually the quiet ones sitting away from the crowd..and for all that I’m a yappy little rip on *here*, in “real life” you’ll find *me* sitting quietly on the periphery of the crowd, too. it’s where I’m least uncomfortable and sensory overloaded]
Back in 1980, for the lack of an appropriate support group, I sat in on Viet Nam vets PTSD support groups.
I read all the books written by the guys who’d been there.
[kinda like a homework assignment]
Although our “initial cause” was not the same, the results were and I wept for them.
I’m no battlefield survivor or even a vet but the psychological mechanism behind PTSD is pretty much universal.
We identified with each other and vented together.
And, that is why we make that ride every year, rain or rain.
[yes, no matter what the forecaster says, it *always* rains on us...and we don’t care]
I couldn’t agree with you more. In our family we know the real thing also and of course it’s no joke, not to be taken lightly. I think that’s how I developed a sixth sense about the phonies.
Now with our youngest son having served now for 13 years and with 2 1/2 yrs actual combat in Iraq in some really bad stuff we have another generation dealing with this and so we’re involved again.
Well, lately not as much, must get back into that, we’ve befriended some wonderful soldiers/Marines, I guess now they’ve become “our kids” and for that I’m grateful. They keep us in touch with what’s “real”. And thank you for that comeback, always appreciated.