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.
Thank God your son has someone who believes him, listens to him, sympathizes with him and doesn’t belittle his trauma with useless advice to “suck it up”, “get over it” or whatever other thoughtless things oblivious people usually say.
Even more, it’s important to have some accept that you have a “problem”, even if they cannot remotely fathom how it feels...or that it even exists.
The -faster- somebody with PTSD gets proper support, the less damage is done.
After 23 years of waiting for that “help”, I was pretty much too far gone to ever be “normal” again.
Thank God I now have a good husband and my dear FRiends here who accept and support me for what I “am”, “warts and all”.
You are obviously what we hillbillies call “good people”.