Military Healing Ourselves

[CS67ART]

I look at it like this, the military teaches us to be in control; I once was in group therapy, they had us hold our breath for as long as we could, I held mine for two minutes, a minute longer then anyone else. When asked how I explained the military teaches us that when our body says breath, our training says charlie mike, continue the mission, the mission being to hold our breath.

Civilians mean well but they can't understand us because they have no context, they've never been one of us. My best source of coping is peer support, no need to explain anything, the trust is there, no need to build it.

So I think the key to coping and healing is each other. F*ck the world, they will never understand us.

 

[Chimera]

You are absolutely correct, we civilians(outside of war zones) have no context...to understand combat-ptsd/trauma.
But we do have the capacity to understand the symptoms, we all experience the symptoms that define ptsd. So you are not alone in either sphere, as there are many military here and from what I have heard we have a sister site strictly for combat- ptsd
(Someone please correct me if I am misinformed)
Welcome and I hope you can find healing, support and comradarie here.

 

[CS67ART]

You are absolutely correct, we civilians(outside of war zones) have no context...to understand combat-p...

I'm one of those people who falls through the cracks because I can't be categorized; shot at? Yes, killed? Yes. Risked my life? Yes, Injured? Yes. Combat? No. So there it is. Not my fault no war was going on, that would make it all easier to understand wouldn't it? But the pain is real, guilt is guilt and I've been serving my country for 25 years because of it. At least half or more of the vets in my groups fall into the same category with varying differences. I risked my ass for my country every time I went out the door of an aircraft, legs don't get it. But what really helps me is helping my fellow vets, combat vets or not, too many suicides, too close.

 

[Chimera]

@CS67ART

I'd have to say we all have fallen thru the cracks somehow, there isn't a right or wrong way to get ptsd, or to treat it. Ptsd is subjective.
But the support, yeah, I think that's the part that really matters. And it does take others who have literally "been there" to relate...normal people could not bear it.
And that's ok. I wouldn't wish knowledge of, or my trauma on any person..just no.
But the people here, those who do have this type of knowledge?
They don't have to understand the details of the experience that wrought someone's ptsd to relate to the symptoms that result. We are empathetic. We do understand overwhelming, often crippling, thoughts, feelings and emotions.
We are trying to heal, individually, within a supportive, safe environment.
This has been my experience here
I hope you find support and healing here too

 

[Whyteferret]

I look at it like this, the military teaches us to be in control; I once was in group therapy, they had...

we all want to be understood. The truth is that no matter how we get PTSD, no one really understands what it is like for us. Even if the therapist is a veteran with combat experience, the experience the therapist has was different. You can have three Soliders exposed to the same trauma. Each one experiences it differently. One might get PTSD, one might not. Even if all three get PTSD, their takes on what traumatized them will be different.

One thought about groups. It's like the military, it's not really about the individual. It's about everyone in the group. The mission is support/ learning/ processing. Each brings something different to the table. Just like every member of a unit brings something to the mission. Maybe you were asked about how you held your breath that long was to help the group? It was an example of strength and determination. And you might learn something from a group- even from civilians.

I'm not putting down your feelings about this. I'm just pointing out another way to look at it.

 

[EveHarrington]

Some of the best support comes from those who simply "get it".

No need to explain yourself.

No need for a million apologies when symptoms spike and you need to take care of yourself.

These are the people who let you be you because they've been there themselves.

 

[CS67ART]

Actually you're right, I explained to the group that in a sense we all already have the training to overcome our issues, that no quit drive learned in the military. And I'm sorry if I come across as thinking civilians are less than equal in their conditions, I don't mean that at all.