Hello,
Although I had symptoms of combat PTSD during the war while serving with the 24th Infantry Division, experienced PTSD after the war, and attempted to move on with my life, I have failed. My combat PTSD has destroyed my life and I am on a route to homelessness even though I have two degrees: chemical engineering and biological sciences. I do not drink or use drugs.
I have also been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. One should note that severe PTSD can present similarly to schizophrenia. In other words, there is a likely overlap. The latter is especially true since schizophrenia or bipolar does not run in my family. Sadly, my combat PTSD, like others I am sure, has been exacerbated by life stressors other than combat that I participated in during the 1991 Gulf War. Last but not least, I suffer from Gulf War Veterans Illness as well, which has shown to cause neurological and brain changes. In fact, Dr. Meggs of Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illness is investigating brain inflammation. Brain inflammation has also been implicated in some schizophrenic cases as well.
Although I have combat PTSD, and I have been diagnosed by a national expert from the VA, I actually survived enough to earn two degrees. Still, I could not function and cannot function in groups. I also deal with hallucinations and delusions and often believe I am being poisoned by chemicals, which is likely related to my fear of chemical weapons. As you might not know, chemical weapons were released during the first Gulf War. As a 24th Infantry Division member, I was in area of Operation Bragg where Khamisiyah is located. Although a short war, I saw many grotesque deaths with the 24th Infantry Division. It has affected me since the war. Sadly, I have lost all control in my life. Currently, I am filing for Veterans Affairs schedular disability and hope to get full disability benefits to mitigate my path to homelessness.
Please believe me when I tell you that I would like to be working as a chemical engineer. Technically, I had much success and even earned three Vice-president's awards. Sadly, I had much difficulty with people, which is very important in corporate America and all areas of life in reality. My combat experience caused an inability to control fear, which is a biomarker for combat PTSD, and I developed a tendency to overreact to my environment. To complicate matters, I witnessed illegal activity that endangered more than 300,000 people as a chemical engineer and the life stressor, along with 9/11 that occurred at the same time, significantly exacerbated my combat PTSD. In a nutshell, I have an inability to control fear, I overreact to stressors, I cannot concentrate, I have severe symptoms that are similar to schizophrenia, which is considered the most debilitating form of mental illness known, etc. I have been trying to survive since the battles that the 24th Infantry Division engaged in. It is always a me against the World.
Although I had symptoms of combat PTSD during the war while serving with the 24th Infantry Division, experienced PTSD after the war, and attempted to move on with my life, I have failed. My combat PTSD has destroyed my life and I am on a route to homelessness even though I have two degrees: chemical engineering and biological sciences. I do not drink or use drugs.
I have also been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. One should note that severe PTSD can present similarly to schizophrenia. In other words, there is a likely overlap. The latter is especially true since schizophrenia or bipolar does not run in my family. Sadly, my combat PTSD, like others I am sure, has been exacerbated by life stressors other than combat that I participated in during the 1991 Gulf War. Last but not least, I suffer from Gulf War Veterans Illness as well, which has shown to cause neurological and brain changes. In fact, Dr. Meggs of Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illness is investigating brain inflammation. Brain inflammation has also been implicated in some schizophrenic cases as well.
Although I have combat PTSD, and I have been diagnosed by a national expert from the VA, I actually survived enough to earn two degrees. Still, I could not function and cannot function in groups. I also deal with hallucinations and delusions and often believe I am being poisoned by chemicals, which is likely related to my fear of chemical weapons. As you might not know, chemical weapons were released during the first Gulf War. As a 24th Infantry Division member, I was in area of Operation Bragg where Khamisiyah is located. Although a short war, I saw many grotesque deaths with the 24th Infantry Division. It has affected me since the war. Sadly, I have lost all control in my life. Currently, I am filing for Veterans Affairs schedular disability and hope to get full disability benefits to mitigate my path to homelessness.
Please believe me when I tell you that I would like to be working as a chemical engineer. Technically, I had much success and even earned three Vice-president's awards. Sadly, I had much difficulty with people, which is very important in corporate America and all areas of life in reality. My combat experience caused an inability to control fear, which is a biomarker for combat PTSD, and I developed a tendency to overreact to my environment. To complicate matters, I witnessed illegal activity that endangered more than 300,000 people as a chemical engineer and the life stressor, along with 9/11 that occurred at the same time, significantly exacerbated my combat PTSD. In a nutshell, I have an inability to control fear, I overreact to stressors, I cannot concentrate, I have severe symptoms that are similar to schizophrenia, which is considered the most debilitating form of mental illness known, etc. I have been trying to survive since the battles that the 24th Infantry Division engaged in. It is always a me against the World.
