Article Help Please

[anthony]

PTSD brings on physiological changes

Ok, so the associated side effects of health caused by PTSD upon the body.

Putting them back together? Not so much.

So deprogramming... but that isn't really a PTSD associated problem, more a military training one.

Ok.... so self medication issues, that is absolutely associated with PTSD and leads to homelessness and such. Added #8.

For the booting people out aspect, I think that falls under #1 that they're creating a PTSD endemic to begin with in which they don't know how to then further handle.

I want to isolate the primary issue categories, then I'm going to outline the specifics and possible solutions. What is happening, is whilst they find things that work, they discard them and keep throwing money at stupid shit, instead of picking what works and running with it.

 

[JarHed]

Hey All,

Always thought provoking posts here. I think the reality is the same for us all, the stigma is the first and largest hurdle to get over. Societies still look down on us all. They want us to serve but then don't want to know about our problems.

So, the stigma. The need to reeducate the public if possible.
Due to the stigma many won't even seek any kind of treatment. Understandable but sadly for us not the best course of action.

There are many treatment modalities available but they're all a bit hard to connect with. That needs to change as well.
Mostly, I think that ways need to be found to help us to reconnect with life. Help us to have a life where we can deal effectively with our experiences and let us move forward. Veteran problems is a huge industry but if you can sift through it there is help to be had. It not easy and may never be, I think that's just the reality of it.

Maybe the most optimal thing is finding a way to change. Something not working, change it, change the doctors, and whatever else you need to. Think about your life and what you want out of it and then find ways to get there. Sorry if I strayed from the subject a bit. Hope ya'll are OK.

JarHed

 

[Deleted member 43454]

Marijuana for me is 100 percent better than Big Pharma any day of the week. Never heard of someone with risk of dying in their sleep as a con to smoking a joint.

 

[vikingr24]

I try not to get into discussions of MJ because I have experienced very negative results from it. In fact, it exacerbated my problems. The dreams became more vivid and it depressed me almost as much as alcohol. But if it helps someone else, so be it.

You have the basics, Anthony. I do think there cannot be enough said about the stigmatization issue. I was recently at Bainbridge, a big naval complex near Seattle recently and talked with a guy who did Afghanistan in 3 back to back tours. And then they sent him to submarines. He said his buddies felt PTSD was a sissy problem. (Speaking of stigmas.) But he felt after talking with others, and especially with me, that there is something to it. He has seen some of the behavior, angry bouts, fights, hair trigger anger, and deep depression.

There is just not a lot of joy in life with PTSD. It removes your capacity to be happy.

Good luck with it.

 

[anthony]

Veteran problems is a huge industry

Absolutely, and that is one of what I would consider a major hurdle. I have this in the back of my mind, just not sure whether it will sit alone or encompassed in an existing topic. Money is being send left and right, billions of dollars per annum, trialling everything known to man, but the majority of the money is just being wasted, looking for some miracle cure that does not exist for PTSD.

There are knowns that can effectively treat and recover around 60% of combat veterans, and it takes time (I mean full reintegration in society). The other 40% can absolutely recover to a liveable standard also, but there is always a percentage that are worse and will require isolation and more time to become functional.

 

[Iceman]

There are knowns that can effectively treat and recover around 60% of combat veterans, and it takes time (I mean full reintegration in society). The other 40% can absolutely recover to a liveable standard also, but there is always a percentage that are worse and will require isolation and more time to become functional

There are also the delayed onset cases.
Cases where the beast takes control so quickly, and then hides itself behind a wall of locked memories in such a manner that it embeds itself deep in the psych, to the extent that the outward and conscious personas are really unaware. Even though there is subconscious turmoil.

For all effective purposes, that person appears fully integrated And then, 5-10-20 years down the road, the walls come tumbling down.....

 

[JarHed]

looking for some miracle cure that does not exist for PTSD.

I think at some point we all wished for that. Perhaps one of the hardest things for us to do is to accept what we have to deal with.....never an easy thing. I believe that if and when you can reach that point you can start to move forward.

There again, the stigma of mental problems still looms large. If a time ever comes when it's thought of in the same way as any other thing which plagues the human condition it will change. From what I see posted here it still even perpetuated in the military as well.

I, like everyone, have for a lifetime hidden who I am and what I became. Now, I guess I just don't give a shit what people will think about it. That part just isn't up to me, how someone else thinks.

Every day is the day I currently have and try to make it the best I can.......some are better than others.

 

[Iceman]

I believe early identification/assistance/resolution is the key
However, that is extremely complicated because of WHO we were, WHAT were were trained to be, WHERE we were, HOW we were trained act, and WHY we don't admit weakness..

It is as if, everyone needs to be totally debriefed after EVERY action/incident, but not by grad students, junior psycho's, or a mandatory "release" interview, but rather people 1500% trained to identify specific issues.
but how can you possibly debrief someone to identify a potential future issue, when they won't admit they have an issue, as they were specifically trained to be strong, and not admit weakness, not to themselves, and especially not to others..

How did everything go? fine, can you get me another beer...
Do you want to talk about it? talk about what? All i want to do is finish this beer, followed by the next.....
Are you having any issues? only issue i have is you getting in my way to get another beer....
I really think we need to talk about your feelings... only feeling will be my fist hitting your face if you don't shut up....
Are you OK for another mission? F yes, anything to get away from you and your pansy assed questions......

I've done my time, now to get out of this gong show.......

Are you having any issues, any feelings, anything you want to talk about....
F with the questions already, I'm getting out to get away from you and your stupid questions!!!

 

[CyclePath]

I am new to this, but I figure that a lot of people are challenged to coordinate treatment with work schedules (e.g. no sick days, employer not giving time, treatment facility hours, etc...). Many probably cannot afford to take time off to do it, particularly for one week or one month programs. Some folks likely have transportation issues as well. Others probably have no access to treatment due to remote location. Some, like me, refuse to seek help until they are a total walking-train-wreck.

 

[CyclePath]

Moral injury / inner conflict.

 

[BaMuoiBa]

A little late to this dance, these are great issues raised for discussion. Thank you Anthony.

After reading all of these responses I feel that the big issue (as many see it as well) is the stigmatization along with education of those close to those effected. We all have experienced the *elephant in the room* syndrome either at our place of business, socially or at home. Our past *hair trigger* responses usually curtails many topics of conversation and governs with whom we'll associate.

There is one aspect that I see that may have been over looked. That is those of us who have dealt with the beast for 30-40 years not even knowing the root of the matter. Over time the abnormal become the norm especially when they set up barriers they feel that work. What I'm getting at is, those close to use that have stuck with us through the thick and the thin have borne the emotional brunt of our PTSD.

Family have become collateral victims and suffer in many ways *second hand* PTSD. From my own experience I can see issues in my family that have been a direct result of the beast. They walk around as if on eggshells to this day - I can't put this genie back in the bottle. Family therapy is available ONLY if they see the issue but after all these years denial has taken hold.

In a nut shell I'd say the impact on the family dynamic should be considered in the scheme of things as well.

Ba

 

[oldschool1]

ba moi ba..you sure nailed that one down...I have found I am most comfortable when I am alone...the tension I have inflicted on my immediate family is overwhelming....I am trying to get thru day to day without inflicting any more collateral damage , not going as well as I would like...