Hello

[medic5]

Welcome Kati,
THere were a few times when I was the lone female ( medic) on patrol. I too felt like I didn't fit in anywhere. This is a great group of guys and gals and they make you feel like you belong. The guys seemed to be understanding and accepting of us women veterans. No one on this site believes my PTSD is worst than yours. We all been through hell and back and each one of us have faced different hell, but we all suffer from the beast. This is one of the few places were I feel that people understand me, accept me and will kick my butt if I need it ( yes, it has happened but deserved):):)

 

[Squaddiedave]

Personally, what you don't have, or what you have between your legs don't matter a whit to me. "we've done our time in hell, now is the time to pay, cry, and tell'

 

[jamz]

Welcome to the group...don'y worry...you're cool here.

 

[Jimmy1]

Well Kati, here we don't judge, regardless of what job you have done or where you have been and most likely some of the people on here are 'Fobits' as you call them. The most important point is, that an individuals trauma's are the worst thing in the world to them and yet to you they may seem like nothing.

Thanks for providing the detail too, now the guys know who their talking to. There is nothing worse than not being able to relate.

The whole group therapy thing is an individual thing I think, you either like it or dislike it. You never know, if you were to go back you might strike a group that you can actually associate with.
The biggest problem I found with groups were the individuals that were uncomfortable and did not feel they actually belonged so they make it uncomfortable for everyone else.

When I was first diagnosed I hated it as I didn't think I belonged there. I still think today the hardest thing to fathom is the fact that you have PTSD. There is still a stigma attached regardless of what the politicians say and some commanders still think it's a weakness, and if you talk to enough, you get the impression that some people think it's a contagious thing.

I am going to refer all new people to this book I am reading. It is the first book that has the majority of the answers I have been looking for, for the last 10 years.

Link Removed

 

[nomedic1]

Welcome Kati, hope we can help

 

[Barberian]

Welcome to the forums. Hope you can find something that helps you get better.

 

[Lee C]

Welcome.......................

 

[tho9900]

hey K... there are more than a few females on here, some are kinda quiet as you can kinda understand.. Medic5, Armyvetwolf... 2 solid women I would have on my team in a sec.... Reach out to them... ya we are a unit as a whole... but I understand there is a special stigma/honor to being a female combat vet...

Lots of good people here... sometimes you might need to back off and read.. sometimes you post your azz off.. take it slow and believe me no one here judges you for either being Female or having PTSD.. this is a different group here so pull up a chair and grab a coke or the drink of your choice and relax with us...

The only reason we would judge you is you having donuts but not enough for the whole class... just saying... ;)

 

[Lee C]

I only like Jam though !;)

 

[Squaddiedave]

Any donuts will do!

 

[armyvetwolf]

Hey Kati, you will fit in fine here. You sound just like me, you are very similar to me in all the things you have said. Only difference is i never went to Bosnia and was in Iraq twice. I did 9 years active duty army. I was a mechanic but last unit was MP's and saw some action. My hubby had been to Iraq twice and once to Bosnia/Kosovo. He retires in 3 years!!! I had two kids while in the army and was dual military for a long time.

If you need another female vet to talk to, i am always around. I am 50% VA rated. I did the psychologist thing for awhile but never got into the group therapy like i wanted. They warned me it was mainly male but i am good with the opposite sex, so i didn't care. But maybe it was for the better.

This is a crazy group, good mixture of ppl from all over the world and branches. There is a lot to learn from them. We don't care if your female, so no worries about being rejected here;)

 

[Kati]

thank you.... it is nice to know I am not alone.