Here We Go Again And Again And Again

[Sleeping Dragon]

It's just past mid-night, and sleep's not possible right now. The cup that Jimmy talks about from time to time has over flowed, and I'm wound tighter than an eight day clock.

To put this into perspective for you younger Brothers and Sisters, I've been dealing with Post Traumatic Stress for many years. I returned from VietNam in October of 1967. So, you do the math.

I've been through various forms of therapy, read many books and writen one of my own on the effects of war. I excersize regularly, do yoga and practice, practice, practice all I've learned on how to deal with this shit.

Right now, right here there's not a damned thing that will get me through this night. No majic pill although I have a drawer full of them. No booze although the bar is well stocked. There's no one to hate or kill although the dragon is definately up for it.

THERE IS NOTHING TO DO BUT HANG ON. Each minute that passes is a victory, each one a baby step that Sarg and the rest of us talk about.

It's a SON-OF-A-BITCH. But, I can't try to understand it, justify it or find someone to blame. It is what it is.

The only thing I can depend on is that it will pass. And, tomorrow I'll start more of those baby steps that will get me to a better place. This is a part of my life that will be with me forever. And, dealing with it is my number one priority.

SD

 

[Sarg]

All you can do, SD, is hang on and weather through it. Damn, the number of times I've had to do this. This is when it's good to be a recluse. Don't have to pile other people's problems on top of yours. Sometimes, I wake up near midnight and the beast isn't going to allow any more sleep. I pull down my old Gibson and try to regain the musical abilities I once possessed.

Music does calm the savage beast.

Sarg

 

[tnkg1rl]

All you can do, SD, is hang on and weather through it. Damn, the number of times I've had to do this. This is when it's good to be a recluse. Don't have to pile other people's problems on top of yours. Sometimes, I wake up near midnight and the beast isn't going to allow any more sleep. I pull down my old Gibson and try to regain the musical abilities I once possessed.

Music does calm the savage beast.

Sarg

I usually sing bad karaoke and dance around like a fool. I may look stupid but who the hell cares anyway. I always feel better after

 

[JarHed]

If this doesn't make you laugh I don't know what will.

Dead Link Removed

you just gotta' wonder where they put the mic.

Sorry, I should have posted this elsewhere. I'll do that.

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

WWWEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLL, I gotta tell ya Jar, no therapist ever recommended that. You're one crazy old Grunt. And, I love ya.

Time for a walk. Get back to you all later.

 

[BaMuoiBa]

SD - sometime you just got to bite the bullet because that all that will do the job.

I get wound up on occasion myself not sure if it's the beast but it could be. Usually I'm pissed about someone or something and no how much I try to let it go. I'm wide awake and re-running the film of the circumstances over and over and getting even more worked up. A Vet I my group turned me on to something I found worked for me, it has to do with eye control. The secret is NOT to close your eyes and number and focus on 4 points on the ceiling. From left to right move from one to the other and repeat its number in (your mind - my bride gets REAL pissed when she can't sleep) at the end reverse the order. In about 10-15 minutes the shit that had me wound up is overtaken by remembering the sequence and I drift off. Does it work all the time? Well, lets say most of the time but it's still my first shot out of the box.

Ba

 

[Sarg]

I usually sing bad karaoke and dance around like a fool.

HA! Used to play guitar and sing for the guys in the barracks. I had a captive audience as the nearest live entertainment was through the heart of indian country. We did from time to time have a live band at the EM club, but they had memorized nothing but Beatles music, and played nothing else.

Sarg

 

[preston falls]

SD--

I've been reading your book. It tells me what you need to know--what you know already but like all of us, a reminder now and then helps. Being in a war changes us in a lot of ways, most of them bad. But it teaches us how much we can stomach in our lives without going over the edge.

We put up with more bullshit, more pain, more fear, more boredom--you name it, we put up with more shit in one year than many people put up with in a lifetime. And we got through it. We might never be able to forget it, but we made it through that year, and by doing so gained a perspective on life that you just can't get another way. Part of that perspective shows us there's a difference between things that deserve to bother us and things that don't. And we have the experience to let the undeserving bullshit go without a response.

Read your book, man. It's really good.

Falls

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

Preston,

I got much more out of writing the book than anyone ever got from reading it. I think we all need to find something we can use for an outlet.

SD

 

[vikingr12]

It's 0243 here and I am signing in as a member of the insomnia club. I just can't do it. Sure is funny when you can't sleep, can't read since that just makes you think more, you've had all the hydrocodone you can have, ambien too, and you still count holes in the ceiling.
But my wife can snore all night. I just want to walk in there and hug her but that would wake her up.
After all she has been through, how does she do it?
Strange I am obsessing on an image that was only a few minutes long then. Siting behind a .30 cal MG on a tree line in the dark just waiting for a bunch of them to be stupid enough to walk out into the moonlight. They were smart that night.
My father called them NoBall missions when all he did was let out a few paratroops or dropped leaflets in WWII. Some things never change.