Johnna Troglin
New Here
I'm retired now, and widowed three years ago after my battle buddy husband lost his two year battle with an illness that killed the man he had been when he left for his tenth Middle East tour - the first deployment to Iraq I wasn't also working the same flight line. Talk about survivor guilt.
I worked egress on F-16s through most of my career, including my two tours in Balad, Iraq (also known as LSA Anaconda) 2007 & 2008. I broke my back in the line of duty before either of those, and jacked my shoulders as we were leaving on the last trip; so I'm a great weather vane.
Anyway, I was diagnosed with PTSD and major depression in 2010 by a psych who knew just how to ask all the tough questions. I was working on my masters in counseling at the time and specializing in PTSD and it's impact on Veterans and families together (graduated in 2012, just after the onset of my late husband's illness). I knew we both had PTSD - that was no shock - but my eternally, intentionally, stubbornly positive perspective made the depression a surprise.
I'm writing now to help others - others who have experienced war, loss, trauma, things only those who have been through those wilderness places can even dare understand with any credence. I'm writing because it's been my survival - before I ever enlisted; and because it is my calling - because I can articulate things in ways that can help people understand better.
That's who I am. Thank you for reading this lengthy intro. May you enjoy a blessed day!
I worked egress on F-16s through most of my career, including my two tours in Balad, Iraq (also known as LSA Anaconda) 2007 & 2008. I broke my back in the line of duty before either of those, and jacked my shoulders as we were leaving on the last trip; so I'm a great weather vane.
Anyway, I was diagnosed with PTSD and major depression in 2010 by a psych who knew just how to ask all the tough questions. I was working on my masters in counseling at the time and specializing in PTSD and it's impact on Veterans and families together (graduated in 2012, just after the onset of my late husband's illness). I knew we both had PTSD - that was no shock - but my eternally, intentionally, stubbornly positive perspective made the depression a surprise.
I'm writing now to help others - others who have experienced war, loss, trauma, things only those who have been through those wilderness places can even dare understand with any credence. I'm writing because it's been my survival - before I ever enlisted; and because it is my calling - because I can articulate things in ways that can help people understand better.
That's who I am. Thank you for reading this lengthy intro. May you enjoy a blessed day!
