Newbee

[operator nomore070]

Hey everyone. My name is Hans v. And I am new here and I figure I will give it a try. I was in the marine corps from 08 to 12. I was an 0311 with a dog. I then was recruited to another unit with in the mist of the marine corps. I did 2 tours to Afghanistan and bounced around where as needed. I lost most of my stomach in an IED and lost the use of my arm from a gun shot wound. I am out now and having a really hard time. Bear with me I am horrible at typing what I am thinking. Well I'm having a really hard time now that I am out. Me and my wife have a small house and small farm in Iowa. We have lots of chickens and Holstein heifers and mink and fox which we raise for fur. We live outside of a small town. If any of you are from Iowa you know how it is. The main reason why I am coming on here is because the hardest thing for me is me working in the civilian world. I work for a co op and I am a commercial applicator. So in short terms I drive a sprayer for 18 hours a day. I love my job but the problem is that I am having a really hard time dealing with the dudes I work with. I have been out of the marines for 2 years now and I have not a single friend. Me and my wife just work out in the barn and i run my sprayer Minding my own business. I have had a couple friends and they end up being buddy f*ckers. I live in a very small community and people think I am some drugged zombie who doesn't talk to anyone. The guys i work with don't even try and talk to me. I have absolutely nothing in common with them. There is one guy who was a officer in the army reserves but he talks to me in all his officer official jargon. I have severe PTSD and am on the usual meds and I have tried exposure therapy and all the other stuff but it aint worked so here I am. Hope to talk to you guys . Out!

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

Welcome operator,

First off, the conditions you discribe are NORMAL. Thats right. You are not sick. You're wounded. There's a big difference.

You have already taken steps toward being home again. There will be many more. Each one will help in its own way. So, keep taking them. Therapy, meds, and posting here are all worth something. And, keep in mind that you'll change a little every day, even on the worst days. So, what didn't work yesterday may make a difference tomorrow.

Relationships are gonna be tough. Those who haven't seen what you have will never understand you, and you will have little in common with them. Don't judge them by your standards. You'll be disapointed. Take them for what they are.

One more thing. Stay as close to your wife and family as you can. Through them you'll see the civilian world that you'll live in from now on.

OK, enough from me for now. The rest of your Brothers and Sisters will be along shortly with things of their own to add. Stay with us.

SD

 

[Spock]

Welcome Marine. Thanks for your service, sorry to hear about your wounds. Isolation is common, especially since dealing with others can be so hard. There are many reasons you'll discover in time as we share more on here and you check the place out some more. As SD put it...you mental struggles are wounds just like your other wounds. Try not to dwell on what others "think" or do or don't do for now. Focus on yourself first. Then you can be there for your wife too. You'll find more battle buddies like those here eventually. Group therapy is good for being able to spend some time with others that understand and recapturing some of the camaraderie you miss from the military. Try to find a group and until then, you have us.

 

[Jimmy1]

Welcome mate, heaps of good people and good information on here.

Thanks for your service

 

[OldDoorGunner]

Thanks for your service and Welcome operator........

 

[Sapper1]

Thanks for your service Marine. Keep driving on man. Like SD said, it is tough to deal with some people. It's not their fault, they just have no clue of what you've been through. Hell, I think most civilians think that combat is fought from miles away. That we just hang out in tents, get drunk and miss our families. Put your family first and try like hell not to hurt them through your bad days. Work on bettering yourself each and every day. Even the good days. Find a counselor and try any exercises asked of u. Unfortunately there's no easy out, but it can be helped over time. Sometimes when I'm in my low point I try to think like this...if I let ptsd control me, those whom I've battled against are winning. I won't let those f*ckers take me down.
Just my 2 cents

 

[Alex1991]

Welcome operator

When I got out I lost all my friends, a lot of my civvy friends discovered I had PTSD and quickly dissappeared. Its hard being alone, but there has always been someone on here willing to listen to my BS.

You never know where your life might lead and the new people you might meet.
Over the past 12 months Iv become good friends with a guy from the carribbean, he moved to the uk this year to study so didnt really know anyone either. Now hes one of my closest friends, and I expect he will remain so for years.

Hang in there brother things will get better

 

[BaMuoiBa]

Welcome Operator - Semper Fi......

I have severe PTSD and am on the usual meds and I have tried exposure therapy and all the other stuff but it aint worked so here I am. Hope to talk to you guys . Out!

You came to the right place brother, - pull up a chair or take a knee and get comfortable. Some of the guys have pretty much covered much of what I would said so i'll just suggest that you keep an open mind on what worked for many of us. This is not a one size fits all wound and neither is the treatment.

Ba

 

[SteveMD]

Welcome. My wife is from Iowa, know what it is like. For me, having people leave me alone is a pretty good thing lately. Is that a Silver Lining?

Steve

 

[Lee C]

Welcome

 

[atilla]

Welcome home Newbee, Everyone here's got your six!

 

[Deleted member 43454]

Welcome man. I actually live in Iowa in a small town called Columbus Junction. Same situation here lol, hardly any friends definitely no friends who ever served. I feel the neighbors and the rumors around town probably got me out to be a really bad dude as well. But I just keep to myself. Not sure what part of Iowa you live, but if you ever wanna go fishing send me a PM on here I suppose.
Take it easy brother.