Seeking Combat Vets Narrative Story For Reseaching A Solution To Treating Ptsd!

[reddevil1111]

Would this type of research work with non combat related ptsd individuals? My reason for asking is that there are a lot more of the non combat related folks on another forum.
While I think you might be able to help vet's in the future, I would think helping others with PTSD first might help you break into the Military barrier that your running into.
It is my opnion that combat vets are not as open and willing as the others in the ptsd forum are. Heck, they might fight over the chance to try your new methods. And I know for sure that they are a lot more open about talking about what happened to them.
Most of us have not opened more than a little crack of what we are feeling or about what happened. I know I cant talk about it to anyone. Not my wife, best friend, therapist,not even the other vets in here.
I am suggesting that you might have an easier time and you might get further much faster. The other option is to continue to try at your hospital.
As a vet and a combat PTSD vet I know you must understand why we feel this way? I dont know how you got past things yourself or if you have. I know that everyone would love to hear your story and what you went through. Whatever you feel you can share.

 

[K-9 Al]

Opening up is difficult. I know the more i open up the more anxiety i feel on a daily basis. It was so much easier to live and just bury the memories deep away. When they were buried and i was in denial, life wasnt as unbearable. its when i got help and started to open up that all these memories and symptoms kept flooding out

Also, Doc, a good point you might want research or think about is the issues that some K9 handlers have. Like for me for instance. I was able to mask a lot of mine when i was still partnered up with my bomb/patrol dog. When i had to "drop leash" because of my back issues then my PTSD got severely worse. The loss of my sense of security (my k9 partner) is said to have severely disrupted my brain workings. Its had an impact on everything from PTSD, to self confidence, to not being able to really tell if im safe or not. When i was with my partner she was always 10-15 feet away from me constantly sniffing for bombs or waiting to take a chunk out of a bad guy. I lost that in March, and from march to today I am a completley different person. not only do I have the PTSD to deal with but also the other stuff from the loss of my partner and my security.

I really hope that makesa lot of sense...

 

[Doc Shanks]

My goal is to work with the population that is most affected by PTSD currently. Again, I am not soliciting for the sake of soliciting co-researchers, what I am asking for is those who are willing to tell their story nothing more. I may not be successful here but as a kindred researcher nothing beats a failure but a try. Please consider my intent altruistic at best! As for me I too am a work in progress but it is the very process that I am talking about that has help me address my dilemma with PTSD. Nonetheless I really appreciate your feedback reddevil1111! Thank you for your recommendation...

 

[reddevil1111]

I am not trying to run you off. I just think you might have a much faster result with this. I still want to hear about you and your feelings and whatever you want to share with us. I swear I was only trying to help is all.-Dan

 

[Jimmy1]

Doc, you have an interesting idea there. I think Red hit the nail on the head there though. Although we do wish to find anything that can help us, the military conditioning is what is getting in the way.
We have been taught to hide our emotions/feelings otherwise we were berated, so its a learned behaviour.
Most of the veterans I know learn to manage their symptoms and take years to deal with each and every trauma and many of the veterans as you well know never deal with all their traumas, its just too hard for them. The other factor is the 200% trust needed. I am fortunate, I have had the same therapist since doing my PTSD course here in Australia. She knows me better than I know me and has seen all my ups and downs, yet I still don't feel comfortable talking about all my demons.

That will be your biggest challenge mate, crossing that trust barrier.

Jimmy

 

[Doc Shanks]

K9AI, thanks for your feedback, and yes this makes perfect sense! You see your story is exactly what I am referring to! Your story has meaning! Everyone's story here has meaning! This is what I have been talking about. Through your stories recovery can be possible! Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Please note I will not share this bit of information with anyone!

 

[K-9 Al]

If you need anything. I will try and be as helpful as possible. Feel free to email me at [email protected]

Also, at first I thought my therapist was crazy (pardon the pun) I thought she was more or less talking about me., "mourning the loss of my partner" however when seh further explained it started to make sense. Especially after we brainspotted one of my flashbacks. It was at six flags. My wife, step son, his freind, and I went to six flags. Wouldnt you know it there were three muslim women in full garb (ninja suits) When i see them of course i cant hold back my anger and i yell, "dont blow anything up asshole." Six flags was a real test for me. I was nervous all throw out and was tryign to put a happy face as to not disrupt the family life to much. it wasnt a good idea for me to go at all. Well, not long after we got there I was walking through the game part of the park. I had become seperated from my family because i walk slow (somedays i use a cane) As i walked through the game part (it looks almost like a baghdad market place) i noticed the muslim women again. I was done. I immediately looked for cover. I ended up by some bushes near the bathrooms. I had my cane and i lifted it up like it was an M4 but i was confsued. I kept sayign, "where the f*ck is Cici (my k9 partner), what has happened to Cici" I started scanning the tops of the buildings and other spots where snipers could be and didnt really move to much. Between teh flashback and the confusion of where my dog was i didnt know what to do.

It was an insane episode. It is AMAZING how i was able to mask my symptoms until i lost muy security. I really dont understand it myself. I wasnt able to mask my anger, sleepless nights and hypervigilance but my panic attacks, anxiety was ketp away until about March.

 

[Doc Shanks]

reddevil, I am not looking for the quick fix and I hear you! I also can tell that you are honestly trying to help! What I am looking for is a solution to treating PTSD, like a needle in a haystack...There is an algorithm in this forum that may be the overall key to treating PTSD! Each of you hold the key to the solution; through your stories! As I enter into the inner circle of your trust I will be still for the sake of this collective. I know that trust can only be earned we all have to trust our instincts! I get it! But trust works both ways, right?

 

[Doc Shanks]

K-9 Al, this is what I mean by re-triggering...Thank you for your story here this is exactly what I am seeking...A vehicle that will cut through the psychobabble and address the problem that plagues PTSD sufferers; that being the reaction to suppression and repression via CBT and like treatment protocols! I will contact you via email in order to protect your privacy!

 

[K-9 Al]

Doc, how narrative are you wanting stories. Like of exact traumatic events or just general things like where we were and stuff and how its had an impacted on us? I will try as best as i can to help. It may take some time so please bare with me. Its hard for me to trust people...i dont mind sharing stories of how i am feeling now. That helps because it helps me fiqure out what the hell is wrong with me. Its sharing my deployment experiences that is really really difficult.

 

[Doc Shanks]

No worries! Your story is your own, talking about your beloved K( or what you experienced in the field and or just talking about how you are dealing with the past or a flashback makes it a narrative...You are on the right track! Again thank you!

Doc...

 

[anthony]

My goal is to work with the population that is most affected by PTSD currently.

Then that is not veterans Doc... which statistics are quite clear about. There are more civilians with PTSD than military / veterans with PTSD. Veterans actually are quite an insignificant number overall in PTSD statistics compared to sexual based trauma.

Veterans are however the largest singular collective group that is the most easy to access for study purposes, compared to civilian populous.

Whilst I am hesitant in what you are saying, I am also still willing to listen. From the sounds of it, you are inadvertently eluding to Mind Body type approach or even Mental Imagery itself, both of which have proven effectiveness, yet are limited. Cryptic is not necessary, even will work against you, when approaching veterans themselves for help. Your best approach with a veteran is to lay it on the table truthfully, what you are doing, what you want from them, etc... then let them make their decision. Cryptic will not get veterans interested, trust me on that.