What Is Combat PTSD?

[Jimmy1]

Do as your told or I will spank you. Then again you would probably like it.

 

[tho9900]

Jimmy not to totally disagree with you, and I respect you... you know that... but the music was part of us back then... I remember me with the headphones on, skimming the waves or the sands... Jimi Hendrix "Red House" blaring.. was gonna post it but will do it in my own thread I guess...

you can read my strange evening post and all I can think of is "It must have been the roses" by the grateful dead... the lyrics at the first "Annie layed her head down in the roses" signifies her dying..

anyway its all cool gonna abide.. no arguments.. just I saw a relevance...

 

[Jimmy1]

See post in Veterans Only section.

 

[Anglesachse]

man... even my flip off got ruined!

Same shit different day Red mate

 

[Jay Muse]

Its the Posties, the Cooks, or the Stores/Quartermaster

That's right....I'm brand new to the forum, and I was a cook....beleive it or not, we get it too! My stuff even happened almost 29 yearrs ago, and I STILL have it.

 

[Wagon]

Hello Jay Muse,

Could you post a little intro of yourself in the intro section. Just the highlights. No combat details needed. Service time, theatre, stuff like that. Looks like you served on a Battleship. Interested to hear.

Wagon.
Iowa 88-90

 

[Red Hood Joker]

Yep... even applying to myself when I was first diagnosed, all 5 hit the nail on the head.

yes to all but #5...... unless you consider not having meaningful conversations with my wife. I don't know.

 

[Jimmy1]

yes to all but #5...... unless you consider not having meaningful conversations with my wife. I don't know.

Mate relationship abuse can happen with everyone. Your family and friends tend to get pushed away and those we love the most cop the abuse.

 

[Red Hood Joker]

Mate relationship abuse can happen with everyone. Your family and friends tend to get pushed away and those we love the most cop the abuse.

i guess ignoring her IS a form of abuse, never been a real talkative guy anyways though

 

[Jimmy1]

Mate, to be honest, if you sat her down in front of a therapist and got them to ask the questions, you might find different answers. We all tend to think that everything is going peachy.

 

[Red Hood Joker]

that is a good idea jimmy, I will see about setting something up.

 

[Spock]

Ok guys, I get it. I should have explained more in my post. The group they put me in has members whose trauma comes from non-combat events. I totally understand that many whose main job was supposed to be supply or whatever experienced at least some combat and to them all my hat is off. I apologize to any I offended in my post.

I'll just add my small bit to Anthony's "combat" separation & JP's explanation since they're identical to my experience in an outpatient program at Walter Reed Nat'l Medical Center. Also, I tell folks group therapy is my favorite. Only combat can be in our groups so I can understand why JP had difficulty. This forum functions as online group for me. Only problem is writing is open to misinterpretation as intent can be lost.

Back to the outptient program where we were also separated into combat & non-combat. You already understand the combat side. The non-combats included people that were assaulted, substance abusers, previously existing mental disorders not screened in recruiting (one girl who had no business getting into the military and was traumatized by basic training) and many of them had been molested as kids. Most of them were being administratively removed from the military before they went to combat.

Many folks, combats & non-combats, were coming out of the Pysch Ward and this was their final step on the way to full release. The rest of us were referred directly into the program for evaluation and fulltime therapy. I had run out of coping mechanisms and was breaking down, focusing more on suicide so I sought sanctuary to buy time and rebuild my resilience. So, we spent the mornings in our separate groups, combat & non-combat, and the afternoons were combined for visiting speakers, gym outings, basic relaxation groups like art therapy, and community outings to a museum or bowling, etc. The combats, almost to a person, had issues with the non combats if it involved sitting around a table "sharing." The staff was also very particular to qualify who was combat & who wasn't. All were military and a couple non-combats had deployed but their issues were determined to pre-existing. I think they were actually not in theater very long but since they had been in combat they got more slack from the combatiers (my term.)

As for the combat program it included: learning about PTSD, reviewing symptoms, identifying one's triggers, group therapy, testing, CAPS scoring, individual sessions, no alcohol with random testing, meds evaluation, alcohol training, guided therapy, light therapy, yoga, acupuncture, minor electro-stimulation therapy, exposure, and a bunch of other things I can't recall at the moment. It helped me a lot as I was gained valuable coping tools and was able to address some major triggers, learn to avoid them. For example, a major problem was commuting/road rage which I've now put in a box with preparation and learning to avoid it more making it much less debilitating, irritating and distracting now. That was important since I was getting into too many confrontations.

That is all,
ColA