What Makes You :) Today

[Spock]

I initially thought 'group' face to face support wasn't for me; seems I may have been a bit hasty with my decision and put my defenses up. Spent the last two hours chatting to guys who served 15-35 years before me, quite nice to listen and be listened to, in person. Baby steps and force yourself to do little bits, it might just come good.

Good points Dan & glad you gave it another shot, frankly this forum is much like group therapy too, If this group let's you down again, just keep looking for one you feel comfortable with, you'll be a valuable mentor for the new chaps.

Now that it has been about 8 yrs since my combat, I'm starting to see some separation from the initial completely hopeless survival mode to understanding how baby steps lead to progress. I know why some of the newer guys, especially fresh to the beast, can't see hope beyond just being here and able to vent. They at least know they aren't alone and have a legit combat injury.

I was in group yesterday and I know I've moved to a new phase with all the study and effort. I saw how I used to be but tried to offer them positives. When they explained they see no hope and have no expectations beyond feeling numb & overwhelmed, I understood that as well and can only offer the baby step approach we push here. There was no use explaining too much for them until they had taken enough baby steps to be ready to see more options. I know when I was in the outpatient program I just decided I was gonna try as many therapies as they could throw at me and see if any stuck. I thought none of them really seem to do much at the time but now I think just the effort of it: listening, venting and thinking on it helped me develop new skills to use on the beast.

...Edit: there's me being serious but 'happy', scroll up on my phone and see a big dick on a car. Haha.

:ROFLMAO::LOL:

 

[Anglesachse]

Glad to heat it working out for you Dan cocker.

 

[Chin Strapped]

Cheers guys.

I certainly doesn't come for free, got to put the effort in. 4 years ago I was in combat, so I have been mostly hopeless to date. It's changing.

 

[Anglesachse]

Cheers guys.

I certainly doesn't come for free, got to put the effort in. 4 years ago I was in combat, so I have been mostly hopeless to date. It's changing.

LMAO, Dan cocker, I left in 95 and am still hopeless when it comes to certain things, even after all the therapy and clinics and shit.

It gets better, but don`t expect it to be like it was before, I never can be.

Sorry to piss on your parade, but I know how quickly we get into the "I`m Fixed" rut and then don`t see the bus coming.

But you will be allright, yeah its hard work, but hey, if a you need a job doing right, we need to do it ourselves

 

[JarHed]

And yet another storm. About 6:00am.

 

[Spock]

We got ours same time as you did Jar, Kids & I had a blast as a snow blower gave us lotsa "we time!" Wife is off to Texas helping my sister with the newborn nephew. Still all their energy takes a lot of patience and I really choke down on the beast so I limit outbursts. I probably can't prevent secondary PTSD in them????! I'd like to know what the forum thinks about this since many have already done the kid thing.

What I try to do is be honest in explain to them Daddy is a wounded warrior, limit any exposure for them to the beast and limit my negative actions for them. it's a damn circus and I know much of being a parent is already difficult enough. Anyway, we're enjoying a long weekend with each other. I always renew my innocence when they're around and relive my childhood vicariously through them. That is fun, mostly. Always needing to teach and capture the lesson moments can get exhausting.

 

[JarHed]

I always renew my innocence when they're around and relive my childhood vicariously through them.

Hey Spock

Sounds like I'd like to have you for a parent. I think you've got the right idea. You're a lucky man.

Jar

 

[Jimmy1]

What makes me smile is all those f*cktards who make statements like 'I had PTSD once, so I know what you are talking about' then they go on to say that they did it cold turkey no drugs or therapy.

Wankers. Who are they kidding?

 

[Raven]

I spent an hour nuzzling a puppy!

 

[vikingr12]

I think seeing my wife smile makes me happy. It doesn't happen often enough for me.

 

[Raven]

I'm going to shit on everyone's day because mine got shat on.

The puppy is dead now.

The owner got him from a pet shop and he had pneumonia. They declined treatment from the vet and just returned the puppy to the store for a full refund last week. Yeah, the puppy was destroyed.

 

[Sarg]

Sorry, Raven. One of those hurts that don't heal. I had to sit and watch a puppy die when I was young and I think a part of me died with it.

sarg