Jar, [No Flaming ;-)]
I too have studied the science of our condition ad nauseum (and continuing the study as I can). I find these discussions to be helpful to me, because even though I think I understand the mechanisms, when you are in the maelstrom, you can see the forest through the trees (or the sniper in the leaves)! Meaning, I can identify when someone else is flailing about, but I sometimes I can't tell when I am flailing.
I can't even begin to imagine what you 'Nam vets have gone through for the last 40+ years. My own symptoms peaked after 20 or so years and only 5-6 of that were 'bad.' My mind staggers to think about four decades of that...
As many structural engineers are examples of: Just because they understand the physics and methods, does not mean they can build the building.
The reverse is also true: many carpenters don't understand simple structural engineering principles, but they can nail wood together like nobody's business.
J R,
In the book and movie Band of Brothers, there is a great scene about this:
I too have studied the science of our condition ad nauseum (and continuing the study as I can). I find these discussions to be helpful to me, because even though I think I understand the mechanisms, when you are in the maelstrom, you can see the forest through the trees (or the sniper in the leaves)! Meaning, I can identify when someone else is flailing about, but I sometimes I can't tell when I am flailing.
I can't even begin to imagine what you 'Nam vets have gone through for the last 40+ years. My own symptoms peaked after 20 or so years and only 5-6 of that were 'bad.' My mind staggers to think about four decades of that...
As many structural engineers are examples of: Just because they understand the physics and methods, does not mean they can build the building.
The reverse is also true: many carpenters don't understand simple structural engineering principles, but they can nail wood together like nobody's business.
J R,
In the book and movie Band of Brothers, there is a great scene about this:
Lt. Speirs: Do you know why you crawled into that ditch Blithe?
Blithe: I was scared.
Lt. Speirs: We're all scared. You crawled into that ditch because you think there's still hope. But Blithe. The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. Only then can you function the way a soldier is supposed to function. Without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.
Blithe: I was scared.
Lt. Speirs: We're all scared. You crawled into that ditch because you think there's still hope. But Blithe. The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. Only then can you function the way a soldier is supposed to function. Without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.
