mTBI, PTSD and Stress (Catch All)
Meanwhile....back home.
Some who have served are back from Iraq, and feeling bitter
Quote:
Bad stuff happened in Iraq, stuff Adam Reuter doesn't want to talk about.
His wife worries because he leaps out of bed at night.
But when he does talk about the war, he goes right to how the insurgent crumpled after he pulled the trigger. How later, during the firefight, he ended up just a few feet from the corpse. Bullets buzzed by, and he was supposed to watch the alley, but he couldn't help but glance over.
"He just lay there," Reuter said. His eyes and mouth open. His whiskers a few days old. The bullet had gone in his neck cleanly, just to the right of his Adam's apple, but had come out ugly from the back of his head. He was maybe 25, a little older than Reuter.
How can you describe what that was like? Who would understand it?
Nobody. So Reuter keeps his mouth shut. His Army uniform is packed in a box in the garage. He kisses his baby boy every night. He gets on with his life.
At home in Newnan, Ga., there is no war. "It doesn't cross their minds. To them, everything is fine," Reuter said.
After three years, there are at least 550,000 veterans of the Iraq war. The Washington Post interviewed several who were still in the service, and others who weren't — to hear what their war was like and how the transition home has been.
A constant theme was that the public is largely unaffected by the war, and, despite media exposure, doesn't understand what it's like.
The United States that Iraq veterans are returning to is indifferent, many said. One that, without fear of a draft, seems more interested in American Idol than the bombings in Baghdad. Sure, there are the homecoming parades and yellow-ribbon bumper stickers.
But for many vets, those moments of gratitude were short-lived. Soon they were joined by bitter impressions of a society that seems to forget that it is living through the country's largest combat operation in more than 30 years.
Virtual war helps US soldiers deal with trauma
Quote:
A "virtual Iraq" simulation that allows soldiers to re-live and confront psychological trauma has produced promising results for the initial handful of patients treated using the system.
The trial of the software, which recreates the sights, smells, sounds and jolts of the battlefield, has now been extended to a few dozen US service personnel who have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since returning from war in Iraq.
http://technology.guardian.co.uk/new...016519,00.html
Study Ties Soldiers' Maladies to Stress
This is out of my league to explain, but is the provocative nature of this study b/c soldier's don't want to admit that they can't handle the stress of combat...? Wondering what those who can comment would say?
Quote:
-- Traumatic brain injury, described as the signature wound of the Iraq war, may be less to blame for soldiers' symptoms than doctors once thought, contends a provocative military study that suggests post-traumatic stress and depression often play a role.
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
The Associated Press
Wednesday, January 30, 2008; 8:54 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...013001058.html
GEN Ham story on combat stress
General's story puts focus on stress stemming from combat
-Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
Quote:
Gen. Carter Ham was among the best of the best — tough, smart and strong — an elite soldier in a battle-hardened Army. At the Pentagon, his star was rising.
In Iraq, he was in command in the north during the early part of the war, when the insurgency became more aggressive. Shortly before he was to return home, on Dec. 21, 2004, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a mess hall at a U.S. military base near Mosul and killed 22 people, including 14 U.S. troops. Ham arrived at the scene 20 minutes later to find the devastation.
When Ham returned from Mosul to Fort Lewis, Wash., in February 2005, something in the affable officer was missing. Loud noises startled him. Sleep didn't come easily.
"When he came back, all of him didn't come back. … Pieces of him the way he used to be were perhaps left back there," says his wife, Christi. "I didn't get the whole guy I'd sent away."
Today, Ham, 56, is one of only 12 four-star generals in the Army. He commands all U.S. soldiers in Europe. The stress of his combat service could have derailed his career, but Ham says he realized that he needed help transitioning from life on the battlefields of Iraq to the halls of power at the Pentagon. So he sought screening for post-traumatic stress and got counseling from a chaplain. That helped him "get realigned," he says.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/militar...l_N.htm?csp=34
GEN Ham story on combat stress
PTSD is almost forced on all the personnel coming back from the box. Questions like, "DId you shoot your weapon?" or, "Did you encounter sand?" were viable criterium for a full PTSD check. I am not of the opinion that PTSD is a fallacy, rather I believe the military IS doing what it can to treat this on a grand scheme. The TROOPS generally have a stigma attached to this. It was taught in basic that "profile rangers" were lacking METL to complete their tasks. We all know the why's of this (to keep trainees in training) but the result is the lack of admittance when something is wrong for fear of reprocussions. The VA does have problems to work out (as with any government agency because of the sheer size and required red tape) but it assists MANY troops. The AD military agencies tasked with the assistance and aid of AD troops can only help, if the troop asks.
What can be done about this?
GEN Ham has made the first (large) step. He has shed some light on the issue. If a GENERAL can get promoted and prosper after having been through this, then it is viable that ANY troop, enlisted or officer can be helped. Good show, GEN Ham.
White Paper: PTSD and mTBI
UNDERSTANDING PTSD AND MTBI: INITIAL OBSERVATIONS
MICHAEL FEW
Currently, the combined frequency, intensity and duration of multiple combat deployments on a small volunteer force are showing some disturbing trends that befuddle commanders and mental experts. They include: 1. Suicide, 2. Divorce, 3 Substance Abuse, 4. Retention. Personally, I believe these are symptoms of a greater problem. Call it PTSD, mTBI, or whatever term best suits, it is simply a horrid combination of stress and anger. Life is hard; life is not fair, but there is endurance, acceptance, and perseverance within faith, hope and love.
After a traumatic event, whether it be a buddy dying, a rape, or a genocide, people react under different ways pursuant to one’s individual formula of life lessons, coping skills, community support, and environment. Two extremes of coping include the reaction of the citizens of Oklahoma City to the terrorist bombing versus the citizens of New Orleans to Katrina. Dr. Jon labels these as victim versus strivers. I fall into the third category: survivor. Everything is attitude as it relates to how one chooses to manage life’s events.
Understanding and accepting what one cannot control.
For the past two months, I prayed, fasted, and sought wisdom on how to share where I have been and what I have seen to possibly help everyone else. I thought to myself, “Self, how do you explain the unexplainable?” The answer was so apparent- honest, brutal conversation. It is so humorous how you can have a private conversation with someone and generate truth, yet, we refuse to express the same truth in public in fear of how it will be perceived. So, I spent a week sending you the thoughts in my head as they raced out.
I took action. I let go of control to regain control. I did it my way conquering every fear with blunt trauma and mindless repetition.
As a survivor, I have a tendency to try to right every wrong, seeking justice for every transgression. In moderation, my voice can be brilliant. Unregulated, it is the definition of insanity. Think about it. If one tries to take on the role of stopping every stupid driver on the road, one will just die from anger. Stupid drivers exist because there are cars. It just is. We are all interconnected and intertwined. That is why Antartica bleeds right now in hurt of our own anger. You call it global warming just as you don’t understand why non-religious women martyr themselves in despair in Zaganiyah.
Emerson spoke of this as self-reliance. It is life. Darwin, Jesus, Kant, Mohammed, Hobbes, Keynes, Locke, and Smith explained it in their own ways trying to apply life to business, religion, and politics. Warren Buffet capitalized on his acceptance and understanding of the applications of fear and greed. My heart bleeds in deep introspection as we skew truth in generalization and specialization. I only understood this by reading their words on my own not to be lost in someone else’s misinterpretation. Easterners simply call it Tao and spitituality.
It is time for me to take some rest and heal. You can call it a sabbatical, medical retirement, or whatever works for you. I don’t particularly care for labels anymore as words are important yet we constantly mislabel. I’m simply going to pursue the difference of carrot pancakes and purple ice-cream from a young girl that I love more than jellybeans. I finally looked in the mirror and understood my truth.
My only recommendation for you is to visit Topeka Kansas VA and let the staff share their understanding.
So what is PTSD? Maybe it is best understood with how I shared it with Taylor- there is something powerful in the innocence of a four year old. It works with me. Now, you can find your own truth.
“Daddy, are you mad at me?”
“No dear. When Daddy was in Iraq, Daddy bumped his head. I tried to use a band-aid, but it did not work. I even tried to use a Sponge Bob band-aid. My head still hurt so I had to go to the hospital and see the doctor.”
“I love you Daddy.”
“I love you too.”
“Daddy, I love you three.”
“I love you more than jellybeans.”
Words mean things. Knowledge is power. Ultimately, it is the only form of treatment.
Happy Easter.
Conversation unfolds...let us not be discrete....
From the civilians....
Nice to see that you are still making progress and finding every minute of it so fascinating. The part on labels I found to be very interesting. Possibly because our language is abstract -letting one work mean many different things to different people, and .... but that's a discussion for another day. Anyway enjoy your rest & Happy Easter!
Use this forum to voice and we'll see where it goes...
My buddy Ryan would probably love to have a conversation with you on that considering he is in China where Chinese translates one-hundred and eleven into simply one, one, one.
v/r
Mike
Roger all, word is bond...
as we implement policy regardless of own thought...simply time for YOU to think...
On Command
Leaders follow knowing the men will lead
Is that right so paradox?
Walk with me, my heart bleeds
In set verse
Truth be told, student studies
Turns to teacher
Remembering forever
Hearts delivered
Why commanders not realize
Still the men die
My heart bleeds
In recollection
Searching, Striving in introspection.
Circle unbroken
word is bond....
remember in command,
deeds not words
I walked that walk
Mentoring right way
absent self easy way
and so was what you call the surge
only truth, eventually to unfold....
Forgiveness is certain
but don't forget
lest we persist
to do it once again
All is paradox
one plus one equals eleven or three
not two
lest we repeat....
Nothing indiscrete...
towards confluence
we'll walk together
lest we sink in storm
Policy and Retribution....towards only resolve...
In the same means Poppas once told me to take down Turki Village..
He said, I did....
In the same means that I found my path and now walk away
Searching for control of my own heart and mind....
I found forgiveness
Andrew Poppas- Chief of all military
David Sutherland- Veterans Affairs
Gordon McCormick- Expert on COIN thus foreign policy
Nancy Roberts- Secretary of Education
Once the island of miscreants and joke
Listen to me, lest I go back to angry
and cause real revolution
this i know as i have studied well
You, never really know.....
don't be fooled by your careless use of words
Time for peace
I simply want to transcend
Epilogue in rhyme and reason
Sir,
You always do it your way. I expect nothing less from someone who mentored me to to things the right way, not the easy/safe way. Thanks for always being there for all of us. I hope Katy can make it to the wedding also. She looks like a wonderful lady. SEE YOU SOON!
Sincerely,
MIKE’S LETTER FROM HIS FALLEN FRIENDS
MIKE! What’s wrong with you? You need to let us go!
You have your own life to live without our baggage!
Mike, you have a wonderful life, a beautiful daughter, yet you throw it away with your inner anger.
Mike, think of us, sometimes, cry for us. But don’t grieve for us. We are all gone…dead in your world. We have been dead for a long, long time….
Mike, let us rest so that you can rest. Don’t suffer for us anymore. We never wanted it much less needed it.
You have lived for us long enough. Now, live your own life. Enjoy each dawn, cherish each of your remaining days with joy in your heart, live in each step and know that we will always be with you. Mike, keep living!
Please learn from your war.
Yes, you have lost influence over us. We have control!
Mike, love everyday! Recognize that you lost way too many days…Regain control and love yourself. Live and cherish your new beginning.
Think of us with a clean understanding that we also loved you.
We will now say good-bye.
ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE!!!!
Intersection of congruence
The Intersection of Congruence
By chance of quest, does my heart not prize my brain?
Of course not, each independent but the same.
This swelling inside, I know not fully through,
All I can do is gasp, I solely want you.
Aroused from introspection, aloof no more,
Intense passion swells, and I know.
Intensity of desire embraces chance,
Abandons reason, takes form in glance.
Passion dances in the breath of bliss,
Awaiting the moment to taste your kiss.
Restlessly I await, patience must persist,
Abandoning pursuit of pleasure for love forever.
My heart races, I no longer think.
Where have you been? Where did I go?
Minds meld; moreover,
we are one.
Things Fall Apart; Things come together
Everything I have is now free, so we can all heal
To Yahweh, for carrying me when I could not
To Taylor, so that you may know your daddy
To my walking wounded, so that you may learn to live
To my fallen paratroopers, I love you, and I’ll see you one day on the big drop zone in the sky
To the children of Iraq, that you may one day know peace
To my fellow citizens, may you find the truth
To Major Aziz, my brother in arms
To Katy, for loving me irrationally
Inshallah
Chapter one: All roads lead to zag....
CHAPTER ONE: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ZAGANIYAH
“Osama, baah! Osama is not a product of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He is a creation of America. Thanks to America, Osama is in every home. As a military man, I know you can never fight and win against someone who can shoot at you once and then run off and hide while you have to remain eternally on guard. You have to attack the source of your enemy’s strength. In America’s case, that’s not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is ignorance. The only way to defeat it is to build relationships with these people, to draw them into the modern world with education and business. Otherwise the fight will go on forever.”
-Pakistani General (Ret) Bashir
Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time
"Mike, they're miscreants. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less....You call them jihadists, and you don't understand what jihad means. You've just infuriated 2 billion Muslims and given credence to their cause. They’re simply miscreants." -Pakistani Infantry Officer
Part one: Things fall apart
PART ONE
THINGS FALL APART
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:2