I think y'all are both right...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steve Blair
This has been something that's been lurking in the back of many minds for some time, Goesh. There was a fair amount of discussion that the extended voyages home on troopships after WW2 actually allowed the vets on board to decompress and work some things out with others who'd been through the same things. Actually, I'd say that we've seen a PTSD-type situation that is similar to Iraq and Afghanistan before...but it's hard to document due to the elapsed time. It's always been one of my personal theories that many of the waves of western expansion in the US were fueled by folks who had a hard time adjusting after the Civil War and simply "moved on" in the literal sense. A large number of men were demobilized very quickly after that conflict (state volunteer units) and depending on location not all of them had time to "decompress" with others. Also I think the fact that units were so geographically-based would have made losses harder to bear for some of them. It's always been a matter of interest that so many of the "gunslinging lawmen and outlaws" of the post-Civil War period were former military men from the war.
I've had some long discussions about this subject with veterans from different wars. In this case, I left Iraq early to attend school. It left me unnerved as I said goodbye to my brothers abrubtly.
Today, I remember a little. Tommorow, I live a little. Sometimes we have to remember even though we'd rather forget.
Another important topic to discuss is Vietnam today. They coped and eventually thrived. Why? And will Iraq do that in 30 years?
v/r
Mike
Decompression, a Cultural Variable
All the old WW2 Vets I have known remained plagued with nightmares over the years. This is anecdotal but they were all well adjusted from any number of perspectives - they had no trouble with the law, were economically solvent, steadily employed, family men, no psychiatric history, etc. They did decompress aboard ship, remembering and sharing and dreaming and planning as a unit but they returned to a society that regarded them as Veterans of a just war, one of dire necessity. Shell shock was an accepted condition for many of them and bore no heavy stigma. They had done nothing wrong in a time of urgency and national survival. I don't think we will ever have an answer for any of this when we compare wars and Vets of those wars.
For one thing, we have had but one 'good war' since WW2 - the Gulf War. Secondly, the pioneers who started honestly addressing PTSD unintentionally opened the door for all kinds of people to fall under the umbrella of PTSD. There are people running around who survived a tornado sporting a diagnosis of PTSD for heaven's sake. The sacrifice of our warriors has been culturally deluded. Get bit by a damn dog and in some circles, you have PTSD.
IMO, Afghanistan is going to be the forgotten war just like Korea was and is. I think the jury is still out on Iraq. The criticism of the war has had the caveat that the troops are good guys in a bad war. How this translates psychologically at the interpersonal level amongst Iraqi combat Vets remains to be seen I think. They may in the wee hours of the night in the privacy of their minds regard themselves as mere survivors but I hope not. Our Armed Forces are at least aware of PTSD and attempting to address it. We have that much anyway in our favor.
theory to practice...round and round again
Once again my friend
I enter the breach of no end
will you join
or remain forlorn
amused by your IPod?
Distractions bemuse your content
too busy
to worry about such trifle subjects as war
As I step forth once again
to protect you
my friend
Evermore
Amoung my friends
we fight
laughing
No worries of night
Darkness creeps
to no end
My brother next to me
his shield will never bend
You will never know
how we bleed
In love of duty
honor, and country
This verse will ne'er end
as long as I can still see my friend
hope
will ne'er be forlorn
SSG Timothy Cole
today we remember
lest we forget
and lose our resolve
Today, I say my goodbyes
Today, I kiss my daughter's cheek
and step once more
into the breach
Many days from now
I'm sure
I'll be back amoung your graces
with you I won't pretend
Ever more
I will soldier once again
no more discourse
only resolve
Only volunteers need apply
I'll be leaving soon
Balance is hard. So's life. Take two salt tablets and drive on...
Military service, PTSD, stress and suicide
Moderator's Note
This thread's original title was 'Interesting PTSD related Article', which no longer reflects the contents and so changed to 'Military service, PTSD, stress and suicide' (ends).
Frankly, it tracks with my observation over the years. People are different.
LINK.
Steve i think you would appreciate this
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steve Blair
I think this kind of touches on one of the reasons why we have so much trouble dealing with PTSD: Americans have been conditioned to want ONE therapy or ONE pill to fix everything (sort of an extension of Tolkein's "one ring to rule them all" theory). And now we're dealing with something that is a very individual experience with very individual responses. There is no one magic way, and the sooner our various institutions and personalities involved come to grips with that, the better off we'll all be.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmag..._20081122_7953
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmag...81122_4027.php
http://www.camplejeuneglobe.com/arti...e/onbase03.txt
http://hosted.mediasite.com/hosted5/...d8d5e965e0cc06