The Invisible Wound

[unhappycamper]

The Invisible Wound
January 29, 2010
Air Force Print News|by A1C Jarad A. Denton

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. - In a scene from the movie "Patton," Army Gen. George S. Patton, played by George C. Scott, encounters a Soldier at a field hospital who is suffering from the emotional stress of the battlefield. Instead of trying to understand the Soldier's problem, General Patton physically assaults the young man, calls him a coward and literally runs him out of the hospital.

For many veterans, the scene from "Patton" was the harsh reality they faced when dealing with what has come to be called post traumatic stress disorder, said Sheri Mommerency, the 28th Medical Group and signature performance wounded warrior case manager and registered nurse. Before PTSD was recognized as a medical disorder, many servicemembers were regarded as cowards when they came forward with their feelings of trauma.

PTSD is defined as an anxiety disorder that can occur after the person involved witnesses or experiences an event that is traumatic to them.

"Typically, PTSD can occur when a traumatic event occurs that upsets an individual's personal world," Ms. Mommerency said. "A person may not even be a part of the traumatic event. PTSD can occur from witnessing or hearing about something horrifying to the individual."

Airmen suffering from PTSD may exhibit signs of social isolation, substance abuse, anger, conflict or pain, marital and family problems and health and behavioral problems.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/air-force-news/the-invisible-wound.html?col=1186032369229

[KharmaTrain]

1. The Enduring "boooosh Legacy"

For those of us who came of age during Viet Nam, many of us know or have known of a returning veteran who had problems readjusting to the "real world" and how that war is still being felt...their war inside still rages on. One can only imagine the lasting trauma those who had multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I've met a couple Iraq vets who appear "fine" but you know they carry the heavy baggage of seeing death first hand and losing close buddies. I'm hoping the VA has progressed to recognize how widespread PTSD is and to provide treatment and support for those who suffer.

Thanks for posting this...we must never forget about the real "forgotten war"...the one our veterans face after their tours are over.

Cheers...

[old mark]

2. Agree. An old friend died several years ago after decades of

suffering since his 2 tours in Vietnam with the Marines. He battled drugs and alcohol, depression, loss of family and career and finally cancer.
I dread the long term effects of the multiple tours people went through in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The war over here is just starting, and we are not preparing for it.

thanks for this post - rec.

mark

[howard112211]

3. That those unwilling/unable to fight are cowards and wimps has always been part of military culture.

It sometimes enters the discussions of militarism in form of the "you haven't been so you don't know" argument.

Some people don't have to "have been" to "know". Some people anticipate certain things from the beginning,
and therefore choose not to "go" in the first place.

PTSD doesn't fit with the "honest and honorable soldier who is faithfully doing his duty" stereotype, therefore it gets hushed up.

(edited to remove an "idiot's apostrophe")

[Heidi]

4. Recommended.

:kick:

[G_j]

5. K&R

[w8liftinglady]

6. I can pinpoint the day my son changed

I know you guys have heard this story a million times,but it was when he called me in the middle of the night,his first deployment,and said"mommy,I'm scared"-with that trying-not-to-cry sound in his throat.I'm sure he either killed someone or saw someone killed that day.I have done my best to refer him to different message boards,links,groups that might give him an outlet(while trying not to obsess on it-at least not to him).He has never been the same.

[w8liftinglady]

7. also,a link to the VA suicide hotline

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/

[AwakeAtLast]

10. I'm right there with ya, w8liftinglady

I'm losing a husband who is a shadow of the person I married. I, too, can pinpoint several times in his deployment when he was "different". I could hear it in his voice.

He told me recently that his "give a damn" was gone. That includes me and his daughter. So not fair.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[pipi_k]

8. My dad was in Belgium and France during WWII...he saw so many things

that he was never able to talk about.

I think they probably haunted him till the end of his life. It must have been a terrible burden, but he carried it in silence while acting out through alcoholic rages.

When I see photos of him as a young boy/young man, it makes me cry...

[w8liftinglady]

9. my dad went through the same thing in Korea and Viet Nam..with the same outcome

:hug:
This website has a lot of resources for families...including adult children
http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/

[Roon]

11. I suffered PTSD after spending hours thinking that my ex was killed..

it took me a year to get over it,no meds. I can take comfort in the fact that I will never be that scared again. Even on my death bed..