But a great article, nonetheless.

There is more to PTSD than the feeling of guilt, but from my own experience and struggle with PTSD I can say that it probably is a big factor.

Had Iraq been a success on any measure I could at least say to myself "I did some shitty things in the war, but at least something good came out of it". Instead, I'm denied the ability to do that.

Oh well, I guess that is how it goes. I try not to dwell on it too much, but it is easier said than done sometimes. When I break down the numbers and the memories, it becomes haunting. You could fill a bus with the people my platoon killed and fill two buses with the people we wounded. And what was it all for? Nothing.

To quote my favorite author: "So it goes". I'll just do what I did in the Army. Suck it up and drive on.

from his time in Iraq. Will show him the forum here.

I don't know if it is allowed to link to other forums, but I'll take my chances here.

[url]vets.yuku.com[/url]

PTSD is a bitch, to put it bluntly. I got back from Iraq in March of 2005, sought some psychiatric help but I wasn't that bad and I didn't feel like it was doing much for me so I stopped going. I was able to get a cushy job working at Range Control in Grafenwoehr, Germany until I got out of the Army in October of 2007. I had my occasional moments, but for the most part I was doing alright.

Then, when I got out of the Army, it really started to get out of control for me. I found myself alone without anyone I served with and my complete support structure was gone. Sure, I had my wife and family but there are things that you don't talk about with your wife and your family. Besides, unless they have actually been through something similar, there is no way to really get it.

Anyways, I somehow ended up working a super stressful job with Amazon.com. The stress really made my PTSD escalate to the "out of control" level and I was going completely nuts. I got suspended for 5-6 weeks after I freaked out at work and, after another 3 months after they let me come back to work, I freaked out again and lost my job. I was unemployed for 4 months and I found my way into a very low stress job with the federal government. My life took a completely 180 for the better when I lost my job.

I still hit bouts where I'm down pretty low, but for the most part I'm functional and I do pretty good. Right now I happen to be in a semi-low slump, but I've been through the roller coaster of ups and downs to know that it is only a matter of time before I'm back on the up.

My biggest advice would be for your son to find a low stress job (if he can work) and to go to the VA.

You'll hear a lot of people saying mixed things about the VA, but I've never had anything but good to say about them. Actually, that isn't 100% true. It does vary from facility to facility. I first got into the system via the VA hospital at Wilmington, Delaware. That was an awesome facility and they helped me tremendously. When I lost my job, I moved and I've been going to a VA hospital at Castle Point, NY (about an hour north of NYC). That facility is quite a bit bigger than the one at Wilmington and I feel as if I get lost in the shuffle a little more. However, I've never felt that they don't care. I 100% believe that the VA employees truly want to help and care immensely about their jobs and helping veterans. For whatever reason I just don't feel the same connection with the people I deal with at Castle Point that I did when I wen to the VA hospital in Wilmington.

Anyways, coming from a guy who is sitting with a 70% disability rating for PTSD, PTSD can be manageable and you can find happiness in life. Sometimes I need to remind myself of that (like right now), but it is possible.



As an aside, it sometimes feel like the Army is a small community. When and where was your son in Iraq? I was there from Feb 2004-Mar 2005 with 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. I was at FOB Gabe (Baqubah, Iraq) during my stint. When I wasn't in Iraq, I was at Vilseck, Germany from 2003 through 2007.

This sounds fairly close to blaming war protesters for soldier's PTSD.

Gee, sorry can not really rally a strong sense of support for all the fucking killing america engages in.

I don't blame any protesters for my PTSD and guilt issues. I say "thank you for doing your duty as an American for openly opposing an unjust war". Not all patriots agree 100% with our government and its actions.

Yes, the article did get close to blaming the protesters, but they put the ultimate blame on the politicians.

If you've ever known someone who suffered--and the operative word is SUFFERED--from PTSD, you'd dial back that attitude.

Sheesh.