Posted on Jun 26, 2015
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I was at the VA Hospital standing in line for travel pay and saw a buddy from Iraq, we started talking about other buddies that were hurt and how they were doing, and we talked some about how we were doing after MEB into civilian life. A Vietnam vet standing in front of us turned around and said, "you know, I was in the war in Vietnam and when we came back we kept all that to ourselves, I buried my demons deep down inside"... without missing a beat, I replied, "Sir, that is why you still have demons deep down inside and I don't."
So, my advice, talk to someone you know, someone you trust, someone you served with maybe, but don't pick up a bottle of pills, don't pick up a gun, pick up a phone and call someone... We keep burying friends that survived the war to suicide, because they keep that crap buried inside, get it out, talk to someone. Brothers in arms, brothers in war, brothers forever, and sisters too :o)
So, my advice, talk to someone you know, someone you trust, someone you served with maybe, but don't pick up a bottle of pills, don't pick up a gun, pick up a phone and call someone... We keep burying friends that survived the war to suicide, because they keep that crap buried inside, get it out, talk to someone. Brothers in arms, brothers in war, brothers forever, and sisters too :o)
Posted in these groups: 
PTSD
Depression
PTSD Depression
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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A WW2 vet once told me during a particularly difficult time dealing with my own PTSD, when you share a heart heavy story you unload a small percent of that weight from yourself and give them that much knowledge, the more knowledge you share the lighter your load.
So Share your stories when you can, i find VFW bars a great place when i am having issues, group counseling is great, now days i mostly open up to my wife, it helps her as much as me and grows our relationship while helping her to help others whose husbands suffer.
So Share your stories when you can, i find VFW bars a great place when i am having issues, group counseling is great, now days i mostly open up to my wife, it helps her as much as me and grows our relationship while helping her to help others whose husbands suffer.
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There's no shame in sharing ... sucking it up doesn't display toughness, self-control or discipline when it comes to PTDS. Self awareness, seeking help, sharing your stories and demons with others, especially fellow Veterans, is our road to recovery and resilience. We're all in this together ... Soldiers for Life.
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I concur with SSG Ed Mikus we have to find ways to speak about our events of the past. I truly understand it's not easy to do, but we have to or we walk around like ticking time bombs. We as a Military society need to continue to cultivate our relationship with the Non-Mil types. Unfortunately we have a lot of knuckleheads doing dumb stuff and it comes back to issues they picked up in the Military. Please let me know how I can help!
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SSG Ed Mikus
Sir,
We, as a community of veterans, need to let people (especially veterans) know that having PTSD is not a bad thing, if you are getting help.
Now, please let me explain how I see useful help. (keep in mind i am not a doctor, but I have been dealing with this for 13 years)
Okay PTSP includes Self recognition, self awareness, and someone to help reign you back in when you wander. this also includes a outlet to share/talk. -- this can but may not include counseling seeing a doctor, taking medicine and other treatments.
Bad PTSD includes, denial, shame, no treatment, one sided treatment such as meds only, mandatory counseling where the vet does not take ownership of the issues.
I believe we must start by starting conversations with each other, water cooler talk, smoke pit stories, ect.
We, as a community of veterans, need to let people (especially veterans) know that having PTSD is not a bad thing, if you are getting help.
Now, please let me explain how I see useful help. (keep in mind i am not a doctor, but I have been dealing with this for 13 years)
Okay PTSP includes Self recognition, self awareness, and someone to help reign you back in when you wander. this also includes a outlet to share/talk. -- this can but may not include counseling seeing a doctor, taking medicine and other treatments.
Bad PTSD includes, denial, shame, no treatment, one sided treatment such as meds only, mandatory counseling where the vet does not take ownership of the issues.
I believe we must start by starting conversations with each other, water cooler talk, smoke pit stories, ect.
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