PTSD is a reality our country is going to be forced to deal with for decades. Don't let our returning veterans hide in the darkness of the "cave" I've lived in for over 40 years.
These men and women are going to need help on a scale I think few realize.
World War II veterans returned with "Shell Shock" and sat in the darkness of bars across the nation because back then "real men" didn't cry or whine about their horrific experiences. "Real men" were TOUGH like George Patton. "Real men" slapped the "cowards" who had difficulty dealing with all the blood, guts and FEAR.
Vietnam veterans returned with a psychological disorder which came to be known as PTSD. We sat in the darkness of bars and others of us fell into the easy escape of drugs to escape the horror of nightmares, flashbacks and FEAR. We used these "easy" escapes because John Wayne and all the other WWII "heroes" would be ashamed if they knew what we were feeling.
Those returning from the current conflicts have exponentially greater stress disorder. As I have blogged before, Iraq veterans have legitimate reasons to have the highest percentage of PTSD of any American veterans in all our wars. Even ignoring the political implications of our country's leadership overturning many of the "rules" of war which have kept America as a shining beacon of moral behavior for over 200 years, these vets have other factors which far outweigh the immoral acts of their Commander in Chief.
Reservists and National Guardsmen sent into battle with less training than their "regular" counterparts, multiple tours into an environment of CONSTANT danger and fear, a larger percentage of the force with families forced to face the realities of trying to survive without Dad or Mom around for years are all factors which happened far less frequently with Vietnam veterans.
What is the military's answer to all these troubled individuals returning with psychological trauma never before experienced in such large percentages? They are increasing the numbers of counselors and psychiatric staff in the VA facilities and on military bases:
http://news.yahoo.com/...
During my ongoing research for the book on PTSD which is nearly finished, I have written here many times about the "cave" where I've lived for the past 40 years. The "cave" where so many Vietnam veterans have hidden in the darkness and relative peace of denial which allowed so many of us to "function" in society for all these years. "We" built a wall between us and reality which protects our loved ones from knowing what's really inside. But in our perverted "haven" which was put in place to protect our loved ones from the reality in our memories we actually caused the reverse to become "their" reality.
Drinking, drug use, physical and psychological abuse of those we love became "their" reality. Without knowing the root cause many marriages and families were destroyed. Our ranks are thinning now. Most of us are in our 50's, 60's and 70's now. It won't be long until the news organizations portray the few remaining veterans of Vietnam as a "dying" breed like they do now with WWII and Korean vets.
It is despicable that such a large number of people will die without ever coming to grips with what might have been. Help wasn't there for so many. Suicide was the only way out for so many. Loneliness, despair, depression and shame have been the predominant emotions for so many.
Things might have been better for returning Vietnam veterans if there had been psychological counseling available. Education about PTSD during basic training SHOULD be a part of ANY volunteer military organization. Remove the "shame" and so many more would seek competent counseling when symptoms surface during and after service.
It took me nearly 40 years to finally seek help. And the help that's available to veterans even today is pathetically inadequate. Vet centers are popping up across the country but if my experiences are any indication, they are staffed with poorly trained people who provide an ear and not much more. I have found my sessions with the two I have visited to be equivilant to sitting in my cave and talking to the stone walls.
I hope Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have more competent and adequate counseling available. I hope the leadership in Washington puts in place firewalls to stop what I fear is coming. I hope competent counseling is made available for families of returning vets. I hope veterans become the priority they should have always been. If not, we are destined to see violence, suicide and depression on a scale never before experienced by our country.
Write your representatives in Congress. Offer help to these veterans when you see them. The "shame" of having PTSD MUST be removed. It IS real!
Watch out America... "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!"