[assertiveone]

This guy went crazy after comming home from Iraq, and stabbed his father inlaw with a steak knife. The police were called and shot and killed him. Holy crap I have PSTD and am very upset. But how do you do that? Stab your family because everyone in your troop died in an explosion. This illness can be powerful how do we escape it?

[bebop]

that is the big difference in combat ptsd and other types. sometimes a combat vet goes into bad flashbacks of combat...hand to hand or other forms of combat. it is very difficult for them to know that people are not the enemy. I have been on the receiving end of this myself. not a good place to be.

[crazy1]

Talk with you T as soon as you can. Meds can make a big difference. Just because he did this don't mean you will. I had horrible things done to me nd i have flash backs but i have never done them to others.

[vetswife]

I think you have to avoid certain triggers. There are so many graphic video games and movies. I was looking at video games for my husband the other day, the stuff they got out there should not be legal, completely simulates war a lot of the games have to do with the golf wars too (it's not right). There is no respect for the soldiers that put their life on the line for our freedoms, to make a game of their real life events is just wrong and disrespectful, it makes me a bit angry. One time I bought my husband a gift certificate to play paintball. He never used it and I asked him why and he said because he didn't want to "flip any switches". I am scared of what's going to happen when that switch does get flipped. I guess you also have to learn your limits to what you expose yourself to.

I also think that potential soldiers should be warned about the life long effect that war will have on them (they might do that I don't know, I've never asked my husband not really sure he would remember anyway).

I wish you the best.

[bebop]

I completely agree with you vetswife. there are enough triggers to combat vets without people making games out of war. I hate war! I hate what it does to our men and women and yes they have to try to live the rest of their lives with the horrors of it. I don't think recruiters would dare tell them how it will affect them. they just want new people in there.

[(JD)]

PTSD isn't something to play around with; get expert help and stay with it.

Just because the media happened to showcase this one incident (probably because police were involved) doesn't mean it isn't happening much more often. One base had a huge issue with spousal homocide not that long ago.

TC

[fogdog]

HI. I'm a new member on this site - diagnosed from VAWLA as chronic and severe PTSD. Vietnam veteran. Having problems with service connection because of "lost records". Need help.

[bebop]

hi fog nice to meet you. sorry you are going thru the "lost" records! do you have a copy of your dd214?

[50guy]

Hi fogdog;

Do you have anyone that you served with that can verify your combat action in Viet Nam? If so you can appeal to the medical board in DC concerning your claim. The best thing I can tell you to do is contact either the VVA or American Legion in your area. Also the Veterans representative from you county can help you file your claim.

Your Doctors from the VA can also submit their diagnosis to the board. You will need to go to the release of information at the VA hospital you get your care from and sign the release.

Good luck to you,

[(JD)]

What about an old military ID card? I have a few of those hanging around myself (oh yeah, supposed to turn them in eh?)
Or a photo or two, with the CO?
Good wishes!

[fogdog]

Hi Beebop! I have a claim in with the VA going on 3 years now. They are saying that they have no record of a friend's death which occurred May 19, 1970 at Marble Mountain, outside of Danang. When I sent off for my service records in 1985, everything about the death and the cause was in there. Now they claim they have no record of the entire event. What's up with their "selective" memory and record keeping?

[bebop]

it seems alot of records "burned" from around that time. sad really! if you have a copy of your dd214 that should say you were in nam and what medals and such you received there. do you have any copies that you kept yourself? dang sometimes I wish I could talk to you guys instead of typing lol. I have a bit of experience dealing with the VA and their hmmmm issues lol

[jennie]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
assertiveone said:
This illness can be powerful how do we escape it?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Escape what?

I looked up the word "escape" in the dictionary and it said it means to avoid something. Interestingly, "avoidance" is a symptom of PTSD.

I think avoidance is very important in the recovery of PTSD. It is a little complicated to explain.

I have PTSD (sexual traumas) and have found that when I avoid my triggers I am able to function normally. But sometimes, I need to face my fears and allow myself to be triggered...but I do this only when I am strong enough to work through the mental distress...because panic attacks, dissociation, and other PTSD symptoms will surface. Otherwise, I steer clear of my triggers.

Recently there has been long periods of time I forget I have PTSD because I have successfully avoided the triggers and thus avoided all the disturbing symptoms. And, then a disguised trigger surfaced and caught me off guard....What happens is my anger goes off the charts (control loss), hands tremble (trying to regain control of situation), studder when I try to talk, heart races, face turns red, and I can't think clearly. Those are serious red flags for me to escape that situation. If I stay there and try to deal with the PTSD, usually just make a mess of the situation.

I've found it's always to deal with stressors when I'm with my supportive husband. Let him know beforehand what is up...then challenge myself.

[jennie]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
assertiveone said:
This guy went crazy after comming home from Iraq, and stabbed his father inlaw with a steak knife. The police were called and shot and killed him. Holy crap I have PSTD and am very upset. But how do you do that? Stab your family because everyone in your troop died in an explosion. This illness can be powerful how do we escape it?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Stop watching the news.

The news are a very powerful trigger for me.

I NEVER WATCH LOCAL NEWS because if I hear about a local shooting or other violent crime, I become feeling unsafe about the place I live. I will occasionally watch national news but I try to regulate my response.

Other things to avoid on TV are dramas and thrillers that get the heart racing from the suspense of violence. These can trigger panic attacks. Background music encourages the fear. Sometimes just seeing the horror in the actors faces as trauma event occurs reminds me of my past horrors. (Not to mention seeing the violence and how it affects a person watching)

Especially watch out for the trauma-based mind control movies like V FOR VENDETTA ... BUTTERFLY EFFECT ... EYES WIDE SHUT ... MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE ... CONSPIRACY THEORY ... etc, etc.

Your body is used to dysregulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Things that calm you are things you should strive to maintain in your life. I know if I'm not doing too well...the best cure is to put on a comedy movie or something funny. Laughing feels so good.

What's your favorite comedy? That's is what you need to watch. Have a favorite comedian? Watch all of his showings.

[(JD)]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
But how do you do that? Stab your family because everyone in your troop died in an explosion.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

That's what PTSD can cause, due to flashbacks especially. He wasn't killing his family, he was killing the enemy.

It's important to learn about PTSD if you have it or are around it, and to work at healing. It doesn't go away or get better on it's own.

TC!

[Troy]

FogDog ... welcome to PC ... great ppl here who care about you.

1. Surely you have some kind of record of miltary service, copies of orders, draft notice, enlistment record, old ID card, dog tags, letters to you in Nam, etc. How about identifying your unit and asking under the law that says you can get copy of public records of unit membership during particular period. Even if you don't have the DD 214, other items will help track down your records.

2. It's easy to "blame" VA -- lol, they make plenty of errors -- but it's up to you to establish your own service. Don't get mad and quit, hang in there, try and try again. Took me years to get my war wounds properly posted, and then they fell out of the computer somehow, so I had to persist.

3. Even ppl in VA will tell you to call your congressman. Your congressperson wants to help, and VA wants to respond to the congressional representative. Be sure you have some "evidence" when you contact the office of the congressional rep or you'll be wasting your time and theirs.

4. While you served in combat, you'd be surprised at the number of people who "say" they served, with the typical reason for no "proof of service" being that VA or Army lost my records, or "I had such a secret job, they didn't keep records on me." ... Maybe some of these ppl also served, but their excuses for no record are pretty thin, and those who are ready to help become suspect when they hear these "street wise" excuses. Bring your evidence, and if you don't have any, find someone who knew you in military or a scrap of paper that shows you were there.

[Troy]

Escape is right --

I've only found out in past few months that ptsd is behind a lot of my actions - Still learning about the results of ptsd and ways to deal with it.

The comments from others about the news and movie/TV shows is right on target. I quit both the news and the movies years ago - Haven't watched war movies in ages.

Haven't fired a weapon in 40 years - sometimes tempted to do some shooting because I can kind of feel that little thrill that comes with the power of a weapon and the feeling of accomplishment at hitting a distant or difficult target, but I know also the trauma that comes with the flashbacks and the effect it has on me. Wouldn't do paint ball if I were paid to do it. --

Can you imagine, playing at shooting someone.

Can you imagine, playing at killing someone.

Can you imagine, playing at maiming someone for life

Can you imagine, playing at seeing dead and wounded

(Man, gotta stop, I'm working up a rant and and starting to trigger myself -- can you imagine!)

T.