Josh Is Home Safely

Josh has returned home from Iraq and is safely back in Oklahoma. While there he received a bronze star for saving 5 lives. He is damaged psychologically from the things that he had to do and the things he saw. Please keep he, my daughter and granddaughter in your thoughts. He's having a really hard time right now adjusting to being back and coping with his nightmares. Thanks, Pat

((((((((( Josh & Family )))))))))))))

With love and prayers,

Jan

((((((( HUGS ))))))) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ((((((( HUGS )))))))

PRAYERS going UP

LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( )))

((( Josh and Family )))

Sending prayers up for you all.

Love, Jenn

I'm glad he's home but prayers to your whole family right now.

((((((((((hugs))))))))))))

Good news! Good to hear! I am so happy for you!!!
Yes, war is bad stuff (bad juju for the mind.) Make sure he does counseling.

Fayerody - I am SO glad that he's home again. I know that this must be an enormous relief for you and your family. (((( Ethel )))

(((((((( fayerody )))))))))

(((((((((( Josh & Family )))))))))

(((((fayerody & family)))))

Thats great that hes back home safely the war is a horrible thing to be in & it will srew him up for a long time please make sure he gets help straight away as he will never get over it my husband was in the army & so is most of his family some have had help some thought that they were to hard for it & it has done the heads in of the people who didnt get help

Pat,

That is wonderful to hear that Josh is home safely. I am sure that those nightmares & flashbacks must be quite horrible for him to deal with. I know you understand the need for therapy for him.....after living through that much trauma, there isn't a person in this world that wouldn't need professional therapy to help get through everything that he has gone through. I know the military is now aware of the PTSD that comes with serving in places like that & should definitely be made aware of Josh needing help.

If little things like what I went through cause PTSD, I can only imagine the level of PTSD that Josh must be feeling after living through everything that he did.

I am so happy for you all & for Josh to be safely home again.
Debbie

(((((((((((((josh +family)))))))))))))))

((((((((((((Fayerody, Josh and Family)))))))))))))) I'm so glad he is home and is safe now. It's hard and no one comes out unscathed but all things can be worked through. You and your family are in my thoughts.

You, Josh and family are in my prayers...Hope all goes well for you all!!! ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))) to you and JOsh!!

(((((((Pat,Josh & Family)))))))

I am glad he is back. May we mourn the dead, heal the wounded, and bring peace. Hope for healing.

(((((((((( Josh and family )))))))))))))

i'm glad he's got you ))))) ) ) Josh and fayerody ((((((( ( (

rhapsody, your wonderful graphic made me bawl.

you see, the armed forces didn't prepare for the psychological needs of the returning soldiers/marines/navy/airforce personnel. there aren't nearly enough psychologists (don't even think Pdocs) to see the returning people. getting an appointment is very difficult and it takes forever to see someone.

the way we would assume it goes is that the returning soldier is immediately signed up for "debriefing" and psychological support. there aren't enough people to see, at times, the very worst. they are hospitalized and wait their turn also. a lot of thought wasn't put into the needs of the folks who came back, whole, physically. on top of the officers like Josh, there are the 30K that returned maimed and at times, mentally impaired for life. resources that were thin before are stretched beyond belief now. a lot of these young people are going to fall through the cracks, just like my nephew did from Vietnam, and end up enduring a lifetime of mental illnesses with little or no help. my nephew was 52 years old before he received psychiatric help and was put on full disability from Vietnam. he went there when he was 18.

thank you all for your loving support for my family during the year that Josh has been gone. now, please lobby for more psychological support for those who return from the wars and for the families of the victims who don't return.

Josh is thrilled to be back in his home and will receive some time off next week. they hope to also spend Halloween with us here........

Thanks again, friends. pat

(((((((((((((((( Josh & family & Pat )))))))))))))))))))))))



foot print left on the sand
by a man who did not understand
why life has to be this way
tried to stay sane by dreaming away
foot print in the sand will join the salty sea
to wash away past in sadness- to set free

i am glad that he is home. I am sorry that he isa having a hard time adjusting...i will be thinking aboout you and your family!

Has he completed his service obligations? Does he redeploy next year? Has he seen a military psychiatrist or psychologist yet? You don't have to answer these questions here. The reason I post these questions is because it is very important to begin the counseling while on active duty.

Right now, he probably is dealing with Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), which is often successfully treated. Typically, these soldiers with ASD (if not obtaining patient-centered counseling) come back from war and avoid their painful issues through alcohol (or drugs). Doing that puts them in a higher risk category for developing PTSD.

I can't remember which military branch Josh serves. I'll guess Army or Army Reserves??? If so, please contact the Army's Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3) at 1-800-237-1336 ... (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday) and ask the counselor about an immediate psych eval referral.

If Josh is reluctant to go to counseling, then explain to him how important it is that something is documented in his military medical record before he leaves the service and becomes a veteran. So many soldiers think counseling is for the weak, so they suck up their pain until they break completely years later. This makes obtaining the assistance from the Veteran's Affairs (VA) difficult (time-consuming trying to get medical documentation). However, if the servicemember has medical documentation prior to discharge, it makes his/her case with the VA easier to proof service-connected disability.

I know a lot about this stuff. It broke my heart seeing so many soldiers suffering and sucking up their pain because they thought they were supposed to suck it up. There are mental health services. Don't give up. If you need more help, ask me or contact a Veteran's Service Organization at http://psychcentral.com/resources/detailed/4703.html

(((huggs)))

Congrats!!! What a brave man! I hope things go okay.

Stella is beside herself with her "DaDa" home.....they tell me that she has been talking her head off to him since he got back. she wasn't talking in "paragraphs" before he came home.....

thanks, again, friends for all of the prayers and support while Josh was in Iraq. and i know, without asking you, that you're thinking of those that are still there..........xoxoxo pat