One in Eight Soldiers...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5334479/

According to this, and the Army's study of their troops, 1 in 8 soldiers returning to Iraq suffer from PTSD. Only half of them are seeking help. Pray that they will be strong enough to realize that by acknowledging PTSD and their symptoms they are not letting their units down!

we have had several young ppl come home those who have tried seeking help have been told they had the problem before they went into service so they don't get treatment from VA
this is horrible

The reporter that went to Irag from ABC, the one that was almost killed but suffered bad facial and head injuries did a special on ABC not to long ago. It's the MILITARY that isn't acknowledging that these guys are coming back very ill... just from being in close proximity to a bomb going off. The US is NOT doing right by their boys in uniform! The doctors in uniform also do not acknowledge the trauma, PTSD, and other head as well as mental damage these boys are suffering, either!

Exactly, Angie!! I heard a female army doctor say that very same thing on that special on ABC! They're claiming it was a pre existing condition because they had the propensity for it before they went to Iraq!!

Finally! I found it and here it is:

Bob Woodruff Reports

Is it really wise to send PTSD victims back into a war zone to "win hearts and minds" of strangers? Is it really wise to send PTSD victims to a war zone to kill only those with a "dirty heart" - can our brave soldiers really shoot straight under such pressure?

Ya know, this country DEMANDS we support our troops during war-time, while the government provides for them. Makes sense to me to have friends and family at home praying for their safety.

However, there should be EQUAL DEMAND for support when they return home - for the rest of their lives. This includes the ones who come home angry and "dangerous to society" because they are left without a job and a home and can no longer fit into society. They are STILL our heroes, and they wouldn't be in that condition if we hadn't sent them over there in the first place.

I hope and pray our young soldiers don't end up imprisoned in a jail cell or tied up on a hospital bed after they return from serving their country.

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However, there should be EQUAL DEMAND for support when they return home - for the rest of their lives.

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I can sure get behind that one!!

As a member of the armed forces, I want to weigh in on this one.

I work with many soldiers upon their return from the Middle East and around the world. The military is a different world, both for soldiers and their families, and what seems normal and right to us, is often a buerocracy of red tape for them. Many of them simply get tired of the hassle.

There are activists who are fighting for changes on behalf of our soldiers. They are lobbying to create changes in how we diagnose and treat things like PTSD but at this point, a soldier dx'ed with "moderate to severe" ptsd can be profiled, and put out of the military. Yes, he might be disabled vet benefits, but then his family is left w/o benefits. Soldiers know this, and as such, will often betray just how bad the PTSD is. It is a sad situation all the way around.

There are not enough resources right now to treat the men suffering from PTSD. Many of them had a propensity for depressive and anxiety based disorders BEFORE this way, and many of those are suffering terribly. A lot of field physicans do not know how to recognize PTSD in the field and thus begin treating it. The men and women in my group have told me over and over how they tried to tell someone that something was wrong, but people did not understand.

I grieve for these men and women. They are our brightest and bravest and we are failing them miserably.

The Army, for one, has tried to correct their misgivings concerning their soldiers and PTSD.

In Wars before Vietnam the "cure" for "shell shock" was to put them right back into it (something I guess we would call exposure therapy today?) For some soldiers today, who are recognized with war issues like this and followed by the chaplain and medical personnel, returning to their unit helps them heal. When units are not deployed and returned fully together, then the problem can be compounded.

IMO there are not enough providers in the world for all of the people who have PTSD from one trauma or another. I have internally complained for over ten years that with all the traumas in the world today the governments need to be addressing the issue and preparing for it to be a major health issue very soon. (Just my POV.)

I won't put all the weight on the soldier's shoulders. (say that ten times fast!) Someone with PTSD, especially undiagnosed, probably doesn't know that all he/she is experiencing is not normal, and needs expert attention. It's up to the families and medical personnel to rally together for them, imo.



My son and I email almost daily now. He has set his sights on taking his family to DisneyWorld in March...and that he should be "home" before the next holiday season.

The problem is not with the soldiers. As Gracie put it, many try to explain something is wrong but no one hears them. As Sky put it, the system is not prepared to deal with the massive amounts people with PTSD.

I have a dear family member who is on his third tour of Iraq. He goes where the reporters cannot. He was supposed to come home this month. Now he has no idea when he'll be allowed to leave. Although he is very careful to tell us he is "just fine" when he calls, he can't possibly be fine with the things he has done and seen on those tours. I pray that when he does arrive back in the states that he seeks counseling.

Jan

I know there are a few members here who are sick of my bringing God into everything, but it's here too: In the field of war, Chaplains are the soldiers who give this type of support to the troops. Right now there is an injunction in place to allow our Chaplains to pray with the troops, in the faith of the troops. Please support our chaplains so they can continue to help the soldiers. (More info can be found at www.coralridge.org)

It's sad that some of the very support our soldiers need, esp those suffering with PTSD, is being handicapped. If the soldier needs and wants to pray with a chaplain, she/he sure should be allowed to, imo.

As a service member, my understanding (in fact the policy) is that we can approach a chaplain, and ask for prayer. They can do that with us. What cannot happen however, is a chaplain taking it upon himself/herself to approach a soldier and offer.

Well, they also aren't allowed to pray in anything but a general way, in spite of being the same faith as the soldier. Both what you said, and this fact together means we aren't allowing the chaplain to do his/her job, unfortunately. As it relates to this thread, that also means that another soldier, trained in observing the troops, are prevented from assisting when they could.

My son is in the Navy. One of his buddies got in trouble because he wasn't keeping physically fit. He served his required P.E., but his commanding officer had a grudge against him and said he was still too fat. Had to go back for more P.E.

He was late one day for this, so he got punished and had to stand in front of all the big wigs for this. They reamed him a new one.

He was late on another day after this because, well, he just couldn't lose any more weight. He also knew he'd NEVER be able to satisfy his commanding officer. Because of this......

He's been given a dishonorable discharge and kicked out on his ***. No education, no money. Three years of putting up with fat jokes finally did him in - no benefits, nothing - because he gave up on his diet.

Did this young sailor deserve such treatment on base here in the States?

Oh yeah, speaking of God. We're not Christians. However, in boot camp, my son was FORCED to wear a cross and it was highly suggested he surrender his life to Jesus.

How does this fit into learning how to kill? How does this fit into learning how to defend our country?

I'd like to just interject quickly and ask that we keep the focus on original topic, because where the natural flow is leading is to a place against guidelines.

The discussion of religion and politics should be limited here.

I know this is an important part of what's going on, and it was a natural flow in the convo, but I still need to place the reminder.

Thanks, guys.

KD

Sorry Mama

I'm not trying to upset anyone here in my confusion. I'm a little sick and emotional right now, and shouldn't be taking it all out on you people here.

I apologize if I've pushed any buttons here.

(((((((((((((( kathym ))))))))))))))

I just hit quick reply, hon. That messsage wasn't to you particularly, or at all really.

It was just a mention as to where the natural flow had gone in the convo... It wasn't intentional and just flowed, but is still going to the territory where the discussion doesn't read as "limited".

I hope you feel better soon, and again *no one* and certainly not you, did anything "wrong".

KD

*edited to clarify