Posted by Smeegle on December 19, 2004, at 23:29:01
In reply to Re: Iraq vets and mental health, posted by 10derheart on December 17, 2004, at 13:14:06
My son has not been the same since he got back from Iraq last year. He went over when the war (Enduring Iraq Freedom) first started and was caught up in Nasariyah battles (including his unit participating in the rescue of a certain soldier). Anyhow, he saw many things that a typical 19yo is not prepared to see and did many things most of his buddies back home could never comprehend. He has seen death and destruction. And it stays inside him. He does not talk about it (and we were advised not to push him too...could cause more harm than good. He seemed to have been able to discuss it with his fellow Marines, but since he was discharged he no longer has that network to fall back on). He has just now accepted that he needs help. He didn't know that there was really a name for what was going on inside him. The mentality is that Marines don't ask for [mental] help. Never show a sign of weakness. With no insurance now, getting him into counseling is quite a struggle, but we are getting there.
For anyone with a loved one who is or has been in war, know the signs of PTSD and insist (and keep insisting) that they get help. It may take a while to get them to acknowledge that they need it.
Smeegs
poster:Smeegle
thread:430736
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041218/msgs/431912.html