tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post105645640084415..comments2023-06-28T07:59:16.685-04:00Comments on PTSD: A Soldier's Perspective: The Terrible Moments That Define UsScott Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861938200417302754noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-64578498886698691652013-12-18T19:54:11.407-05:002013-12-18T19:54:11.407-05:00Thanks again for the kind words. I hope your right...Thanks again for the kind words. I hope your right about God's work. I am content enough that it inspired you, and I hope I can continue to in the future.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-50027710041685917732013-12-13T15:22:04.575-05:002013-12-13T15:22:04.575-05:00Joe: Thank you for your service to our country an...Joe: Thank you for your service to our country and allowing yourself to be a spokesperson for soldiers who endured horrific experiences by being supportive and opening up yourself to the pain and anguish the mind doesn't let go of easily. There's no better way than for one soldier to relate to another than speak out about their experience and offer understanding as yourself to touch mankind in a positive way and aid in their healing. Of course doing this also helps you to feel better and stronger too. You are to be admired and deeply appreciated. You are God's working vessel for others. Bless you! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-73767958969865054382013-08-27T12:37:48.980-04:002013-08-27T12:37:48.980-04:00Thanks again for all the well wishes, its amazing ...Thanks again for all the well wishes, its amazing to have written this. The process itself has been so healing and engaging. Also the process of returning to it from time to time to get into a better place about about that miserable day.<br /><br />JoeJoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-50855033279830486742013-06-05T22:21:09.972-04:002013-06-05T22:21:09.972-04:00It takes enormous courage to bring darkness into t...It takes enormous courage to bring darkness into the light in this way. Your doing this makes you a man of great honor. You are helping other soldiers, yes, but possibly others with PTSD as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Joe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-59597629841521980212013-06-05T15:40:29.432-04:002013-06-05T15:40:29.432-04:00The statistics on the number of soldiers committin...The statistics on the number of soldiers committing suicide shocked me and really cut deep. Thank you for your service and for sharing your experiences --both the terrible experiences as well as the positive developments in your life afterwards. For those of us who have not been where you have -hopefully we can learn about PTSD too and help and understand it better.<br /> And thank you for your empathy, Joe. That kind of humaneness is a very needed, very valuable thing. All the best in your future effortsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-22927536273449367692013-06-05T14:56:23.678-04:002013-06-05T14:56:23.678-04:00Thanks, for letting me know it that helped and jus...Thanks, for letting me know it that helped and just trust me that anything that really works takes time and effort. Don't let yourself quit if you struggle at first we all do. Beware of anything that promises instant and permanent results, real treatment is a path you walk every day. That can be intimidated at first, but it is great path to be on once you get your bearings, and there are others out their who can help you with that.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-16366200533679865582013-06-05T12:32:55.570-04:002013-06-05T12:32:55.570-04:00Maybe I'll seek help myself after reading this...Maybe I'll seek help myself after reading this. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-3251800220534317512013-04-15T12:43:41.802-04:002013-04-15T12:43:41.802-04:00I saw all the statistics about soldiers committing...I saw all the statistics about soldiers committing suicide and I had to do what I could. There is so much silent shame. Also, I don't walk around talking about this all the time. We can't be carefree about that statistic in the way that Americans were about what we were doing abroad. Also,I did a post on panic attacks during ultramarathons for Team Red, White and Blue (http://teamrwb.org/) and I got so much positive feedback that jumped at the offer to write for PASP.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-29744108159838457742013-04-09T22:19:07.894-04:002013-04-09T22:19:07.894-04:00where did you find the courage to write that? I a...where did you find the courage to write that? I am a OIF vet 03-04 and cannot/will not discuss my experiences, those are the burdens I bare to keep the majority of Americans ignorant of what war is really like so they can live carefree. Who's business it anyways....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-37108876350586013972013-03-28T20:33:22.576-04:002013-03-28T20:33:22.576-04:00I did not get here overnight. It took time and any...I did not get here overnight. It took time and anything that works takes time to take effect. It took me years to admit I had any problems and by that time it became so severe that I was physically ill. Positive baby steps is all I do, so you and your husbands story is not so far from my own. If anger is a problem I would personally recommend an outlet like fitness, writing. You have to do something with it.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-47424041818595826182013-03-28T10:22:36.849-04:002013-03-28T10:22:36.849-04:00Your story is too similar to my husbands...exact s...Your story is too similar to my husbands...exact same situation....I only pray he can get to the point where you are....he still doesn't think anything is wrong with him, but there is so much anger towards the world and others not appreciating the sacrifices made my soldiers and their families. No anger at all towards us, but attacks others verbally. He has recently agreed to seek help. So positive baby steps for now. Thanks for your service and especially your story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-33442650905115581102013-03-26T10:27:56.363-04:002013-03-26T10:27:56.363-04:00Its harder at home because after moments like thes...Its harder at home because after moments like these it is difficult to care about the things that make a lasting relationship. Like doing the laundry or taking out the trash. But our families are also our greatest sources of support so we have to find a way to grow, not despite PTSD, but because of PTSD. I am not good at that yet.PTSD is certainly limiting, but it can become an excuse or a consistent rationale for not moving forward with our lives.I would not judge anyone for accepting all the limitations of the condition, but when we do we limit our greatest resources. Our own drive and our abilities to support the ones we love rather than just being supported by them. There is probably no one as guilty of this problem as myself.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-90576005023534329262013-03-25T13:09:56.029-04:002013-03-25T13:09:56.029-04:00Wow! Thank you for sharing your perspective, your ...Wow! Thank you for sharing your perspective, your thoughts, your heart! I'm recently learning about PTSD and Combat Veterans, as my husband and I have only been married a year and his tours were complete long before I met him. I never realized the impact it has on not only the vets, but the loved ones around them...and you TRULY don't understand how anything, big or small, can have such a lasting affect on one's mind and heart.Alysonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-55794480992628818022013-03-25T03:42:15.504-04:002013-03-25T03:42:15.504-04:00That man is in heaven now and is free of pain and ...That man is in heaven now and is free of pain and knows of a man somewhere who cared about him so much. Big hugs to all troops Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-49800231993737970002013-03-14T14:43:17.367-04:002013-03-14T14:43:17.367-04:00My partner Rachel and I talked about this Belinda ...My partner Rachel and I talked about this Belinda at length. It is so hard to see events like this for what they are in their nuanced complexity rather than explaining them away with a preconceived narrative. When we do we waste are most valuable and hard earned lessons. The events themselves are terrible and we don't have choice about every way they changes us (i.e. nightmares, flashbacks, survivor guilt, hyperventilate etc. etc.) but what we can effect is how our outlook on life changes. A lot of it is really bad but not all of it. He have to fight for it though.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-50229594772038317102013-03-08T19:52:33.671-05:002013-03-08T19:52:33.671-05:00This story proves there's absolutely nothing w...This story proves there's absolutely nothing wrong with you. Your heart is beautiful. If I were there with you I'd say, that man is on the other side now. He knows ... He knows. Belindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-7581475353774444632013-03-08T12:05:29.369-05:002013-03-08T12:05:29.369-05:00Thanks Scott for your powerful and moving account....Thanks Scott for your powerful and moving account. I am writing a fiction film about a soldiers ongoing struggles with the guilt that you have been talking about in this post. There have not been many films made about soldiers struggling with this guilt, although a lot has been made about survival guilt, PTSD from seeing your buddies blown up- but very little about what happens when you kill in war or see events that kill your humanity. <br /><br />I wanted to have some email exchanges with you Scott and anyone else that can help as I need to do some research and I would like this to come from people who have experienced this first hand.. This way the film will be as accurate and meaningful to the real experience of people like yourselves... Please help. My email is d_alamouti@yahoo.co.uk. Drop me a line if you can help. Its just answering a few questions. Thanks. David alamoutinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-40612426278284560102013-02-21T11:07:30.100-05:002013-02-21T11:07:30.100-05:00Thanks do much for your kind words.Thanks do much for your kind words.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03054354524866771554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-15761447757034843222013-02-20T23:30:51.256-05:002013-02-20T23:30:51.256-05:00Thank you for sharing Joe. I know that wasn't...Thank you for sharing Joe. I know that wasn't easy to write. I learned the same lesson in Tal Afar.<br /><br />May our compasses remain intact through our continued effort to help others, every day.Alannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8207713177773691778.post-40909842186341911592013-02-20T18:51:54.062-05:002013-02-20T18:51:54.062-05:00Extremely powerful, extremely moving. It is so im...Extremely powerful, extremely moving. It is so important for all of us to listen not only to voices such as yours, but even more to lives such as yours, souls such as yours. Thank you so much. No matter how you might be finding yourself feeling at this or any other moment, thank you.<br /><br />Rod Deaton<br />www.ptsdandcombat.com Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com