Soldier Back From Iraq Need Help!!?

Question

My sisters fiance just got back from Iraq and is having problems with flashbacks from the war. It's hard for him to cope with these feelings of seeing fellow soldiers of his killed right next to him during missions. So now that he is back he is drinking heavely and is in really bad depression. My sister doesn't know where to go or who to contact for help. Should she send him to a psychiatrist? Any help will be greatly needed. Thanks

Answer 1

This is PTSD. I've been through it myself and I was not able to deal with it myself. I had to go to get counseling and it was a huge help - with the help, I was able to deal with the feelings and I learned how to use tools to put this train wreck behind me.

Please understand that the drinking only makes depression worse even though it might numb the effects, etc. A good counselor is the only solution.

I really pray for your sister's fiance. I wish both of them peace and happiness. Our country owes him a great debt of gratitude. Take care.

Answer 2

2 things......... first of all the army/marines/whomever should provide some type of services. Contact the local VA office they should direct you in th eright direction or go online to their website www.va.gov here you can find the va nearest you ( at ttop of home page click find a facility) and also apply for treatments among other things. Secondly, you need to understand that while treatment helps it does not cure this. He is suffering from what is called PTSD (Post Tramatic Stress Disorder). It is pretty common among veterans. My dad was in Vietnam. He still has the disorder (nightmares, depression, etc.) They have group therapy, psychiatrists, and many treatments. Some cope better than others. She needs to support him in everything he does. Definitely, get him some kind of help. Like I said, the VA should provide these services. Good luck. It could be a long road. If you need anything else feel free to e-mail me. I will help in any way I can. Also, I can ask my father like I said he knows the ins and outs of the program and disorder.

Answer 3

PTSD is a very real and very seriouse. First I would suggest that your sister contact her husbands unit/ (Was he national Gaurd or active duty.) Comander. The govt is very awear of PTSD and have good tx plans. Thfey should not have to pay for TX nor should their jpriv ins. This is thesame as a workrelated injury. PTSD and the emotional scares and injuries are much hard and can be more devestating then physcial wounds. They dont have a bandage to point to and say that is where it hurts. Not tomention we aretrainedto be tough. So your brother in law may find it difficult to ask for help. He may believe or think it would mean that he is a failure or not a good solider if he cant handel it on his own. This not true. Contacting your local VFW, American Legion and the Wounded Worries Can be very helpful

Answer 4

Drinking will help, but in the long run it will permanently harm your health and ability to interact with the world around you. Many people take prescription medications to deal with their anxiety and anger, but that is just another form of substance dependence to alter your mood.
The best thing to do is the most difficult, confront the issue of an unfair world. Those young soldiers didn't need to have their lives cut short, a politician's ego made it happen. Try to live your life in such away where you teach people how to be kind.

Answer 5

The first place I would suggest is to ask around for some fellow veterans (of any war) to talk to him. My dad was able to help a couple of veterans of the Iraq war and talk to them even though he saw some very tough action in Korea. It is the shared bond of combat that is only understood by someone that has been through it. My eldest son had a similar problem but was helped by some of the people in his company.

Sometimes the debrief and decompression that is given before they return home isn't enough. But they are given an opportunity to talk to a psychologist......have him call one of the counselors for his company, they should have told him how to contact them during the debrief in Kuwait, before he came back.....

If that isn't feasible contact his company commanding officer for a referral to someone experienced in helping returning veterans....

If that isn't feasible contact the nearest VA hospital for assistance.

Good luck, and thank him for his service and sacrifice .

Answer 6

Call the closest VA Hospital, or clinic (his care will be free), or even the DAV chapter near you. Tell them what's going on, and get some help for him. My husband is a vet from 'Nam, so I know what your dealing with. Believe me when I recommend the VA or the DAV, or even another service oriented branch, like the Purple Heart Society. These are guys who have been there - and they can direct you, and help you help him. He needs it. Good luck, and I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.!

Answer 7

heys from one army wife to another My Husband is in Iraq and has been in a similar sitch about really good friends of his passing away and I know it hard to get through they are going to have to work together on this and get him to talk to about it and get out in the open honestly acs might be able to it's army community services someone from family advacody could help I would recommend not letting this go and treat it while it's still active bc god knows what they go through and it's really really hard on them going to see someone to talk to would probely help also keep him active and doing new things to keep his mind off things I really hope things get better we've had at least 10 of our good friends in the past 3 yrs die from this war and 4 of them I only met 1 time at the airport and never knew I would Never see them agian comfort him as much as possible and try to see things in his shoes trying to help please don't give up Much Love and Respect Kels xoxo

Answer 8

I WOULD SAY THAT HE NEEDS TO SEE SOMEONE. WHAT HE REALLY NEEDS IS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT. ONCE HE TALKS ABOUT IT, IT WILL BE RELEASED FROM HIS MIND AND IT WONT BE BOTTLED UP. IF HE SEES A PSYCHIATRIST THEY ARE MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO PRESCRIBE HIM SOME PTSD (POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER) MEDS...ANTIANXIETY. GOING TO WAR HAS HAD A MAJOR AFFECT ON HIM, HE MIGHT NOT EVER BE THAT SAME PERSON HE WAS BEFORE HE LEFT...HE HAS SEEN WAY TOO MUCH EVIL. TRY TO TALK TO HIM...THATS THE BEST THING FOR HIM.

Answer 9

I have dealt with the same thing...He needs to go to the VA hospital and have an evaluation done done (72 hours)..they do not 'out-process' these heroes as properly as they should, which I think sucks, but your friends' wife HAS the authority to "make" him go..

Answer 10

Yes, I think he needs to talk to someone like a counselor to help him through this. The drinking isn't helping him at all. Get a good Doctor and make sure he gets the help he needs. God bless and good luck to him. He will be in my prayers.