My parents seem to think I've got both. I can function normally in my professional life, but my personal relationships are suffering. I don't sleep well, I'm irritable all the time, I can be in a fine mood and go to pissed off in a heartbeat. My girlfriend says I'm unaffectionate and distant. And I guess my parents probably think the same thing, since the last time I've hugged them was when I came back from Iraq almost 2 years ago. I was an intelligence analyst, stuck in the TOC most of the time. I went out on patrol a few times with some 11B buddies of mine, but never saw a lot of action. Once on the convoy into Iraq from Kuwait an IED blew up 2 vehicles in front of me. It was buried too deep and didn't do any significant damage. That's the only action I saw the whole time. I think I may have been depressed while I was in Iraq because I hadn't been home in 3 years by that time, I was working nights, and on my days off I would sleep for 18 - 20 hours. What do yall think I have now?
2007-08-21 06:15:25 · 13 answers · asked by Johnny Law III 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
You need to get evaluated. It is very common for somebody to have both PTSD and depression.
I was diagnosed with PTSD after my return from Iraq and found the treatment from the VA superior to that of civilian psychologists (mostly because the VA sees and treats PTSD all the time and civilians do not deal with it that often).
One book that helped me a great deal (and ended my denial about having PTSD) is: An Operator's Manual for Combat PTSD. I highly recommend reading this book as it starts off by explaining exactly what is causing the symptoms - and emphasizes the fact that this is a combat injury.
If you want to know more - email me.
2007-08-21 08:47:33 · answer #1 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back for the duration of the World Wars, there was once no such factor as PTSD. PTSD, as a intellectual wellbeing analysis, is fairly new and I think was once found out after the Vietnam generation. Also, intellectual wellbeing offerings to the army has commonly elevated on account that Vietnam, so we're greater ready to diagnose and deal with the ones with despair and PTSD.
2016-09-05 08:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You say you're sleeping a lot, It sounds more like depression than PTSD. But it may be a combination of the two. If you get "irrational" anxiety and anger. Or situations occur in work where you find yourself comparing them to situations in Iraq (flash backs). You don't need to have seen much action to have PTSD, the stress of potentially being mortared everyday, or the constant threat of IED's can take a psychological toll. Either way, talk to some one.
2007-08-21 06:28:07 · answer #3 · answered by Efnissien 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had a similar mission ..we lost my one guy and a couple more got wounded in action...we got mortared everyday but I didn't really saw any action...when I home the first thing I did was buying an M4 and that was the only thing that made me happy shooting my riffle..so I'm back in iraq now i'm a civilian and this is the best teraphy for me...I was diagnosed with chronic PTSD...I prefer the sounds of choppers and mortars than been ooun in the rear...good luck
2007-08-21 13:05:47 · answer #4 · answered by john s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Working in the medical profesion, I'll tell you this, you should go talk to mental health. They are not going to kick you out, they are going to help. Depression is an ongoing battle that people have in life that does not shake easily. PTSD is more of a specific scene or reality that you can't get rid of, like if you are walking down a street and you hear a car backfire and jump in the ditch. It could be depression caused by going there, but make sure you see somebody about it, get it documented and get help.
2007-08-21 06:37:35 · answer #5 · answered by Otis 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are closely linked, so you'd really need a professional evaluation to sort it out. Classic PTSD is related to dramatic trauma, like heavy combat or serious abuse, but trauma is cumulative and you can have more diffused PTSD leading to the kind of symptoms you're describing.
It's absolutely certain that burying these feelings is dangerous and can lead to worse symptoms later. Talking about experiences is highly therapeutic, even if they don't seem significant. I've read about increased efforts to have support groups for vets, and that could only help, but it sounds to me like you should talk to a professional also.
2007-08-21 06:30:56 · answer #6 · answered by Houyhnhnm 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you just can return to civilian life. Many people who serve in the armed forces have a hard time doing this, and some never can. Keep in mind that they are two different worlds. It's like moving out and going to school and then expect everything to be the same when you come back, It just doesn't work that way.
2007-08-21 06:21:24 · answer #7 · answered by Pyro 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Sure, go to the VA and get your professional assesment and pick up the book "On Combat" by LTC Grossman, the leading authority on PTSD.
The secret to overcoming this is in yourself. Force yourself to have a positive attitude and after a while it'll be natural and you can be back to your old self (or better.)
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-DfkctJU7dK5B7LcNROoyVQ--?cq=1
2007-08-21 06:36:32 · answer #8 · answered by John T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go and get evaluated by the Veteran's Administration! Despite what many liberals want you to believe, the care there is actually quite good!
Go quickly!!
2007-08-21 06:19:15 · answer #9 · answered by elmar66 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
See a psychiatrist at the VA.
2007-08-21 06:22:56 · answer #10 · answered by Ray H 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋