Aside from alcohol and uncontrolled substances, what other maladaptive coping skills do service members partake in?

SGT David Ortiz-González — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:14:39 -0400

Response by COL Lee Flemming made Sep 12 at 2016 11:17 AM

COL Lee Flemming — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:17:05 -0400

Speed...driving or cycling too fast!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2016 11:17 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:17:39 -0400

Yoga and Transcendental Meditation!!!

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Sep 12 at 2016 11:38 AM

CPT Mark Gonzalez — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:38:43 -0400

Any vice that they already had just pushed further. It could be shopping, sex, gambling, substances, you name it. We all have our issues, but when coping we return to a natural state and our natural flaws.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2016 11:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:55:11 -0400

I think a lot of military members have control issues. They push whatever they're doing to an insane level and tell themselves they're still in control. I don't know why. I myself had to stop everything including smoking, dipping, and drinking (I still have a beer or two on Michigan gamedays though) because I couldn't do it without taking it to an excessive limit.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Sep 12 at 2016 12:00 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 12:00:16 -0400

Believe it or not - WORK. I've found myself booking and doing more horses than normal. Taking extra work so I don't have to do something. I know one thing- it's not about the money.

Response by PO2 Kristy Williams made Sep 12 at 2016 12:06 PM

PO2 Kristy Williams — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 12:06:20 -0400

I admit I drive too fast as well. As long as I'm alone in the car or on my motorcycle.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 12 at 2016 1:23 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:23:12 -0400

Great thread. Thrill seeking is a big red flag when it comes to PTS (d). Speeding, gambling, adultery, fighting, and even high risk jobs (police work, corrections, firefighting, etc). When I got help in California I got to meet a good deal of veterans from all over. There was a very disproportionate percentage of correction officers in the residence. If you think about it, it makes complete sense. Combat environment 100% of the time you are at work. Being a workaholic is a big indicator as well. The 20 veteran suicides a day are mostly elderly veterans in their upper 50's+ age bracket. My theory is that once the body finally gets to the point where it HAS TO slow down, those ever hiding intrusive thoughts can't be kept in the back of your mind anymore. Most of the Vietnam vets I saw getting help were there because they had retired, got injured, or some other circumstance that forced them to slow down. It was just a matter of time after that. Veterans are MASTERS of coping. It's part of our military service DNA. We WILL find ways to put a lid on things. PTS (d) is always just under the surface.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Sep 12 at 2016 2:52 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 14:52:24 -0400

Video games, deprived sleep. Reckless driving too. And for me was repeated marriages.

Response by SGT James Eldridge made Sep 12 at 2016 4:29 PM

SGT James Eldridge — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:29:08 -0400

Lots of therapy and a willingness to avoid the ignorant civilian!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2016 4:29 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:29:12 -0400

SGT David Ortiz-González - I don't know about now - some men used to beat their wives. Sandy :)

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 12 at 2016 7:53 PM

SFC George Smith — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 19:53:36 -0400

I spend a Lot of time on the range killing targets...

Response by Marla Brown made Sep 12 at 2016 11:57 PM

Marla Brown — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 23:57:17 -0400

From personal experience, which includes the above issues, beating, threatening, put-downs, controlling, yelling, instigating fights with others including coworkers, strangers, family members and friends... Being proud of said behavior. Being a "Loner", keeping your spouse or s/o away from family, friends and neighbors and secluding them. Berating the significant other while championing and demonstrating your learnings from military service. Being in denial about a problem, but then expressing that you'd like to fix the problem. Unstable opinions, ie, liking one thing and going on like a maniac about it for hours and then completely disliking it and ranting about it the next day. Making up alternate stories to what actually occurred. Running red lights on purpose and doing socially unacceptable things in public and private. Indicators of paranoia like nailing coverings to the windows and accusing neighbors and passersby of being nosy or jealous.

Response by SFC Alfred Galloway made Sep 13 at 2016 9:08 AM

SFC Alfred Galloway — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 09:08:58 -0400

Poggie bait

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 4:55 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:55:43 -0400

Me and my friend Jack Daniels got together on many occasions...

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Oct 7 at 2016 10:06 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 22:06:14 -0400

SGT David Ortiz-González Aside from taking risks they don't have to take ----avoiding social contact and spending as much time as possible alone ,i have nothing.