Dealing with Combat Experiences, better to discuss with a battle buddy, or bury it deep inside?

SSG John Arp — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 05:11:03 -0400

I was at the VA Hospital standing in line for travel pay and saw a buddy from Iraq, we started talking about other buddies that were hurt and how they were doing, and we talked some about how we were doing after MEB into civilian life. A Vietnam vet standing in front of us turned around and said, "you know, I was in the war in Vietnam and when we came back we kept all that to ourselves, I buried my demons deep down inside"... without missing a beat, I replied, "Sir, that is why you still have demons deep down inside and I don't."

So, my advice, talk to someone you know, someone you trust, someone you served with maybe, but don't pick up a bottle of pills, don't pick up a gun, pick up a phone and call someone... We keep burying friends that survived the war to suicide, because they keep that crap buried inside, get it out, talk to someone. Brothers in arms, brothers in war, brothers forever, and sisters too :o)

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jun 26 at 2015 7:34 AM

SSG Ed Mikus — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 07:34:57 -0400

A WW2 vet once told me during a particularly difficult time dealing with my own PTSD, when you share a heart heavy story you unload a small percent of that weight from yourself and give them that much knowledge, the more knowledge you share the lighter your load.

So Share your stories when you can, i find VFW bars a great place when i am having issues, group counseling is great, now days i mostly open up to my wife, it helps her as much as me and grows our relationship while helping her to help others whose husbands suffer.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 8:22 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 08:22:47 -0400

I concur with SSG Ed Mikus we have to find ways to speak about our events of the past. I truly understand it's not easy to do, but we have to or we walk around like ticking time bombs. We as a Military society need to continue to cultivate our relationship with the Non-Mil types. Unfortunately we have a lot of knuckleheads doing dumb stuff and it comes back to issues they picked up in the Military. Please let me know how I can help!

Response by LTC Chuck Arneson made Jul 2 at 2015 3:35 PM

LTC Chuck Arneson — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:35:29 -0400

There's no shame in sharing ... sucking it up doesn't display toughness, self-control or discipline when it comes to PTDS. Self awareness, seeking help, sharing your stories and demons with others, especially fellow Veterans, is our road to recovery and resilience. We're all in this together ... Soldiers for Life.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Jul 2 at 2015 7:59 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 19:59:14 -0400

Talk! Talk to anyone... battle buddy, and old veteran, someone.... burying doesn't help.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jan 8 at 2017 8:27 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 20:27:21 -0500

I find Veterans that just won't talk about their experience ever, some other though will at least talk to fellow Veterans if not anyone else. My late father in law, a WWII combat Veteran that made beachhead landings on three Japanese Island including Guam and Okinawa told be thing He never told anyone else in the family including His wife. One reason is I was the only one there to have ever served in a combat zone and He felt comfortable telling Me. They were private conversations He never had with anyone else. I don't compare anything I ever did with things He had to handle but He did perform all the duties that were expected of Him and was a SSgt in the Army. My own father a WWII Veteran of the US Navy as an ET1 also has experience We do know about but He doesn't like to talk about them. Both will still talk about the positive Military experiences though and have done ok in their post service life events work, family and everything else.

Response by SPC Robin Price-Dirks made Jan 10 at 2017 12:03 AM

SPC Robin Price-Dirks — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 00:03:56 -0500

Not all fights are combat related........it has to do with broken trust in people you have no choice about. Officers, medical personnel, you know creepers that have control of your life and livelihood.