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Since being diagnosed in 2011, I have had a hard time with my PTSD. VA meds and counseling have done a lot to help control the instances, and how to identify my triggers and why they are triggers.
But how many of my brothers and sisters suffering PTSD/ "Chronic Adjustment Disorder" still get suddenly T-boned by an onset of symptoms and are unable to identify the trigger? When this happens without warning, are the calming techniques you've learned sufficient to get you through or does it have a longer lasting negative effect on you?
But how many of my brothers and sisters suffering PTSD/ "Chronic Adjustment Disorder" still get suddenly T-boned by an onset of symptoms and are unable to identify the trigger? When this happens without warning, are the calming techniques you've learned sufficient to get you through or does it have a longer lasting negative effect on you?
PTSD
SGT
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 36
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SGT Cooke,
I was actually diagnosed with a mild case of PTSD which I still with and has to do more with noise in general. My spouse always asks me, how can you complain about noise when you wear your headphones really loud? Good question, and the answer is that I really don't know. Maybe it is certain or sudden noises especially when I'm trying to get some sleep. For those in here that has experienced combat especially on FOBs, had to deal with a lot of attacks so, good luck trying to get some rack time. Another thing that I actually deal with a lot is the roads...ie, pot holes, objects, etc. Sometimes I just change lanes just like we do while on deployments. I have become or gotten better over the years but I still deal with stuff. I'm a recovering alcoholic and some things that have helped me cope with my addiction is by having a good solid support system that truly understand what your problem is. Someone who has never deployed will never understand what you go through everyday...no offense to those who has and are serving right now. Continue to attend to whatever meetings you go to and try to be open about how you feel at the moment you're experiencing those triggers. If you like to workout, keep doing it because you could diffuse some of the negativity thoughts by conducting physical activity. Some might think is weird, but a little self talk wouldn't hurt. I do it in my truck on my way to work all the time. Sometimes we need to hear things instead of thinking them. I hope this helps a little bit and remember that you're not alone brother. Have a good one!
I was actually diagnosed with a mild case of PTSD which I still with and has to do more with noise in general. My spouse always asks me, how can you complain about noise when you wear your headphones really loud? Good question, and the answer is that I really don't know. Maybe it is certain or sudden noises especially when I'm trying to get some sleep. For those in here that has experienced combat especially on FOBs, had to deal with a lot of attacks so, good luck trying to get some rack time. Another thing that I actually deal with a lot is the roads...ie, pot holes, objects, etc. Sometimes I just change lanes just like we do while on deployments. I have become or gotten better over the years but I still deal with stuff. I'm a recovering alcoholic and some things that have helped me cope with my addiction is by having a good solid support system that truly understand what your problem is. Someone who has never deployed will never understand what you go through everyday...no offense to those who has and are serving right now. Continue to attend to whatever meetings you go to and try to be open about how you feel at the moment you're experiencing those triggers. If you like to workout, keep doing it because you could diffuse some of the negativity thoughts by conducting physical activity. Some might think is weird, but a little self talk wouldn't hurt. I do it in my truck on my way to work all the time. Sometimes we need to hear things instead of thinking them. I hope this helps a little bit and remember that you're not alone brother. Have a good one!
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I can relate to your struggles. Thought you might find the two brief videos helpful just released on triggers, trauma and the critical mind
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SGT Josheua Cooke
Thank you brother. This post kind of got resurrected, forgot I'd ever posted it lol.
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I know some of my triggers , there are some that happens to me that are different than the usual one's the one's I know about, are the longer lasting, grab me by the throat and seems like it never lets go, No they do not work
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I get you brother. I asked this question on a day that I got ambushed by terrorist triggers. Strangely the affirmation of brothers and sisters in service help me to eventually get through it. VA doc told me a dog would help a lot too.
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SSG John Caples
Va., Hasn't told me anything in that regards, say's I am getting better, So I ask them,
"How come I have trigger's all around me, smell, people burning garbage, it's all the same. I have been to Cognitive Processing Therapy and it has helped some and that was in 2009 still suffer from Ptsd have all the symptoms no diagnoses from there part , all they do is change meds, up or down or something else never a diagnoses. Go F@#$ Figure Huh
"How come I have trigger's all around me, smell, people burning garbage, it's all the same. I have been to Cognitive Processing Therapy and it has helped some and that was in 2009 still suffer from Ptsd have all the symptoms no diagnoses from there part , all they do is change meds, up or down or something else never a diagnoses. Go F@#$ Figure Huh
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Because of my triggers, since coming home has cost me job so I isolated myself to my properties and have started since started down a new career path. The VA has classes that I attend weekly and has helped me handle myself when I sense I'm amping up. However when I amp up from a not so obvious trigger I beat feet straight to the house and ride it out. The VA has not given me pandoras box of meds so I just try to adjust myself as necessary, it helps that I have five dogs and one is extremely atune to me. So she is a great help in keeping me grounded.
However it really bothers me when I spin up for no apparent reason. I find myself OCD'ing about it trying to figure it out using the tools I've learned in PTSD/CAD, OIF/OEF and Anger Management classes.
I've been home around eighteen months now. And what really frustrates me the most is my constant state of agitation. I'm angry when I wake, throught the day and angry when I finally get to sleep.
However it really bothers me when I spin up for no apparent reason. I find myself OCD'ing about it trying to figure it out using the tools I've learned in PTSD/CAD, OIF/OEF and Anger Management classes.
I've been home around eighteen months now. And what really frustrates me the most is my constant state of agitation. I'm angry when I wake, throught the day and angry when I finally get to sleep.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I get you brother, it took me bout 3 years to finally get a hold on the constant anger. Anger management finally took root and those skills make things objective for me. I'm still prone to fits of what I call flash rage, where I'm fine and I'm blind sided by truly wishing everyone would stop breathing and catch fire. Those take a bit longer to to calm down from, but give it time brother, it's a long road but worth the haul.
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SSG John Caples
I have been retired for almost 7 yrs. now, I still have bits of rage to the point that I want to end that persons exsisstance on this earth, and I have secluded myself into my own Ao, which is home, don't get out accept to go to Va. and Sigs, not much out there for me any way. If any body came to my AO, terrible for them, if they don't belong here. One time this guy came a knockin on my back door, instead of ringing the door bell, he was Politicking. I went up to him, while he had his back turned. I was on him so quick, he did not know, I was even there. When he turned around He Said " What are you doing here , I looked at him very disgruntled and in one of the flash rages, and said to him " That is my question to you and then before he could hand me his card I walked up to him and said " Go Away " He took off so quick. I look back at it now and laugh about that shit Hooah
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I can usually deal with the 'Instant Anger' that I've come to know all too well.
I'm in a club with Veterans from the Korean era to present, and we All have issues to varying degrees, it's the younger generation who has had the most issues with this. I know I'll probably get some feedback about this so I'm just going to throw it out.
I think the younger Vets have more issues with PTS because of the Me generation. I didn't say Millenials, I said the Me generation. I think that most older Vets say this every time a new generation of Veterans come along, you hear it as '...when I was young we didn't have all this stuff, we had to walk 5 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways'. Sound familiar SGT Josheua Cooke?
I'm a Desert Storm and OIF Vet so I feel I got to deal with what the younger Veterans are dealing with now, and how the older Vets dealt with things.
My diagnosis is chronic and acute PTS because I never dealt with my issues from ODS and am now dealing with stuff from 2 tours in Iraq.
So, back to triggers and dealing with them, to me it feels like a forest fire, every time I think I've got the flames stomped down they pop up somewhere else. So my answer would be No, I myself have never been able to corral all my triggers, and most likely never will, we, my wife and I, deal with them as they come along.
I'm in a club with Veterans from the Korean era to present, and we All have issues to varying degrees, it's the younger generation who has had the most issues with this. I know I'll probably get some feedback about this so I'm just going to throw it out.
I think the younger Vets have more issues with PTS because of the Me generation. I didn't say Millenials, I said the Me generation. I think that most older Vets say this every time a new generation of Veterans come along, you hear it as '...when I was young we didn't have all this stuff, we had to walk 5 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways'. Sound familiar SGT Josheua Cooke?
I'm a Desert Storm and OIF Vet so I feel I got to deal with what the younger Veterans are dealing with now, and how the older Vets dealt with things.
My diagnosis is chronic and acute PTS because I never dealt with my issues from ODS and am now dealing with stuff from 2 tours in Iraq.
So, back to triggers and dealing with them, to me it feels like a forest fire, every time I think I've got the flames stomped down they pop up somewhere else. So my answer would be No, I myself have never been able to corral all my triggers, and most likely never will, we, my wife and I, deal with them as they come along.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I can appreciate that take on vets then and now. I am curious whether you feel coping mechanisms and societal expectations have changed in such a way that "ME" gen vets have to "own" their trauma more than vets of the past.
Examples would include ease of finding work after war, the acceptance of society to drink heavily, politics correctness didn't influence the work place, etc. Couple that with the divorce rates of older gen vets due to anger issues vs today's afflicted vets. I meant to cite more meaningful examples but my entire train of thought blew up in a first mushroom cloud of forgetfullness, so I apologize.
Examples would include ease of finding work after war, the acceptance of society to drink heavily, politics correctness didn't influence the work place, etc. Couple that with the divorce rates of older gen vets due to anger issues vs today's afflicted vets. I meant to cite more meaningful examples but my entire train of thought blew up in a first mushroom cloud of forgetfullness, so I apologize.
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MSG David Johnson
How about putting this into plain everyday person English? I'm not being an ass about it, but I don't understand what you are asking/saying. Not sure if it's punctuation that's missing or what.
Something I do that helps with fragmented sentences and thoughts, I write everything in Word then copy/paste in the box.
From what I've seen over my considerable amount of years on this big blue rock we call earth is this; people don't know how to spell, punctuate, or proof read what they are writing.
Bear with me here...
Because I have a very bad case of CRS, I use my wife as a spell checker a lot of the time. My last mobilization/tour my guys thought it was funny when I would lose my train of thought in the middle of a conversation, or not be able to think of a word. To them it was just Platoon Daddy getting old, when I got stuck they would throw out words til the right one came along then I would continue on with the class/mission brief, or whatever else was going on. Just about everyone who knew me from the COL on down to my 2 PFC's knew the look, he lost it what's the word he wants. To an outsider it looked rude, nope, things went faster.
So, anyway, try using words that someone with a low IQ would understand.
Just so you understand, while recovering from my injury, I learned about the VASRD, and how to do VA math. I did it to keep from being bored, but in doing this I helped a lot of my guys in the unit to understand what they needed to do so as not to get screwed while going through their MEB/PEB, and even over the years helping My Soldiers get through the processes, whether for SSDI, getting medals that were never awarded, writing reference letters, to a whole bunch of things. As long as I stay focused and on track, I can get it done, and when I'm in this mode my wife leaves me alone so I don't lose track of where I'm at, sticky notes, and a written list of what exactly I have to do to accomplish the task I'm doing to help My Soldiers, or Soldiers who I've never met but ask for assistance.
Some of the biggest issue in this country is spelling and punctuation. I took over 400 hours of correspondence courses to better myself in the last 10 years or so of my career and have figured some things out in the process, one is that I'm not an academic. (That's why I never tried for a direct commission, although it was put to me by several field grade officers, and a couple company grade officers) I accepted my promotion to E8 instead.
Here are a couple things people make mistakes on daily because they are clueless.
They-Them
There- a place
They're-They Are
Their-a possession
Not having those 3 words spelled correctly and used correctly could throw the meaning of the sentence completely off
Example
Their going over they're with there stuff. Does that really make sense?
How about this.
They're going over there with their stuff.
I am far from an English major, but this is the kind of writing that could take a BSM/V downgraded to an ARCOM. (Just an example).
So in conclusion, you don't kneed $110 collage wurds two git you're poynt acrost. (words misspelled on purpose).
I may have gotten way off topic to what you were saying, but that's cuz I lost my track of thot after the first sentance.
Cheers
I went back and read the first part of your question over, my answer is yes and no, everyone is different, and reacts different. Society makes it easier for us to own our own stuff.
Just take all the rest of this with a grain of salt, start over, and realize this was written with tongue in cheek.
Something I do that helps with fragmented sentences and thoughts, I write everything in Word then copy/paste in the box.
From what I've seen over my considerable amount of years on this big blue rock we call earth is this; people don't know how to spell, punctuate, or proof read what they are writing.
Bear with me here...
Because I have a very bad case of CRS, I use my wife as a spell checker a lot of the time. My last mobilization/tour my guys thought it was funny when I would lose my train of thought in the middle of a conversation, or not be able to think of a word. To them it was just Platoon Daddy getting old, when I got stuck they would throw out words til the right one came along then I would continue on with the class/mission brief, or whatever else was going on. Just about everyone who knew me from the COL on down to my 2 PFC's knew the look, he lost it what's the word he wants. To an outsider it looked rude, nope, things went faster.
So, anyway, try using words that someone with a low IQ would understand.
Just so you understand, while recovering from my injury, I learned about the VASRD, and how to do VA math. I did it to keep from being bored, but in doing this I helped a lot of my guys in the unit to understand what they needed to do so as not to get screwed while going through their MEB/PEB, and even over the years helping My Soldiers get through the processes, whether for SSDI, getting medals that were never awarded, writing reference letters, to a whole bunch of things. As long as I stay focused and on track, I can get it done, and when I'm in this mode my wife leaves me alone so I don't lose track of where I'm at, sticky notes, and a written list of what exactly I have to do to accomplish the task I'm doing to help My Soldiers, or Soldiers who I've never met but ask for assistance.
Some of the biggest issue in this country is spelling and punctuation. I took over 400 hours of correspondence courses to better myself in the last 10 years or so of my career and have figured some things out in the process, one is that I'm not an academic. (That's why I never tried for a direct commission, although it was put to me by several field grade officers, and a couple company grade officers) I accepted my promotion to E8 instead.
Here are a couple things people make mistakes on daily because they are clueless.
They-Them
There- a place
They're-They Are
Their-a possession
Not having those 3 words spelled correctly and used correctly could throw the meaning of the sentence completely off
Example
Their going over they're with there stuff. Does that really make sense?
How about this.
They're going over there with their stuff.
I am far from an English major, but this is the kind of writing that could take a BSM/V downgraded to an ARCOM. (Just an example).
So in conclusion, you don't kneed $110 collage wurds two git you're poynt acrost. (words misspelled on purpose).
I may have gotten way off topic to what you were saying, but that's cuz I lost my track of thot after the first sentance.
Cheers
I went back and read the first part of your question over, my answer is yes and no, everyone is different, and reacts different. Society makes it easier for us to own our own stuff.
Just take all the rest of this with a grain of salt, start over, and realize this was written with tongue in cheek.
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Most yes...but there re more times then not it seems sudden with no warning. It can be hard and and lead to situationsome to where I have to separate myself from it. Like someone else stated and my wife points out to me all of the time is that if my head wasn't attached to my neck, it would spin right off my shoulders.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I hear ya brother, large crowds and I do not do well, went to Ikea not long ago and didn't realize it became like a corral at the end by the registers and nearly lost myself.
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SSG Keith Cashion
SGT Josheua Cooke - Yeah, the first thing I always have to remind myself to do is Breathe. We will get there.
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I have triggers that I do not know about, but I am still learning. Like I also have taught my family to not start certain machines without warning, like my awesome Ninja Blender... the pitch of that thing gets be pumping adrenaline like crazy. You just have to figure out what works for you and accept that Disney World is no longer a good idea - the crazy amounts of people and the kids and the noise... it is purgatory brother.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT Josheua Cooke - I found out the hard way (the only way). I have done similar things since, a few times.. now I take regular breaks - on my own. Shit, I do that wherever I am.
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SGT Josheua Cooke I do not have PTSD (that I am aware of) but I do occasionally have panic/anxiety attacks. I have long ago learned to avoid those triggers that set one off. Is this ideal? Probably not, but this works for me. What I have done for many of my friends, who do have PTSD, is being there for them. If only to let them vent or talk about their demons. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. There are many that struggle with this every day.
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I work with service members with ptsd everyday. Try yoga and heart rate variability to learn to calm yourself.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
God knows some extra calisthenics would do me some good, need to stop making excuses about time first...
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SSG Michael Scott
Make a list of what has been triggers for you. Study them and recognize them so you can be better prepared if you get blind sided. Try the WRAP-Wellness Recovery Action Plan.
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It's like a big ball of anger in your chest or Anger may be the wrong word but you just snap and go from 0 to upset or pissed off really quick?
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SGT Josheua Cooke
That's is bout right. My spouse says that I often lack a build to anger, there is "I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I wish you would just burst into flames".
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