How does the RallyPoint community help those with PTSD?

RallyPoint Team — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:20:45 -0400

"For the first year, once a week I would wake up in the middle of the night in that puddle of sweat and I was back. But as time went on, not because I told the story a million times but because I was willing to, it became easy for me... a lot of the bad stuff starts to become less important." USAF Lt Col (R), Former POW Jeff Tice

Supporting our Service Members and Veterans struggling with PTSD is very important to RallyPoint. We appreciate everyone in the community who has the courage to share his or her story and help those in need know they're not alone.

Hear fellow Service Members and Veterans talk about RallyPoint and PTSD in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rjx8YmQNVc

RallyPoint: A Community for Support

RallyPoint is an online community for U.S. Service Members and Veterans. PTSD is a very serious issue amongst the military community, and it's important for ...

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Oct 16 at 2014 9:41 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:41:54 -0400

RallyPoint Team Support for our brothers and sisters navigating their post-traumatic stress, whether it reaches disorder level or not, is one of the most crucial things a military community can do. My kudos for lending support to this worthy endeavor.

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Oct 16 at 2014 10:05 AM

SPC Michael Hunt — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 10:05:27 -0400

Having PTSD as well as other mental and physical health issues due to combat related experiences, I would say Rally Point has helped me network with other like minded Veterans and Soldiers.

Response by LCpl Rick Ponton made Oct 16 at 2014 10:21 AM

LCpl Rick Ponton — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 10:21:07 -0400

I HAVE NOT LEARNED MUCH ABOUT PTSD AND I HAVE LEARNED OTHER HELPFULL THERAPY AND I NEED TO APPLY IT TO ME AND IAM LABLED SHCHITZOPHRENIC AND BORDER LINE BIPOLAR AND IF I HAD PTSD I NO LONGER HAVE PTSD

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 12:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 12:25:12 -0400

For myself it helps that I learn that I am not the only one (obv) but it allows me to talk to someone who has had the same experience as I have. It's easier to talk to my follow brothers & sisters in arms about issues then my friends who will never understand. It's impossible to talk to them with out breaking everything down barney style. Tho i know they mean well trying to help, it is just not the same then someone who shared your experience.

Response by SGT Jim Barrows made Oct 16 at 2014 4:07 PM

SGT Jim Barrows — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:07:29 -0400

I feel your pain brother.

Response by MSgt Kurt Woodward made Oct 17 at 2014 8:38 AM

MSgt Kurt Woodward — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 08:38:15 -0400

I would love to make some of my P.T.S.D. triggers go away with time. Some have, like the ones from being deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Storm. But my more recent triggers are still very hard for me to deal with. I lost my wife in early Jan. 09, she died in my arms because of un-diagnosed health issues that all of her doctors missed. It's still hard to talk about and I still get nightmares from the experience as well as she was also Sexual Assaulted in our back yard when we still lived in Base Housing. I still have a hard time accepting the fact that her assault was not my fault because I didn't wake up in time to stop her from going outside due to her sleep walking. So anyone with help dealing with the above triggers I would really appreciate it. I've been through two different works through the V.A.; but I still can't visit her grave at the National Cemetery on Ft. Richardson, AK.

Response by SPC(P) Angela Puckett (Dejesus) made Oct 17 at 2014 2:05 PM

SPC(P) Angela Puckett (Dejesus) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 14:05:40 -0400

I live with PTSD everyday of my life. It's hard. I haven't been able to talk to anyone except my therapist about it and that wasn't until I admitted to myself that I did have a problem. I am now on medication. I try to take it everyday but there are days I forget or I just don't because of doubts that it actually helping. I have insomnia, or wake up sweating with bad dreams. I hardly leave my house. I know that I am not the only one who suffers with this. Is, or will there ever be, a true cure? The answer is still to be determined, I guess...

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Oct 25 at 2018 2:56 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 14:56:39 -0400

I enjoy the stories and feedback I get from the community and listening to other veterans stories. I get a lot of my information from social media sites and a lot of people are sharing their stories about their PTSD and I try to use their stuff and my book for coping with what I have.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 25 at 2018 5:07 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:07:58 -0400

You can talk about here thru links with the members. They can direct you towards confidental assistence and if they're near you - drinka few beers and hear you out.

Response by PO3 JamiSue Moore made Oct 4 at 2022 8:19 PM

PO3 JamiSue Moore — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:19:24 -0400

Night terrors and cold sweats...
Day terrors and heart palpitations...
Reels of black and white silent films running through my mind with constant survivor guilt that steals my breath...
The embarrassment of having to just walk away from an event when that monster starts railing against the confinement of its cage for no damn apparent reason...
I know this and I know that, however...
.

Response by SP5 John Cox made Jul 11 at 2023 12:46 PM

SP5 John Cox — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:46:33 -0400

I'm just now realizing that lóking at the positive ways in which I see all of us R.P. members are similar and the ways that I can see us as both inclusive and diverse is in keeping with PTSD treatment. Being hateful, disruptive, and divisive are symptoms of PTSD mental illness on an uncontrollabe rampage. Keeping company with such toxicity perpetuates PTSD mental illness.