What are the signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 22:10:32 -0400

Post traumatic stress disorder doesn't affect just the person who suffers from it. It affects everyone that person comes into contact with. People learn to behave differently around the affected person. Do you know someone who you have made changes for when you are around them or are you aware people alter their behavior around you? Learn what the symptoms of PTSD are and ask for help for a friend or for yourself.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/family/ptsd-and-relationships.asp

Relationships and PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Describes how trauma reactions can sometimes get in the way of closeness and connecting with others.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 31 at 2015 10:11 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 22:11:50 -0400

For every sufferer of PTSD there are different signs and symptoms.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 31 at 2015 10:33 PM

LTC John Shaw — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 22:33:15 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member For me it is control and safety in crowds & perceived uncontrolled environments. Going verbal (really loud and defensive) over simple things that are perceived as loss of control or unnecessary risks. With four kids, you can imagine this happens a lot! Nightmare/Bad dreams of being rocketed, smelling burning flesh/hair, visuals of body parts (arms, legs, heads) via (SV-IED) suicide vest attacks. I tried to suppress for over a year; honestly unknowingly, but eventually uncontrolled anxiety reactions, chest locking up like a heart attack, teeth grinding, the verbal outbursts, impacts on spouse and kids and other anxious reactions led me to the VA to seek assistance.
Your spouse and kids want to help, but they don't know how and many reactions your body will 'create' even if you are not consciously aware of it.
If you are feeling any of these feelings or symptoms, GO IMMEDIATELY to a VA clinic and ask for the 24/7 oncall Mental Health counselor. It is not an immediate fix, but it will start the road to help.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 2 at 2015 1:21 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 01:21:17 -0400

The best reference I can suggest for veterans/active duty folks with PTSD is to read "Once a Warrior Always a Warrior" by Charles Hoge MD, COL (MC) USA Ret. This book is NOT a clinical manual. Rather it's a how-to book for travelers and their families on how to understand, recognize and deal with PTSD in a healthy way... I urge everyone dealing with Combat related PTSD to read this book, and have their spouses/SOs/partners, and teenage and above children read and discuss it...

Response by SSG James Arlington made Aug 2 at 2015 6:57 PM

SSG James Arlington — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:57:09 -0400

We must do better as a nation.

Response by SPC Brett Curry made Oct 11 at 2017 9:59 AM

SPC Brett Curry — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 09:59:30 -0400

There are so many different things you can get PTSS from. Sorry, I consider it a syndrome of what happened, not a disorder, that makes every situation different. I have PTSS from my childhood, the wars, and loosing my wife. My parents act totally different now then how they use to act. And loosing my wife has affected every relationship I have had.
The symptoms from my childhood are more frequent, the symptoms from the war are the most intense, and the symptoms from loosing my wife are the most sad.
Each of them affect some type of relationship with someone or multiple people. And all depending on how tramatic the event or events are all depends on how long it affects your life. You can learn to live it...YOU CAN LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT.... But not matter how strong you think you are, ask for help..we walk together as brother's, just because we're not Still on the battlefield doesn't mean that we stop walk together, in step, helping each other out...

Response by PV2 Duane Schlender made Oct 22 at 2017 4:14 AM

PV2 Duane Schlender — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 04:14:42 -0400

Do you know whats worse than ptsd being a reality? Having the reality of ptsd in your life deliberately ignored by the government and v.a., and then have it used against you to send you to prison for profit of the u.s. court system.

Thats my life. I have ptsd from a tank accident in germany (non combat). I have explosive anger, high anxiety alertive behavior, i cant handle sudden or treble based noise, and repetition makes me insane. Its been 17 years this way, and nobody cares to help me.
Im also very single, and get suicidally depressed from being single. Lovely circle of hell..right?

The ones that want to help, are prevented by their bosses.

Is this truly how a veteran, no matter who they are, should be treated? Its treatment like this that causes some veterans to steal valor, because by doing so they get the treatment they deserve anyway.

We as a country need to stop fearing the people in power who dont care about us and stand up for our rights, the proper way.