Posted on Jul 19, 2016
What do I say to a guy I don't know, who may be suffering from PTSD (or may just be a bum)? If he's legit, how can I help him?
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I don't know the guy, he's my wife's friend's boyfriend. He has no job & plays video games all day. I don't know if this guy is suffering PTSD or if he's using it as a crutch-he wasn't IN combat but says he saw bad things in Kosovo. I never saw combat, so if he's legit how can I help? I can't "understand". He goes to VA occasionally, but has "no one to talk to". Lastly, he's coming over tonight!
PTSD
Kosovo
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 21
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I was in Kosova and I don't know what kind of bad things that he thinks he saw. I think that he is using PTSD as a crutch. I was one of the first to go in with the 1st ID and I can honestly say that there was nothing there to cause PTSD unless you can get it from sleeping get in the back of a 5 ton for 18 mos.
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SSG Keith Brevard
If he's legit, I recommend starting with the VA or one of these organizations that helps soldiers.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SGT Dave Tracy SSG Keith Brevard I was there in 2001 (NATO HQ). That summer there was a full out border flare up. Gun ships flying over the U.S. base in Macedonia, it was a real live fire action. NATO greatly restricted travel. Don't know when he was there. I know for me, Kosovo was a cake walk, just lots of work.
Like you said, got to feel him out. If he don't have anyone to talk to, it can be tough. Keep an open mind and don't make judgements. Who knows, it might be from something else than deployment.
Like you said, got to feel him out. If he don't have anyone to talk to, it can be tough. Keep an open mind and don't make judgements. Who knows, it might be from something else than deployment.
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SGT Dave Tracy As others have suggested you can hear him out, ask some questions and try to get some insights into the person. You are not an MD and can't make any diagnosis, but can suggest he visit the VA to get some sort of a professional diagnosis. He may have something really serious or something less so which can be handled by meds. If he turns out to be an obvious moocher, you can always ask yr wife to not bring him around again. You don't want to end up adopting him.
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