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Something that I personally had to deal and continue to work on is overreacting to something. I find myself sometimes jumping off the deep end over the little thing either at work or at home. My overreaction has cost me personally and professionally. Sure, we can say it's part of the PTSD I go through because sometimes my overreactions are to different sights or smells. The way I pick my table when out eating may be considered overreacting by some.
The way some of us react to news seen on TV or online maybe classified as overreacting. Sometimes we get so laser-focused on something that to us our reaction may seem okay but to everyone else with a wider view of the topic, maybe view as an overreaction.
The question behind all this is how do you try to maintain yourself, to keep your reaction(s) to things as close to "normal" as possible? What is something that you learned helps you maintain yourself in the eyes of something that to you may be earth shattering while to others it is just "spilled milk"?
The way some of us react to news seen on TV or online maybe classified as overreacting. Sometimes we get so laser-focused on something that to us our reaction may seem okay but to everyone else with a wider view of the topic, maybe view as an overreaction.
The question behind all this is how do you try to maintain yourself, to keep your reaction(s) to things as close to "normal" as possible? What is something that you learned helps you maintain yourself in the eyes of something that to you may be earth shattering while to others it is just "spilled milk"?
Posted in these groups: 
PTSD
PTSD
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 3
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You see this on Facebook daily. You see this in lamestream media to get clicks or a desired response. I do it on my own. To fight this I try to detach myself from the situation and leave. Now this isn’t always going to be feasible, and in those cases, I try to take myself mentally to other places (like Afghanistan lol) to calm myself down, and allow clarity to do its job. I look on FB and see the “herd” mentality on many vet threads when someone says something counter to the poster, and then the whole mob jumps in or on that person(s). It’s almost as if we (the vet community) want to be the final say on what’s patriotic or not, who is and who isn’t and if you’re questionable we’ll make you “famous”. I’ve actually had to leave a few pages over that. Now lamestream media wants you to get fired up and tailor the stories and dialogue to you just for that reason. It doesn’t matter if you’re liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican. There’s something out there on one of the main sites to stir you up. And when that happens to me, I go straight to the comments just to see what others are saying and to laugh at the opinions of the massively uninformed, the iNet lawyers, doctors, cops, and vets, whatever. To sum it up it’s everywhere, but the best medicine I’ve found is laughter, distance from issue, or both to set me right.
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SGT Ben Keen
You bring an interesting point of view into the mix SSG Warren Swan. While my initial idea was to talk about how people react to things that happen directly around them such as the example that SPC (Join to see) used, the way we overreact on social media can be just as bad if not worse. We can react however we want from the comfort of our couch without anyone there to judge us on the spot or question us like they can if they are there to witness the reaction in person. I think you see a lot of people get so focused on one thing that they fail to see what is happening around them that impacts the what, how, why around whatever they are mad about. Sometimes look at the way others respond can be funny and worth the life but I agree with you in distancing ourselves from people that answer what they consider to be "radicalism" with more behavior that can be classified as radicalism.
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SSG Warren Swan
The problem I'm noticing is that while I expect certain things from those that have never served, served and never deployed or in come cases even deployed, nonetheless it's coming from our own. And that's a hard pill to swallow. Maybe I still hold troops to a higher standard and that's my fault. But the internet is/has allowed folks to create a "reality" or reinvent themselves at will. Awesome troop during the day hellion on the internet at night. As for me, I use the coping skills I've learned towards the end of my career to hold me. Some are good (talking to other vets), some suck (isolationism), and some are downright confusing (interaction with civilians in public places). But it's those skills that keep me on the straight and narrow, allow clarity to help me, and allow me to be a functioning and productive member of society. Ok onto Foxnews and MSNBC for my daily laughter.
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SPC (Join to see)
SSG Warren Swan and SGT Ben Keen I think we all tend to turn into the internet "tough guy" and overreact about things that affect the things we are passionate about. I still haven't talked to a cousin in a few years (he is a lazy POS, who lives off the government) it was right around one of the government budget crisis (like normal) and they were threatening not to pay active duty/veterans/retires. He said something along the line if he doesn't get his livelihood, why should we. I LOST IT. Mind you, about 2 days later is was seen on TV apart of occupy Portland and seen burning dummies in military uniforms and then protesting a military funeral. When my mom passed this pass winter, I was sitting in the same room as him, and still wouldn't talk to him. Don't mess with something that is close to someone's heart.
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SSG Warren Swan
SPC (Join to see) - First off I'm sorry for your loss. On the second your cousin, this might sound rude, but we can't save em all. We want to, but if they won't make an effort to get it for themselves, all we're doing is becoming an enabler. I think you did/are doing the right thing. On the internet yes, I was. But after awhile I began to see that this isn't constructive, it's actually destructive. I do laugh at some of it, but I make an effort unless it is something close to the heart to not say anything and keep it moving. As a reference look no further than the whole dependapoutumous, or the wearing of the uniform thing. It's gone too far and I'm past it now.
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SGT Ben Keen This was me last night when I got home. My 4 & 3 year old thought that I would like a container of Gatorade powder mix dumped on my bed. I don't deal well with messes. I don't deal well at all with sticky messes. Even if the solution is as easy as taking it off the bed and putting it in the washer. I walk away- that is how I deal with it... especially if it has to deal with something like that. That will be a Daddy Day Care cleanup.
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SGT Ben Keen
SPC (Join to see) - I think it's often interesting to be able to look back at something like that and realize that it isn't such a big deal yet at the time it's the end of the world, especially when it comes to something that freaks us out like a sticky mess.
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This used to be me. What works for me is understanding what I can control. If I can't directly control it I let it go. To help with things I am a firm believer of exercise in the morning to help deal with the rest of the day.
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