Books about PTSD & soldiers FROM IRAQ!

[I<3MySoldier82nd]

I'm getting frustrated. I keep looking for books about this to better understand it, and all I get are ones from men coming back from Vietnam. I understand it's the same thing, but, if I could just find ONE but simply about how to deal with those with it coming back from Iraq, I would feel like I might have a field guide or something.

[Germanchick]

Check out the reading list that is stickied at the top of this forum

[R.D.'s<3Doll]

Down Range to Iraq and Back is a good one. Kayla (KaylaKLaF) recommended and sent me her copy. It is a pretty easy read and I found it very helpful.

[I<3MySoldier82nd]

hmm...maybe she'd let me borrow it to read it.

[smallfry83]

Have you looked into IAVA? It's Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America. DB has PTSD and it's helped me understand things a lot better.

http://supportyourvet.org/

[I<3MySoldier82nd]

Originally Posted by smallfry83 Have you looked into IAVA? It's Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America. DB has PTSD and it's helped me understand things a lot better. http://supportyourvet.org/

I just went there...it was helpful for a bit. I still don't know how to help him while he's not here and in Iraq though.

[Traci08]

In the 2 years that I have been dealing with my husband's PTSD wasn't ever written in the pages of a book. What has helped me, is talking to those who have it and got it because of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. Unfortunately, there really isn't a lot you can do to help him while in Iraq. But, there are things you can do while he's at home with you. It is going to be extremely rough the first few months as you both get to know one another again and living in a world that is safe. The best advice I can give, is to give him lots of space and be EXTREMELY patient with him. And observe. Find out what triggers him and try to avoid those things from happening. combat PTSD is complicated since most of the time it is caused by more than one trauma. One thing I can't stress enough is to not make him feel as if he has some sort of horrible disease. Welcome him home and make it safe for him to live in. Give him extra hugs, tell him you love him. Don't take things personally, because it has nothing to do with you. Its easier said than done, I know. I've been there. Google search the do's and don'ts, they are very helpful! Contact your local VA for information on PTSD. The more educated you are, the more you understand him. I can send you little snippits I've found online that have helped me so, so much! If you would like them, send me a PM on here and I can give you some links for you to look at. They have helped me very, very much!

[hisgirl7477]

Down Range is good. But honestly, I got more out of the Vietnam ptsd books than Down Range. They've had about 40 years to study and focus on ptsd from Vietnam, the wives especially know what works and what doesn't work, how to help, and how to not help so much. Just saying don't discount the Vietnam stories/advice. I wouldn't have survived these past few years if it weren't for some of my Veitnam War sisters.

This is also a good site, if you look around there are posts written by vets - many of them OIF vets: http://www.healingcombattrauma.com - i think there's even a section called "in their own words" written by vets.

Also, the best readings as it turnned out for me didn't have anything to do with ptsd or war for that matter. They were self help books for people with my particular brand of caretaking issues - codependency is the name that pops into my mind. But that was just helpful to me.

Reading is very empowering but def. yes to what Traci said!

[R.D.'s<3Doll]

Originally Posted by I<3MySoldier82nd hmm...maybe she'd let me borrow it to read it.

I need to remember to send it back to her

Originally Posted by Traci08 In the 2 years that I have been dealing with my husband's PTSD wasn't ever written in the pages of a book. What has helped me, is talking to those who have it and got it because of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. Unfortunately, there really isn't a lot you can do to help him while in Iraq. But, there are things you can do while he's at home with you. It is going to be extremely rough the first few months as you both get to know one another again and living in a world that is safe. The best advice I can give, is to give him lots of space and be EXTREMELY patient with him. And observe. Find out what triggers him and try to avoid those things from happening. combat PTSD is complicated since most of the time it is caused by more than one trauma. One thing I can't stress enough is to not make him feel as if he has some sort of horrible disease. Welcome him home and make it safe for him to live in. Give him extra hugs, tell him you love him. Don't take things personally, because it has nothing to do with you. Its easier said than done, I know. I've been there. Google search the do's and don'ts, they are very helpful! Contact your local VA for information on PTSD. The more educated you are, the more you understand him. I can send you little snippits I've found online that have helped me so, so much! If you would like them, send me a PM on here and I can give you some links for you to look at. They have helped me very, very much!

Understand what you can about it and how it may affect him, then observe. It is a little different for everyone, I think. Patience and understanding are very important.