PTSD S U C K S

[Del]

No, I don't have it, thank gods, but my daddy does. It's really bad sometimes. The worst (every day life for others) part of it is that he is incapable of dealing with paperwork and mail almost 99% of the time. He can pull it together when he has to, but it's like pulling teeth. He doesn't open his mail. He hasn't in thirty - forty years!

It's so frustrating 'cos he said I could help him out with stuff like mail, and I can. But I get as far as opening them and informing him of them, and then he just brushes it off and ignores it and won't let me help him actually *deal* with it. And they're always trying to screw him by mailing him stuff (the VA and a few other places) that he has a timeline to fill out and return, and they know perfectly well that he can't open his mail.

It just makes me so sad and frustrated (all parts of it, but this especially today). (And terrifies me on so many levels for DB, as well.)

I just wish I could make him better, or help him more, even though I know I can't do either. So, in conclusion, PTSD.... yeah, you read the title.

[Sunshyne]

I'm so sorry. I am pretty sure my father has suffered from PTSD since the Vietnam war, but he would never get help.

[lacy+chk]

PTSD is horrible...worse yet, we're going to be seeing so much more of it in the next few years...!

[MontanaSweetie]

I'm sorry that your dad is having to deal with PTSD.

You are right, it does suck. I suffer from it myself. Ask my hubby just how much he loves it...

[Donna]

it does suck. we deal with it with Gabe.... NOT FUN

[tifflovezyou]

My Dad has it from Vietnam too. Im sorry that is a terrible thing to deal with!

[Del]

To all of you dealing with it personally or through family. Yes, there is going to be so much more of it now, and I wish someone higher up realized this - 'cos I think it would change things a lot if they'd ever lived with it / around it.

The PTSD strikes again. My daddy asked me to come home to help him move. So home I came for the summer and home I've been... There has been nothing that he's wanted me to do for the last two months. (His anxiety and whatnot make the buildup to change really difficult.) Sure enough, a month before I leave, when I'm working full time and packing for myself, he looks at me today and says "Well, we have to start cleaning things up."

It's so frustrating 'cos of course we won't have enough time now. And he'll lose motivation and get depressed by it and give up again. I knew this was gonna happen too, the same thing happened last year.

Right, sorry, airing my issues I know. Feel free to share yours if you want, since I'm all share-y lately.

Originally Posted by Del To all of you dealing with it personally or through family. Yes, there is going to be so much more of it now, and I wish someone higher up realized this - 'cos I think it would change things a lot if they'd ever lived with it / around it.

my hearts goes out to all of you being touched by ptsd! i hope you and your loved ones know how much support you have.

On a positive note though, I work for a non-profit here in DC...dedicated to providing free* mental health care for today's military, with high priority going to those currently returning from the Middle East (this includes their family members, even unmarried significant others-- and is totally separate from the military-- i.e., this helps with many who are worried they might be struggling but don't want to jeopardize their career). Thankfully, there is an active shift in how PTSD and related entities are being addressed..... The organization I work for is just a tiny example, but it's a powerful one: with the last two years, by word of mouth, we've amassed a team of over 500 mental health care providers volunteering their time, efforts, and research to changing how ptsd/etc affect the people in our lives from here on out. That best part is (and this is why I'm not going to name the organization, although if you want more info, feel free to pm me) we're now in talks with the DOD on these issues.
All in all, this work has shown me that there is hope for change and improvement, no matter what the arena or scale: people do care and tiny efforts really can grow into something big : )

[Del]

That's so cool, Lindsay! I'm glad they're working on it.

I can only offer lots of hugs.I don't want to say I understand because everybody has different issues going on, along with how they deal with it.
My father suffers along with myself. I am hoping that my husband will not suffer when he comes back next year. I give my husband lots of credit in dealing with me. He is very good.