That PTSD comment should break the fucking camel's back - '...his ignorance is profound...'

[Victor_c3]

39. As one of the vets that was criticized, I kind of feel that way

Last edited Tue Oct 4, 2016, 12:19 PM - Edit history (2)

I'm 36, served as an infantry platoon leader for 13 months in Iraq more than a decade ago, and totally disabled as a result of my severe PTSD. I struggle with suicide attempts and frequent hospitalizations. I've lost some great jobs over the years because of it and I was just recently awarded SSDI for it.

A lot of the guys who did the exact same stuff and served under me didn't get PTSD. What makes me different from the guys I served with? That is the thought I have a lot. Then I realize that a big part of PTSD symptoms come from the amygdala (part of the base of the brain that controls involuntary fight or flight responses, among other things). The amygdala controls responses that you can't consciously control and is significantly impacted with PTSD. So, the truth of the matter is, for some reason the amygdala in my brain got all messed up - which is something I have no control over.

What I do have control over is how I react in the moments after an intense fight or flight response is triggered. It's very tough - almost impossible at times - to take a step back and realize I'm not in a dire situation like combat. Little stresses like hearing yelling or smelling something that resembles cordite illicits an over-the-top reaction. That might be appropriate in war, but when I'm making macaroni for my kids it becomes a serious problem.

Anyways I can go on and on about PTSD. It's tough for me to believe it at times, but I'm not any less strong mentally than someone who doesn't have PTSD. Trivial daily activities like going to the grocery store reduce me to a shaking mess of a person - and yet I still make myself persevere. To me, that is strength.