The Struggle of Injured Soldiers

[unhappycamper]

The Struggle of Injured Soldiers
May 23, 2008
Army News Service|by Elizabeth M. Lorge

WASHINGTON - When Soldiers return from war with catastrophic injuries, one of their biggest worries is how their spouses and significant others will react.

Veterans and medical experts discussed romantic relationships during the Morehouse School of Medicine's "Wounded Troops and Partners: Supporting Intimate Relationships" conference here Wednesday.

"I instantly realized when I woke up and saw my wife there that I wouldn't have to go it alone. I was 22 years old. We had two young daughters. You think, 'wow, I'm different. Is my wife going to love me for who I am? Am I going to be accepted by my friends how I am?" retired Spc. B.J. Jackson of the Iowa National Guard said of waking up at Brooke Army Medical Center after he lost both legs and was severely burned by a land mine in Iraq.

He and his wife Abby spoke candidly about how it was a struggle at first for their relationship to return to normal as he healed.

Between his injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and various medications, her husband just didn't seem interested in her as a woman, Abby said, and all she wanted was her husband back. The hospital environment didn't encourage intimacy or privacy and Abby didn't know if she was even allowed to climb in her husband's bed to hold him.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/army-news/the-struggle-of-injured-soldiers.html

[midnight]

1. Very important topic. How does a military man/women do this without

physical wounds? Because the emotional ones are just as catastrophic in preventing intimacy. Paul Wellstone's mental health parity bill has been discussed long enough, time to implement this Bill so Americans have access. This is way to important to leave our soldiers and their family's unsure.

[jimmil]

2. It happened to me!

Young and strong I was not bad and had a smokin hot wife, I mean just drop dead georgous. I had no idea why she was with me. After being wounded and spending 10 months in a hospital not so much. I don't think it was because of my wounds though, every swinging dick on that post wanted into those hot pants she wore and they were like dogs at the fence trying to get into the yard. It would have never lasted of course. She dropped me like a hot potatoe (thanks DQ).