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also i forgot to say if u wanna talk im all ears
www.docdredd@hotmail.com
www.docdredd@hotmail.com
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Almost 4 months since....
- Thread starter Bill Sanders
- Start date
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- Sep 22, 2003
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- 13,182
I'm really glad you've asked for support, and not surprised at all that you're receiving it. These are good people.
It's worth remembering that post traumatic stress disorder, though a relatively recent thing to be named, has been around forever. Vampire myths out of Eastern Europe really described village men returning from fighting the Turks in the Crusades ... changed by the war and the bloodshed.
The Vampire describes the traumatized, flaskback-experiencing ex soldier who can suddenly have something go "click" inside, like something important in his soul has died. Who looks like the same guy who went off to war, but has been so traumatized that he acts out his violence, isn't able to find how to re-integrate. And carries the terror of the war home to his own community. The vampire is a tragic, tragic figure.
PTSD is serious stuff, Bill - I'm glad you and your friends are taking it seriously. God bless you all.
t.
It's worth remembering that post traumatic stress disorder, though a relatively recent thing to be named, has been around forever. Vampire myths out of Eastern Europe really described village men returning from fighting the Turks in the Crusades ... changed by the war and the bloodshed.
The Vampire describes the traumatized, flaskback-experiencing ex soldier who can suddenly have something go "click" inside, like something important in his soul has died. Who looks like the same guy who went off to war, but has been so traumatized that he acts out his violence, isn't able to find how to re-integrate. And carries the terror of the war home to his own community. The vampire is a tragic, tragic figure.
PTSD is serious stuff, Bill - I'm glad you and your friends are taking it seriously. God bless you all.
t.
If you got a digital camera please take pics.>>> Hollowdweller
Hollow doesn't fully appreciate something until it is an audio visual experience. I sure wish you were my neighbor, Hollow; you'd have reams of khuk cutting logging wilderness experience to look at!
I've heard speculation on the Vampire myths, most Vlad the Impaler stuff, but your statement rings true and is new to me, Tom. Good post.
munk
Hollow doesn't fully appreciate something until it is an audio visual experience. I sure wish you were my neighbor, Hollow; you'd have reams of khuk cutting logging wilderness experience to look at!
I've heard speculation on the Vampire myths, most Vlad the Impaler stuff, but your statement rings true and is new to me, Tom. Good post.
munk
My fine spouse did her PhD thesis examining gothic novels (among other genres). "Dracula" was of course one of the books she studied, and the folklore myths that preceded it.
When you want to know what's true but unspoken about an age, look to its popular culture myths to tell you. In our time, "The Matrix" does it for me.
t.
When you want to know what's true but unspoken about an age, look to its popular culture myths to tell you. In our time, "The Matrix" does it for me.
t.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2003
- Messages
- 13,182
The only thing I can do is offer Smoke and Song and my ear if you want to talk with an old ndn.I mentioned this thread in an e-mail discussion with a friend and former combat helicopter pilot. He gave me permission to re-post what follows.
If some of the folks here want to exchange e-mail with him for support, you can contact me for his e-mail address.
If some of the folks here want to exchange e-mail with him for support, you can contact me for his e-mail address.
Tom.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
- Messages
- 20,207
Bill, I think it is good you can talk about the issue(s).
Uncle Harold was shot down three times in WWII in the POS fighters we started out with. He lost almost all the guys he went through flight school with -- and every single guy in the replacement draft of pilots he flew out to the war zone with-- saw several of them get it.
After a few letters to his dad early in the war, Harold never said a single word about what he went through to his mom, dad, brothers, sisters -- or his five wives (one at a time to be sure) -- or his four kids - or the pastors at the churches he attended.
(The family found out that he eventually shot down seven Japanese aircraft from a retired Douglas exec who attended his funeral. The exec found out from Harold's military records submitted in application for the job. Harold never talked to him -- or any once else at Douglas apparently -- about the war.)
Even in his sixties at family gatherings, Harold would awake, screaming from a snooze on the couch. Zero behind his P40 and goin' down in flames again. Or maybe it was a comrade going down with no way to help. He'd shrug, look embarassed, and go get another beer.
Lots of folks otherwise close to him tried to get him to talk about it to someone -- anyone. He just would not. He kept it inside, while it ate at him.
He did self-medicate, and that was the official cause of death. But we all knew he was a WWII casualty.
The beginning of dealing with the beast seems to be to get it out in the open where it can't hide.
Bless you and all who bear the burden of military service. May you find peace.
Uncle Harold was shot down three times in WWII in the POS fighters we started out with. He lost almost all the guys he went through flight school with -- and every single guy in the replacement draft of pilots he flew out to the war zone with-- saw several of them get it.
After a few letters to his dad early in the war, Harold never said a single word about what he went through to his mom, dad, brothers, sisters -- or his five wives (one at a time to be sure) -- or his four kids - or the pastors at the churches he attended.
(The family found out that he eventually shot down seven Japanese aircraft from a retired Douglas exec who attended his funeral. The exec found out from Harold's military records submitted in application for the job. Harold never talked to him -- or any once else at Douglas apparently -- about the war.)
Even in his sixties at family gatherings, Harold would awake, screaming from a snooze on the couch. Zero behind his P40 and goin' down in flames again. Or maybe it was a comrade going down with no way to help. He'd shrug, look embarassed, and go get another beer.
Lots of folks otherwise close to him tried to get him to talk about it to someone -- anyone. He just would not. He kept it inside, while it ate at him.
He did self-medicate, and that was the official cause of death. But we all knew he was a WWII casualty.
The beginning of dealing with the beast seems to be to get it out in the open where it can't hide.
Bless you and all who bear the burden of military service. May you find peace.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2003
- Messages
- 4,793
Bill, I don't know anything about what you or the other soldiers went through or are going through. My Dad was in the service for many years, and told me I would be joining, so naturally that is the last thing I would ever intend to do when I left home to get away from him. However I do know severe stress very well, and what it can do to you.
Not that it applies to you at all, but a friend of our family was a soldier in the Phillipines when the Japanese took over, and spent most of that war in a POW camp. For the rest of his life he would have bad dreams, and periodically his wife would wake up and find him gone. He would be in the kitchen, standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open, just staring at the food. He wouldn't eat anything, just wanted to reassure himself it was still there.
Back then no one knew to mention what was bothering them though, and just were expected to suck it all up. I'm glad you posted, thank you for all you have given, and pray that you will find peace.
Best,
Norm
Not that it applies to you at all, but a friend of our family was a soldier in the Phillipines when the Japanese took over, and spent most of that war in a POW camp. For the rest of his life he would have bad dreams, and periodically his wife would wake up and find him gone. He would be in the kitchen, standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open, just staring at the food. He wouldn't eat anything, just wanted to reassure himself it was still there.
Back then no one knew to mention what was bothering them though, and just were expected to suck it all up. I'm glad you posted, thank you for all you have given, and pray that you will find peace.
Best,
Norm