It's been a particularly hard last week - you know - with memorial day and all that. There are some deaths my mind and heart simply refuse to accept. So to begin...
I love and miss all of you guys and girls that I have served with. I try to live my life to the fullest each day to make sure your passing has not been in vain.
Until Valhalla. Keep the beer cold for me up there boys.
Here is a figure taken from Nerdwallet.com
2.8 million
Number of American veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
Number of American veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
11-20
Estimated percentage of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans currently with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Estimated percentage of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans currently with post-traumatic stress disorder.
12,632
Number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with PTSD in 2013.
Number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with PTSD in 2013.
460,000
Highest estimated number of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder —diagnosed and undiagnosed.
Highest estimated number of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder —diagnosed and undiagnosed.
118,829
Number of deployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with PTSD since 2002, as of January 10, 2014..
Number of deployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with PTSD since 2002, as of January 10, 2014..
39
Percentage of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with alcohol abuse issues.
Percentage of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with alcohol abuse issues.
ABCNews.com reports as of Mar 27 that 1,892 vets have committed suicide since 1 Jan.
That was over 2 months ago.Use your imagination to guess where we are now.
So what is the issue? Are we vets this ticking time bomb that the media makes us out to be? Are we crazy violent psychopaths that don't deserve jobs here in the U.S. Do we hurt your feelings?
The fact is this, many have sworn to support the troops, but as the stigma grows, we see jobs being refused to vets, some are being turned down on housing, and we are seeing the beginning levels of hard-line discrimination begin. How can this happen?
We need to look first at the media. I hate to place the brunt of this on the media - but when it comes down to it, almost every other news story is about how some veteran with "a history of mental illness..."
There it is right there. You are calling PTSD a mental illness, grouping it in with manic depressants, schitzophrenics, autism, bipolar, and tourettes. Now while I am able to understand this logic - it obviously has to do with the human mind being tweaked to a point beyond self repair - I also understand that we weren't born with this - there is no genetic predisposition, no chemical exposure that caused it, we certainly cannot blame it on the water, or whatever next week's reasoning for mental illness will be.
For us Vets - it is no different than a scar A badge of torturous honor from seeing and experiencing things no 19 or twenty-something should have ever seen, whether that's kids that were blown apart in the local market by a suicide bomber, or watching helplessly as a best friend/mentor bleeds out in front of you... we have nightmares, we may disassociate, we may lash out at times... yes - it happens, we are humans who have been stretched to the max - and unlike a rubber band, we may not bounce back to our original form... These are negatives. I get it... but when you add the stigma of having it become the focus of every fucking news story that has to do with a vet - then the real issues begin.
You see, just because Joe Whackjob Schmuckatelli decided to go apeshit and the cops had to utilize lethal force on him doesn't mean we're all like that. instead of saying "and today, some idiot got lit up by the cops because he was waving a gun around like an idiot" - an occurrence that happens in Chicago or Detroit on a near daily basis - you morons in the news rooms focus on "VET" and "MENTAL ILLNESS/PTSD"
Being a vet with PTSD doesn't make me inherently dangerous... it doesn't make me a bad person, and no you don't have to hide your kids when I take mine to the park to play. We don't want to be viewed as victims. We don't want to be viewed as being conned into joining the military. I find it hard to imagine any of us being conned. Those of us who joined because of our ideals and self-motivations could have never been conned.
The issue:
The more you stigmatize PTSD - the less likely we are to get seen for it. I know a few guys personally who still to this day wake up screaming in excess of 2 or 3 times a month... I know a few that are hypervigilant in crowds. Hell, I still check rooftops whenever I'm walking anyplace that has greater than one story homes... The common reasons for not getting seen (from what I have personally heard)... "I don't want people to think I'm crazy."
"I don't want people to think I'm a pussy."
Things to that extent. You get the idea.
This results in what I'd like to call the shaken-can syndrome... much like a soda can... life shakes these individuals... over and over again... until one day some catalyst opens the can. This results in many of these individuals overdosing, getting drunk and dying behind the wheel, or suck-starting a shotgun in the bathtub... I've been on scene to a few of these suicides... They aren't pretty... the air is heavy of oppression... These individuals who won multiple battles - lost the war against themselves - many of them having never reached out for help because of the potential repercussions... because a diagnosis like PTSD can feel like a fatal flaw in character - and it's made exponentially worse by the fact that the media (led by the FCC mind you) makes such a big deal about it. We need to end this progressive stigmatization and help our guys and girls.
Causative factors:
Combat. Being near combat, hearing combat, the threat of combat - the first time a bullet cracks half a ft over your head, IED hits, IED misses, IED near Misses, IED near hits, VBIEDs, the first time you run towards gunfire, the first time you go on a patrol, the first time you are shitting in a wagbag and someone starts shooting, Danger close, Danger far (that was way too close), Blood, guts, danger. Explosions, implosions, being woken up by F/A-18's blasting an area just outside of your Pos. Seeing people on therms screwing donkeys (long story). The Taliban. The Muj. The Sgt Maj. The butterbar that is fixed on getting you killed. The clueless platoon Sgt. The lance corporal who is WAY too effective with explosives. The corpsman and his silver bullet. The corpsman and his frozen moment when he reviews your injuries. Hellfire missiles. running out of cigarettes just before you take contact, breaking your last cig the first 10 seconds of a firefight - getting to cover and realizing it. having the douches mortar the power grid while you're trying to rub one out to that hottie on webcam (or not so hottie... I done seen what some of y'all look at in those MWRs) ...
oh and meeting Gen Mattis and R. Lee Ermey at the same time (that's enough to make any man simultaneously shit his pants and thank God for the opportunity to do so),
accidentally sipping the dip spit bottle while staring at the horizon.
walking in silence covered in the blood of a fellow brother in arms...
War.
... just War.
Fucking War...
What you can do:
Be proactive. Reach out to veterans in your community. Donate you your local VFW, volunteer with wounded warrior project. For you employers... realize a college degree doesn't mean shit compared to a 24 year old Plt Sgt that kept 85% of his unit alive during the push into Sangin Valley... Start hiring vets. Don't ask them about their experiences - but be open if they want to talk to you about them... Don't judge... some of us have done and seen some fucked up shit.
The biggest thing anyone can do... Reach out to your Congressman, local media outlet, Senator and push for these guys to end the stigma, and to continue supporting the troops the way you did when the war first began.
And please... for the love of God share this. Do not let this one pass by. I understand that some of this is humorous... it's meant to be. A lot of us have had moments like this, and it'll stir up a bit of nostalgia... good. Enjoy that feeling.
For you guys that know what I'm talking about... feel free to message me or comment... I'd love to talk to you... back you away from the proverbial edge if that's where you are.
Please share this to Twitter, Facebook, Myspace (is that shit still around?), tumblr, public service boards, and graffiti on overpasses...
Ladies and gentlemen...
It's time to #endthestigma Man up, and talk to a vet. You may just save his life.
-JE
One last note... if you like this blog, draw attention to it... Smash that little G+ button like 50 times.
or something.
The fact is this, many have sworn to support the troops, but as the stigma grows, we see jobs being refused to vets, some are being turned down on housing, and we are seeing the beginning levels of hard-line discrimination begin. How can this happen?
We need to look first at the media. I hate to place the brunt of this on the media - but when it comes down to it, almost every other news story is about how some veteran with "a history of mental illness..."
There it is right there. You are calling PTSD a mental illness, grouping it in with manic depressants, schitzophrenics, autism, bipolar, and tourettes. Now while I am able to understand this logic - it obviously has to do with the human mind being tweaked to a point beyond self repair - I also understand that we weren't born with this - there is no genetic predisposition, no chemical exposure that caused it, we certainly cannot blame it on the water, or whatever next week's reasoning for mental illness will be.
For us Vets - it is no different than a scar A badge of torturous honor from seeing and experiencing things no 19 or twenty-something should have ever seen, whether that's kids that were blown apart in the local market by a suicide bomber, or watching helplessly as a best friend/mentor bleeds out in front of you... we have nightmares, we may disassociate, we may lash out at times... yes - it happens, we are humans who have been stretched to the max - and unlike a rubber band, we may not bounce back to our original form... These are negatives. I get it... but when you add the stigma of having it become the focus of every fucking news story that has to do with a vet - then the real issues begin.
You see, just because Joe Whackjob Schmuckatelli decided to go apeshit and the cops had to utilize lethal force on him doesn't mean we're all like that. instead of saying "and today, some idiot got lit up by the cops because he was waving a gun around like an idiot" - an occurrence that happens in Chicago or Detroit on a near daily basis - you morons in the news rooms focus on "VET" and "MENTAL ILLNESS/PTSD"
Being a vet with PTSD doesn't make me inherently dangerous... it doesn't make me a bad person, and no you don't have to hide your kids when I take mine to the park to play. We don't want to be viewed as victims. We don't want to be viewed as being conned into joining the military. I find it hard to imagine any of us being conned. Those of us who joined because of our ideals and self-motivations could have never been conned.
The issue:
The more you stigmatize PTSD - the less likely we are to get seen for it. I know a few guys personally who still to this day wake up screaming in excess of 2 or 3 times a month... I know a few that are hypervigilant in crowds. Hell, I still check rooftops whenever I'm walking anyplace that has greater than one story homes... The common reasons for not getting seen (from what I have personally heard)... "I don't want people to think I'm crazy."
"I don't want people to think I'm a pussy."
Things to that extent. You get the idea.
This results in what I'd like to call the shaken-can syndrome... much like a soda can... life shakes these individuals... over and over again... until one day some catalyst opens the can. This results in many of these individuals overdosing, getting drunk and dying behind the wheel, or suck-starting a shotgun in the bathtub... I've been on scene to a few of these suicides... They aren't pretty... the air is heavy of oppression... These individuals who won multiple battles - lost the war against themselves - many of them having never reached out for help because of the potential repercussions... because a diagnosis like PTSD can feel like a fatal flaw in character - and it's made exponentially worse by the fact that the media (led by the FCC mind you) makes such a big deal about it. We need to end this progressive stigmatization and help our guys and girls.
Causative factors:
Combat. Being near combat, hearing combat, the threat of combat - the first time a bullet cracks half a ft over your head, IED hits, IED misses, IED near Misses, IED near hits, VBIEDs, the first time you run towards gunfire, the first time you go on a patrol, the first time you are shitting in a wagbag and someone starts shooting, Danger close, Danger far (that was way too close), Blood, guts, danger. Explosions, implosions, being woken up by F/A-18's blasting an area just outside of your Pos. Seeing people on therms screwing donkeys (long story). The Taliban. The Muj. The Sgt Maj. The butterbar that is fixed on getting you killed. The clueless platoon Sgt. The lance corporal who is WAY too effective with explosives. The corpsman and his silver bullet. The corpsman and his frozen moment when he reviews your injuries. Hellfire missiles. running out of cigarettes just before you take contact, breaking your last cig the first 10 seconds of a firefight - getting to cover and realizing it. having the douches mortar the power grid while you're trying to rub one out to that hottie on webcam (or not so hottie... I done seen what some of y'all look at in those MWRs) ...
oh and meeting Gen Mattis and R. Lee Ermey at the same time (that's enough to make any man simultaneously shit his pants and thank God for the opportunity to do so),
accidentally sipping the dip spit bottle while staring at the horizon.
walking in silence covered in the blood of a fellow brother in arms...
War.
... just War.
Fucking War...
What you can do:
Be proactive. Reach out to veterans in your community. Donate you your local VFW, volunteer with wounded warrior project. For you employers... realize a college degree doesn't mean shit compared to a 24 year old Plt Sgt that kept 85% of his unit alive during the push into Sangin Valley... Start hiring vets. Don't ask them about their experiences - but be open if they want to talk to you about them... Don't judge... some of us have done and seen some fucked up shit.
The biggest thing anyone can do... Reach out to your Congressman, local media outlet, Senator and push for these guys to end the stigma, and to continue supporting the troops the way you did when the war first began.
And please... for the love of God share this. Do not let this one pass by. I understand that some of this is humorous... it's meant to be. A lot of us have had moments like this, and it'll stir up a bit of nostalgia... good. Enjoy that feeling.
For you guys that know what I'm talking about... feel free to message me or comment... I'd love to talk to you... back you away from the proverbial edge if that's where you are.
Please share this to Twitter, Facebook, Myspace (is that shit still around?), tumblr, public service boards, and graffiti on overpasses...
Ladies and gentlemen...
It's time to #endthestigma Man up, and talk to a vet. You may just save his life.
-JE
One last note... if you like this blog, draw attention to it... Smash that little G+ button like 50 times.
or something.
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