The mental trauma has become so common that the Pentagon may expand the list of "qualifying wounds" for a Purple Heart - historically limited to those physically injured on the battlefield - to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

I sure hope so. It's a disgrace that PTSD/Shell Shock has been excluded.

Remember everyone, if you want your veterans who die for the ideals you hold and not get any kind of benefits or healthcare, vote for John McCain. He will veto every GI bill he gets.

Don't forget the incredibly high suicide rate.

If I agreed with McCain on every other issue, I'd still vote against him for screwing the vets.

The Current thinking in Washington: This will hurt the re-enlistment rate, how can you expect us to keep a standing armed force, when you willy nilly pansies want to give 'em collage and medical care? they will take whats given, then bolt! that will leave you all holding the bag and having to send your sons and daughters into war...."Only lead them with a carrot and when the race is close to done, give em a sugar cube for their efforts.. soon they will do anything you ask for that suger cube.." Or, you could send your own sons and daughters, it don't matter, it's not like you belong to Congress, Senate or House.. Pfft, get off my White House Lawn!

This is not exactly new. In Viet Nam we had access to Army-supplied tranquilizers (Valium - as much as you wanted) - not SSRI's - as well as mild (Dexedrine) to strong stimulants. Oh, plus there was plenty of weed, cocaine, or opium; as much as you could want.

I think it's inexcusable how we treat all our soldiers in this country. We lie to them to get 'em to sign up, and when they're done we flub the reports and then ignore all their problems after the fact.

vodka: Grosse Pointe Blank is on TNT right now.

POPCORN!

Couldn't even imagine being in a war zone on clonazepam. I recently was given a prescription due to stress over my father hanging himself and that stuff turns you into a zombie.

And it screws with your memory. "We went to Applebees?? Wha?"

oldebayer: Don't forget the incredibly high suicide rate.


We will never know the real numbers. I have a friend in "Mental Heath" who runs the chemical dependency rehab programs. We're in the Air Force, but he goes out with the Army a lot as a medic. He's had to deal with a few suicides. Basically, if there is no note or "other intel" then it isn't ruled a suicide. Even if the guy is found with the weapon in his mouth.

A friend of mine killed himself in his hangar a couple months ago. We all knew he was messed up, and we tried to get him help, but he was a bit more determined to die. Leadership didn't really listen to us though.

GAT_00: Remember everyone, if you want your veterans who die for the ideals you hold and not get any kind of benefits or healthcare, vote for John McCain. Republican.

To be fair to McCain, he's just following the Chickenhawk Party line.

Prozac to keep the troops happy
Modafinil to keep them going
Benzodiazepines for some downtime

Its enough to drive a guy insane



Fortunately, there is an answer



Just remember to keep plenty of ice handy. Hey, Jean-Claude, throw me another Corona, and don't open it with your butt cheeks this time, thanks.

panfried
when you willy nilly pansies want to give 'em collage and medical care?

So... is the collage some sort of art therapy then?

Well, it's better than the standard-issue of 800mg Motrin. That was the running joke when I was in: headache, 800mg Motrin. Arm cut off, 800mg Motrin.

Haven't studies found now that SSRIs are only 2% more effective than placebos?

/my dad came back from WW2 on Phenobarb.

dstanley: Well, it's better than the standard-issue of 800mg Motrin. That was the running joke when I was in: headache, 800mg Motrin. Arm cut off, 800mg Motrin.

They still hand that out like candy.

The way the military is handling the situation is dangerously bad. The veterans are coming home and going straight to a psychiatrist instead of being with their families.

Article brings this to mind: " There's a condition in combat. Most people know about it. It's when a fighting person's nervous system has been stressed to it's absolute peak and maximum. Can't take anymore input. The nervous system has either (click) snapped or is about to snap. In the first world war, that condition was called shell shock. Simple, honest, direct language. Two syllables, shell shock. Almost sounds like the guns themselves. That was seventy years ago. Then a whole generation went by and the second world war came along and very same combat condition was called battle fatigue. Four syllables now. Takes a little longer to say. Doesn't seem to hurt as much. Fatigue is a nicer word than shock. Shell shock! Battle fatigue. Then we had the war in Korea, 1950. Madison avenue was riding high by that time, and the very same combat condition was called operational exhaustion. Hey, were up to eight syllables now! And the humanity has been squeezed completely out of the phrase. It's totally sterile now. Operational exhaustion. Sounds like something that might happen to your car. Then of course, came the war in Viet Nam, which has only been over for about sixteen or seventeen years, and thanks to the lies and deceits surrounding that war, I guess it's no surprise that the very same condition was called post-traumatic stress disorder. Still eight syllables, but we've added a hyphen! And the pain is completely buried under jargon. Post-traumatic stress disorder. I'll bet you if we'd of still been calling it shell shock, some of those Viet Nam veterans might have gotten the attention they needed at the time. I'll betcha."

actually there is some very promising research showing, (now currently in an FDA approved trial) (new window)that MDMA or what the kids like to call Ecstasy is VERY effective in treat PTSD when used in combination with the right kind of therapy. Apparently the Ecstasy allows you to revisit traumatic memories without feeling the trauma, and that emotional distance helps break the autonomic triggers those memories used to cause.

The guy who started this research had to fight the fed tooth and nail to get permission to do it, but as soon as it started showing promise, the DOD has been his best friend.

That PTSD rates are sky high is not surprising, the average soldier in this war is in combat about 10-20x as much as the average WWII vet (new window) However I worry it is being overdiagnosed and we are missing a much more serious diagnosis

a RAND study recently found that at least 300,000 US soldiers had suffered from traumatic stress or depression and that at least 320,000 had suffered a possible traumatic brain injury (new window)

The similarity of those numbers are telling. Closed head injuries are often extremely difficult to detect and diagnose (basically a trauma to your head starts a small, almost undetectable bleed in you brain) but they can cause very significant mental symptoms including massive shifts in personality and loss of self control.

I'd love to see the army statistics on Article 15 citations among returning vets.

Read On Killing by David Grossman

The vast majority of people have a credit of about 100 days that they can spend in combat. Any more than that and they will suffer from debilitating post traumatic stress disorder.

Soldiers in Iraq have been doing repeated 500+ day tours. This ensures that more than 95% of them will suffer from severe post traumatic stress disorder for the remainder of their lives. Yet they receive little to no mental health care.

Basically, the way soldiers are treated is a disgrace.

one of my friends was prescribed clonazepam and she blacked out..granted she was a little bitty woman (maybe too strong) but lets hope that isn't happening to our troops while they are on their meds

Sadie_secret: one of my friends was prescribed clonazepam and she blacked out..

I've had some fun times with clonazepam, and let me tell ya, even my friend who took it the same time I did and is 6'0, 300lbs, takes acid like it's candy, was pretty much a walking corpse. That was a fun night, what we can remember of it. I do recall eating at a diner with no pants on. The sign only said shoes and shirts required, so we figured what the hell.

I seriously hope they're not getting Prozac.

That shiit is no anti-depressant, it's a psychosis-inducer.


PS. OF COURSE MDMA is good for psychic healing.
Only the US government would deny its value the way they have.

Psychedelics as a rule are very important in dealing with past trauma, etc.

PTSD destroyed two generations of my family. Destroyed. And put a pretty big hurt on Generation 3. My grandmother said when Grandpa came home from WWII it was like another person was living in his skin.

"Every man has got a breaking point. You and I have. Walter Kurtz has reached his. And very obviously, he has gone insane".

Get the vets, and their families, the help they deserve.

"Hey! What happened to my kidneys?"

Sammy Jenkins: Boo-farking-hoo. Trying being on the other end of this illegal and immoral invasion. THEN you'll have something to be stressed about.

Pretty weak. Try being on the other end of your face!

I really think the day will come where all infantry are drugged before, during and after combat. It will be SOP once better more predicable drugs become available.

If done right, PTSD could be prevented almost 100% of the time.


_{/still be creepy as hell, though.}

Know what relieves the symptoms caused by PTSD?

My prescription is as follows:

Home cooked meals, nookie, yard work, nookie, Red Wings winning, nookie, and nookie.

/apply liberally

OTA BENGA:
Benzodiazepines for some downtime


Not fun.

Stims?

Riche: I really think the day will come where all infantry are drugged before, during and after combat. It will be SOP once better more predicable drugs become available.

If done right, PTSD could be prevented almost 100% of the time.


/still be creepy as hell, though.

Yeah, because the correct solution to people being farked up from being exposed to horrible things is to perfect drugs that keep them from caring about being exposed to horrible things.

We're headed straight for the Star Trek episode you reference, apparently.

Will never, have never taken these pills. I don't want to be like the people on this medication, it's sad to watch.

Swede: Know what relieves the symptoms caused by PTSD?

My prescription is as follows:

Home cooked meals, nookie, yard work, nookie, Red Wings winning, nookie, and nookie.

/apply liberally


Not just a river in Egypt....

Riche

That day was a few hundred years ago, my friend. Rum has been essential fr the navy since it was invented and storm troops were served alcohol before assaults in many armies.

Link (Marine at war with himself)

*Just* read an article on how this guy handled his stress, just back from the war a few times. It did not end well.

the saddest thing is the republican party standing for Bush doing this to the military. they should've shown this guy the door years ago and they know it. but they have their lips firmly locked on his arse. he stands for everything your despise. rampant spending,destroying the military,idealistic foreign policy and cronyism in the most vital of positions. He fudges numbers.lies,obfuscates,makes signing statements that amount to line item vetos,goes around the law when he wants. and you guys are his enablers. and it's going to cost you dearly. Being a republican is going to become so unpopular in society that you'll deny ever being one. once all the truth comes out and the consequences of this horrible administration are fully realized the GOP will disappear into the history books.

and you only have yourselves to blame. for not standing up for your espoused values.

Magorn: actually there is some very promising research showing, (now currently in an FDA approved trial) (new window)that MDMA or what the kids like to call Ecstasy is VERY effective in treat PTSD when used in combination with the right kind of therapy. Apparently the Ecstasy allows you to revisit traumatic memories without feeling the trauma, and that emotional distance helps break the autonomic triggers those memories used to cause.

I'd not be at all surprised to find out that MDMA (and LSD) are far better for mental health issues than all the other pharmaceuticals out there. There's just a large, entrenched group that demands both be classified in the same legal category as heroin.

Hobodeluxe: the saddest thing is the republican party standing for Bush doing this to the military. they should've shown this guy the door years ago and they know it. but they have their lips firmly locked on his arse. he stands for everything your despise. rampant spending,destroying the military,idealistic foreign policy and cronyism in the most vital of positions. He fudges numbers.lies,obfuscates,makes signing statements that amount to line item vetos,goes around the law when he wants. and you guys are his enablers. and it's going to cost you dearly. Being a republican is going to become so unpopular in society that you'll deny ever being one. once all the truth comes out and the consequences of this horrible administration are fully realized the GOP will disappear into the history books.

and you only have yourselves to blame. for not standing up for your espoused values.

But at least them gays ain't gettin married, and my kids don't have to listen to evolutionism lies if they don't wanna!

Silly_Sot: Magorn: actually there is some very promising research showing, (now currently in an FDA approved trial) (new window)that MDMA or what the kids like to call Ecstasy is VERY effective in treat PTSD when used in combination with the right kind of therapy. Apparently the Ecstasy allows you to revisit traumatic memories without feeling the trauma, and that emotional distance helps break the autonomic triggers those memories used to cause.

I'd not be at all surprised to find out that MDMA (and LSD) are far better for mental health issues than all the other pharmaceuticals out there. There's just a large, entrenched group that demands both be classified in the same legal category as heroin.

Wanna know who approves?

Yep. It's one of the reasons why I got out. They treat you like a piece of machinery. I went in the Navy looking for a mentor but found a pervasive "fark everyone but me" type of attitude. I figured if it's going to be that way, I might as well get out and get a real job. At least then I could quit.

Dubya's_Coke_Dealer: PTSD destroyed two generations of my family. Destroyed. And put a pretty big hurt on Generation 3. My grandmother said when Grandpa came home from WWII it was like another person was living in his skin.

"Every man has got a breaking point. You and I have. Walter Kurtz has reached his. And very obviously, he has gone insane".

I shudder to think of how society is being affected by all these poeople walking around with PTSD. I've had it for 10 years, and while I'm not on any medications now, there's still a lot of things I can't handle. Situations that I won't put myself into. And there were days when I literally couldn't leave the house, because it wasn't safe. And sometimes the house wasn't safe either.

Outwardly, the person just looks like they're moody, depressed, or a little quirky--until something triggers them. It's an easy enough condition to ignore--by everyone else. But PTSD totally farks up your life, and I haven't seen any therapy yet that helps you to deal with, say, not being able to answer the phone, drive a car, or not being able to talk with entire segments of society, because they remind you of something you'd rather forget.

/need lifetime supply of medicinal MJ

Don't join the military if you not ok with dying, losing limbs or your sanity.

Should go back to the draft and cut out the G.I. Bill. Cut the military in half. We can't afford it anymore. The military spending in the country is draining us dry. And apparently all that spending is worthless since we can't even pacify a small backward country like Iraq! Pathetic!

I am sure, of course, you armchair liberals have actually researched McCain's position on veterans, and researched the veteran's bills the democrats are trying to push through, right? I mean, it is not like you are accusing a war hero and a long term prisoner of war of hating soldiers or anything, right?

Dumbass liberals, always good for a laugh.

It almost makes sense to sign up for the Army, so that you can relieve one of the soldiers that is doing those multiple tours.

is=are

/not as illiterate as I come across, I swear.

YankeeAirPirate: Sammy Jenkins: Boo-farking-hoo. Trying being on the other end of this illegal and immoral invasion. THEN you'll have something to be stressed about.

Pretty weak. Try being on the other end of your face!

Oh burn! Or try being on the other end of YOUR MOM!

T-Luv: YankeeAirPirate: Sammy Jenkins: Boo-farking-hoo. Trying being on the other end of this illegal and immoral invasion. THEN you'll have something to be stressed about.

Pretty weak. Try being on the other end of your face!

Oh burn! Or try being on the other end of YOUR MOM!

Was it an illegal or immoral invasion when I banged cry baby's mom's butthole?

Thunderpipes: I am sure, of course, you armchair liberals have actually researched McCain's position on veterans, and researched the veteran's bills the democrats are trying to push through, right? I mean, it is not like you are accusing a war hero and a long term prisoner of war of hating soldiers or anything, right?

Dumbass liberals, always good for a laugh.

I am not a liberal (although I suppose in the current political climate I'm leftist on everything the Republican party seems to care about anymore--gays, actual science versus bullshiat science, and the war) and yes, I read both bills. I don't give a shiat how long someone was in. They're willing to die for me? They get to go to farking college. Denying them proper benefits in the name of retention is a joke at best and a crime at worst. If you want to retain soldiers, treat them well...that's been military doctrine since the farking Romans.

Thunderpipes: T-Luv: YankeeAirPirate: Sammy Jenkins: Boo-farking-hoo. Trying being on the other end of this illegal and immoral invasion. THEN you'll have something to be stressed about.

Pretty weak. Try being on the other end of your face!

Oh burn! Or try being on the other end of YOUR MOM!

Was it an illegal or immoral invasion when I banged cry baby's mom's butthole?

My. Your cogent argument has blown us out of the water. Your logic is supreme. How could I ever have been so wrong. Mea culpa. Mea culpa. I will cheer for Bush from now on.