Dear Trump: I Treat Combat Veterans With PTSD And They Are Not Weak

[sheshe2]

By Joan Cook, Yale University


Mr. Trump, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.



Well, not one person per se, but the thousands of veterans I’ve had the privilege to work with as a clinical psychologist over the past 20 years. They’ve served this country proudly — shouldering the responsibilities of the world while others went to college or into family business. They’ve served in war zones in Germany, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and places some probably couldn’t pronounce or find on a world map.


These men and women have seen direct combat and the aftermath of battle, and experienced extreme threats to personal safety. They’ve lived through the unthinkable — rocket-propelled grenade and artillery attacks, seeing friends’ bodies ripped in half or faces blown off, handled human remains, intentionally killed enemy combatants and had to live with the haunting consequences of accidentally taking the life of women and children.


In the war zone, our brave men’s and women’s safety is often in danger. Alert around the clock, they are in constant fear of attack, have concern over encountering explosive devices and come within inches of their own death. Even in peacetime, our military face significant stressors — assisting in disaster relief and other humanitarian efforts, exposure to hazards and harmful substances and strenuous physical demands.

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About 10 years ago, one World War II veteran was referred to me by a primary care doc. Always dutiful, he came pleasantly to my office on his physician’s orders not really understanding why he was there. As I rattled off some signs and symptoms of trauma-related distress, his eyes widened as if to say, “How do you know what’s been happening to me?” He thought he had buried the horrors deep in his soul. He was shocked when he thought I could see it. This large, strong 80-plus year-old man openly sobbed and said, “All these years, I thought I was crazy, lazy, weak and bad.”


I wanted to cry too. This man suffered in silence for over 60 years. How sad is that?



More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-conversation-us/dear-donald-trump-i-treat_b_12375790.html?

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Sad that our want to be Commander in Chief ridicules these men and women.

This large, strong 80-plus year-old man openly sobbed and said, “All these years, I thought I was crazy, lazy, weak and bad.”

[BSdetect]

1. We are all effected

I'm lucky to be alive.

Both grandfathers endured some of WW1. One died of injuries years after the war. Another died in the early 1960s partly due to stress from his experiences.

When you appreciate the contributions to us that these people endured you can see right through the shallow minded drumps in this world.

[yallerdawg]

2. This is not for 'politicians' or 'that crackpot' to diagnose.

"We take care of our veterans" is all they ever need to say or know.

Veterans put their lives on the line for us - we owe them for a lifetime. Period.

[guillaumeb]

3. Recommended sheshe

As a union representative, I had occasion to help out a Vietnam vet who was being treated for PTSD around 2000. we had numerous conversations about his issues and I was fortunate to be able to help him with some of them. We became friends and got together occasionally to talk about things and play music together.

One time, after conversation about religion and life, he talked about his experiences as a door gunner in Vietnam and mentioned that he dreamed about shooting people nearly every night. Imagine reliving such a thing for 35 plus years and imagine if you can the mental stress that would cause.

Trump is a truly despicable man.

[sheshe2]

4. Thanks for having helped a vet, guillaumeb.

My dad and grandfather were in WWI and WW2. Never knew my grandfather, he died when I was a baby. You have to wonder...my dad had suicidal tendencies, he lived to a ripe old age...yet you have to wonder. He was a Captain of a mine sweeper that was slated to go to the Sea of Japan right before the war ended.

Yes, Trump is a truly despicable man.

Thanks~