Reply #149: I fully agree with you ... they will need quality counseling in [View All]

[ShortnFiery]

many areas to include PTSD for some.

Part of the reason, I fear that I come across as brusque to many is that I started off counseling for the government. I was assigned an Infantry Battalion of troops overseas. Many of these young troops were just "abusing alcohol" because they were away from home the first time. If I came across as understated and sweet, I would have gotten nowhere with helping these guys come to the self-realization that they "had a problem" and in the least, needed to lighten up on the partying. :-)

But many soldiers who have seen the horror of war will try to self-medicate with alcohol just like many of our Vietnam Veterans did. One of my colleagues used to refer to this as "suicide on the installment plan."

We can only hope that we can get good people like "Al Gore" elected as President. Both Al and his wife, Tipper, have great empathy for a wide range of mental health services that, when properly administered, will assist our troops to at least a "tolerable" adjustment back to civilian life.

edited for clarity