Help for good Marine

[KELLY ANN]

First let me say I'm sorry if I'm posting this in a wrong place wasn't sure where to put it. And I don't know exactly what if anything I can gain by posting this. I guess I'm really looking for just support. I have been to the VA in Atlanta in the past and participate in the family support groups, but that has not really helped me. Let me first tell you a little about myself. I'm in my late 20s. I have a Five-year-old little boy. I'm divorced, and the reason I'm posting here is about my older brother. We were not that close until about three years ago. He went into the Marine Corps, about the time I was born. I'm the youngest of four children, he is the oldest. He was wounded in 2003. It took 18 months for him to really get on his feet, He has a steel plate in his head. A steel plate in his shoulder blade, he has two steel plates in his left arm and a plate over his left knee in the last half of 2003. He was given what I think you call, medical retirement. From what I understand I have all his paperwork. He was an E 9 a master gunnery Sergeant. He was living in California, when he was in the United States He was in something called force recon he wears T-shirts with that on it all the time. He lives with me and my little boy. He is withdrawn from society, he doesn't socialize at all. He is a member of this forum, but he does not post here. He does look at it off and on all day, he never speaks of the Marine Corps, or what has happened to him. He has the patience of a saint. He is a godsend when it comes to my little boy and has never been violent are outspoken with anyone. He runs about 5 miles a day. He has a bench that he works out on every day. He's up every morning at 5 a.m. and runs in the woods around the house we live out in the country sometimes on the weekend I have tried to run with him. And I am in good shape. He carries my little boy on his back. And I can't keep up with him. I can't believe that the Marine Corps says he is disabled now about never been violent with anyone. This is the reason I'm posting about three days ago, me and my ex-husband, and I'm going to add this so you understand something about him. He is stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, and is in the 75th Rangers division. He is in good shape. We were having words on the porch the that night about my little boy, and it was getting a little heated at that point. Tony came out the door, grabbed Chuck somehow and put him on his back. Had his foot over Chuck's throat, and he was screaming at him. Do not disrespect or FING raise your voice, at her. Do you understand me. Chuck couldn't do anything he could even speak he was turning blue. I finally got Tony to let Chuck up to he turn around and went back in the House and set down and start watching the damn news. Like nothing had happened, and Chuck is telling me over the phone that Tony is suffering from post traumatic stress, and he needs to go to the VA and stay before he snaps on all of us. You guys being Marines and understanding how Marines minds work. Can you please give me some advice. We were at the grocery store, earlier today. He went with me and my little boy. He was wearing one of those force recon T-shirts a red one. And this guy ask him if he was a Marine. He said NO. It just floored me. Why would he say that any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Kelly Ann

[Phantom Blooper]

See if he will go to the Veterans Outreach Center in Atlanta 1440 Dutch Valley Place,Suite G (404) 347-7264.

There will be people (Combat Veterans) there that can help him and also help him too understand he is not alone.

For you and the family :

What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety problem. It can happen after your life is threatened or you see a traumatic event. Usually, the event makes you feel very afraid or helpless. Some examples of the events are war, rape, or a severe car crash.
American Family Physician Website

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.

http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/general/fs_what_is_ptsd.html (http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/general/fs_what_is_ptsd.html)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a complex health condition that can develop in response to a traumatic experience – a life-threatening or extremely distressing situation that causes a person to feel intense fear, horror or a sense of helplessness. PTSD can cause severe problems at home or at work. Anyone can develop PTSD – men, women, children, young and old alike.

http://www.ptsdalliance.org/home2.html (http://www.ptsdalliance.org/home2.html)

Post traumatic Stress reactions start with a traumatic stressor "outside the range of usual human experience and that would be markedly distressing to anyone," according to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic And Statistical Manual, III-R.

http://www.patiencepress.com/samples/ptg1.pdf (http://www.patiencepress.com/samples/ptg1.pdf)

Anyone can get PTSD, especially combat veterans. While someone may get PTSD from being in a life threatening event, such as a bad car wreck, for a combat veteran, it can be like having a bad car wreck almost everyday. If you still have doubts or don't understand PTSD, type PTSD into a search engine such as Google. You will most likely find almost a million results to links with information about PTSD.

Good luck!

[KELLY ANN]

I ask him about that today, he said as long as a ranger doesn't get in his face. He doesn't have a problem and it took too long to drive Atlanta

[Phantom Blooper]

If Savannah is closer:8110A White Bluff Road (912)-652-4097

I know from experience here in NC that if a veteran is unable to go because of driving or financial restriction these vets here will bend over backwards to meet one-on-one in a mutual area..it's worth a shot..worth a call.

:evilgrin:

[Phantom Blooper]

Also speaking from experience..he has got to want help.

You can beg and plead but the ultimate decision is his. He sounds like a classic case and some people say that stuff doesn't effect me ..and that may be true. However from what you stated his behavior is a sign that he needs help. Hopefully it won't come to this but having PTSD is not an excuse to act crazy or break the law.:evilgrin:

[KELLY ANN]

To be honest, he actually is in good shape. He didn't seem to spend a whole lot of money while he was in the Marine Corps and to put it the way he does. He once tutored a young officer, who left the Marine Corps to work on Wall Street, who gave him some good stock tips. He receives dividend checks quarterly so money is not a problem

[Phantom Blooper]

Well then I would say it is up to him to put some money in his tank some tunes on the radio and go for it to Atlanta or Savannah.. what has he got to lose?:evilgrin:

[KELLY ANN]

Last night was the first time that we really sit down and talk about it. He said he survived, El Salvador strolled through Panama walk-through Desert Storm and crawled home from enduring freedom. He just has somethings to work out on his own just give him some time

[Phantom Blooper]

More helpful links: PTSD is not understandable...however there are strategies to cope with it and attack it just like when one was in a war environment.



http://www.ptsdmanual.com/ (http://www.ptsdmanual.com/)

http://www.personalhealthzone.com/p...s_disorder.html (http://www.personalhealthzone.com/post_traumatic_stress_disorder.html)

http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/ptsd.asp (http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/ptsd.asp)

http://www.patiencepress.com/store-ptgbi01.html (http://www.patiencepress.com/store-ptgbi01.html)

http://members.tripod.com/~ptsdfamily/medical.htm (http://members.tripod.com/~ptsdfamily/medical.htm)

http://www.dva.wa.gov/Benefits/PTSD.htm (http://www.dva.wa.gov/Benefits/PTSD.htm)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...0173589-1123849 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0876301642/thehealingcenter/103-0173589-1123849)

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communi...ombat-ptsd.html (http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Abuse/healing/combat-ptsd.html)

http://www.psychsite.org/PTSD.htm (http://www.psychsite.org/PTSD.htm)

http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib6c.htm (http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib6c.htm)

http://dmoz.org/Society/Military/Veterans/Issues/ (http://dmoz.org/Society/Military/Veterans/Issues/)

http://www.depression-stress-relief...am-veteran.html (http://www.depression-stress-relief.com/stress/8/ptsd-the-viet-nam-veteran.html)

http://www.mywebsearch.com/jsp/GGma...pingwithptsdtoo (http://www.mywebsearch.com/jsp/GGmain.jsp?PG=SEAS&SEC=ABONE&ptnrS=ZNxdm414&st=kwd&searchfor=aftermathofwarcopingwithptsdtoo)

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/mental_health/ptsd.htm (http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/mental_health/ptsd.htm)

http://www.ncptsd.org/ (http://www.ncptsd.org/)

http://www.self-injury-abuse-trauma.../PTSD-Links.htm (http://www.self-injury-abuse-trauma-directory.info/Completed Files/PTSD-Links.htm)

http://servercc.oakton.edu/~wittman/ptsd.htm (http://servercc.oakton.edu/~wittman/ptsd.htm)

http://members.rott.chello.nl/emweringh/online_5.html (http://members.rott.chello.nl/emweringh/online_5.html)

http://www.forgottensoldier.com/vetsitelinks.html (http://www.forgottensoldier.com/vetsitelinks.html)


http://human-nature.com/odmh/ptsd.html (http://human-nature.com/odmh/ptsd.html)

Canadian Traumatic Stress Network, www.ctsn-rcst.ca (http://www.ctsn-rcst.ca/)
National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)
Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada
http://www.anxietycanada.ca/English.htm (http://www.anxietycanada.ca/English.htm)
Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia http://www.anxietybc.com/ (http://www.anxietybc.com/)
Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, www.aabt.org (http://www.aabt.org/)
Society of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/divisions/div12. (http://www.apa.org/divisions/div12.)
http://www.bein.com/trauma/traumalinks.html (http://www.bein.com/trauma/traumalinks.html)


http://vets.appliedphysics.swri.edu/patience/index.htm (http://vets.appliedphysics.swri.edu/patience/index.htm)

http://www.vietvet.org/vetorgs.htm (http://www.vietvet.org/vetorgs.htm)