PTSD

[Turbineguy]

I have a Veteran in my class (adult education) who is an avid teaparty member (showed up the first day with a "Don't tread on me" tee-shirt) and he told me yesterday he has PTSD. He's been very angry for 3-1/2 weeks. Loads of hate towards people "not like him" and the Government. On Tuesday he was so angry he couldn't see straight and was getting class material confused. I spoke to him yesterday morning. I told him that I was not a Doctor but I'd had some experience living and was concerned. He agreed he was angry, but he had taken his meds that morning. I told him I did not know how to fix his problem. He said, "nobody else does either!" He thanked me for a sympathetic ear. The day went pretty well, although he mentioned "thinning out the population" in passing. But that's pretty much in keeping with his general demeanor.

That's the short version. It's a bit more complicated.

It seems that the RW Hate machine prays on these people and stokes their anger. Of course if things go wrong they will deny the part they played.

Finals are on Friday. I think he'll pass the exam. I hope this ends well.

[Turbineguy]

1. Update

For the last three days of class this man has taken his meds and is a lot calmer. He passed his exams this morning without a problem. He apologized for giving me a hard time (for 3-1/2 weeks). Well, what can you say? I'm glad it ended well for all of us.

My Son was in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007. He did not go to Iraq or Afghanistan. I have to give somebody who went through this a free pass.

[monkeyofstick]

2. I feel for him

As a veteran myself,with a bit of PTSD,I sort of avoided lot's of the cr@p by moving to Canada a few
years back,and getting the free healthcare.
I am disabled,do to a stroke.
But I just about went liberal after my time in.

[Turbineguy]

3. Well, we all know the rules.

Only the perpetrators are not held to account for the suffering they caused.

[Victor_c3]

4. Anger and PTSD definitely coincide with eachother

I don't have serious anger issues, but I do understand what the guy is going through. I suffer from severe PTSD from my experiences in Iraq and it has been destroying my life in slow motion for more than 11 years. As you could imagine, it isn't at all pleasant. I've lost multiple jobs, it causes huge strains on my relationship with my family, and it's even lead me to attempt suicide. As I would imagine is the case with this guy, most days I hate waking up and the only thing I look forward to is going to sleep at the end of the day - and that sleep sucks because it is usually filled with nightmares and I constantly wake up every hour or so shaking and sweating.

Nobody wants to hang around a person who is like this, but understanding and a little bit of slack at times is the one thing the guy needs.