It's hard to maintain objectivity when I am writing about this. I hope the message that I am conveying is one of hope. I look for reasons to stay positive every day. Most days I can and some days I can't. I promise I will be honest about how I am feeling, even on the bad days. I may be successfully coping today, but painting a permanently rosy picture isn't in my agenda. My goal is for people to see and understand the effects that PTSD can have on a person.
Kathy Baker
2/22/2011 03:11:00 am
I just discovered your website, and I can't tell you how helpful it has been to read your posts of everyday life with PTSD. My son is a Staff Sergeant in the Infantry, been deployed quite a few times including tours in Iraq & most recently Afghanistan. He was medi-vacced (?) out of Afghanistan in early August because of PTSD, relieved of his command as a aquad leader, and is currently being processed for a military retirement. He has felt nothing but ashamed, weak & like he let everyone under his command down, as well as his fellow squad leaders. He suffered from PTSD after coming back from a really tough 15 months Iraq in 2005, and was told not to let anyone know about it, because it would ruin his career. Your posts give me a little insight into what he must be going through. Since he's been back state-side his engagement has fallen apart, and he is 800 miles away from any family support system. I worry about him everyday, he has no one around him down there, is humiliated everyday that he has to go on base for formation or appointments, the rest of the day, he does nothing, sees no one. He has recently been going to the gym to work out, but that's it.
Max Harris
2/22/2011 05:54:30 am
Kathy, I am glad that my posts are helping you. I know it can't be easy being a mother and feeling helpless. My mother went through it when I returned home. Please tell your son from me that he is NOT alone and when he is ready, this online community will be here to support him and accept him with open arms. Comments are closed.
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Max HarrisAs I continue my life with PTSD, I will share my challenges and discoveries on this blog. Archives
October 2018
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