since I deployed to Iraq.
Life has been a little overwhelming lately, and if I’m being honest with myself, I’m not handling it all that well. Today I went to my local vet center and talked someone.
It’s never too late to get some help, and again if I’m being honest with myself, it’s something I should have done a long time ago.
So if I’m reading you right, it was beneficial. That’s good, man!
Reaching out is always a good idea. Especially when it’s with someone that can relate and understand.
I am also glad you took the opportunity to do so. I appreciate your technical knowledge and contributions here.
Glad you reached out! I’m part of the Peer Support team for critical incidents with the Sheriff Office, and definitely seen the benefits of talking through incidents, vs keeping things bottled up inside. Glad it was beneficial for you, and i’m sure there are plenty of good people on this site willing to chat as well, if you ever need to talk.
Good for you. Too many people try and soldier through all their problems because that is what they were taught. At some point you depend on your team and the criteria for the kind of support and team you need changes over time.
Good stuff Todd!! You are loved brother…thanks for sharing & hope you connect well with your vet center contact.
I cannot relate, but certain others here can. Please reach out if not finding that peace.
Thank you for your service.
It will pass, everyone has their ups and downs in life, some worse than others, but the cycle WILL swing back for you, it always does.
…Good to get help when you need it. Hopefully it was beneficial.
Same here for me date wise.
OIF II Veteran.
I miss my fellow Marines, not in contact with any of them.
Agreed. I miss some of the monkeys, but I don’t miss the circus at all.
I applaud your choice. I understand the feeling, although I’m only a decade removed from my time overseas.
Exactly.
Definitely miss the monkeys, also miss a lot of the circus. There are some things I don’t miss, but not much. I stay in touch with some teammates.
OP, good for you for seeking help. It’s definitely life-altering. Hard to believe we’re a full generation out from that.
I recently had a buddy call me. I hadn’t talked to him since shorty after we both got out in 05. We were barracks roommates for a good year and a half, shared a Hummve after I drove over my Corporal and lost my driving privileges in Iraq and were good friends. It was cool hearing from him and we picked up where we left off almost 20’years ago like it was nothing. It’s never too late to make that call, I’m glad he called me.
I don’t even have contact information.
Todd,
My issues have issues, so you most certainly are not alone.
That first step is the hardest. For us older generation of vets (still weird to say that) it’s even harder because we were trsined that mental health issues were for the weak.
I’m currently fighting against that with my new partner at work. He got out almost 20 years ago and had never gone to the VA or sought any help. He definitely had done PTSD going on. But he still has that old mindset drilled into his head.
It gets easier from here dude. Keep the course.
I thought I had toughed my way through it years ago, but some recent stress sure did bring back a lot of unpleasantness. There is a very dark place at the bottom of this hole I’m standing next to.
I’m not in it yet, and I want to avoid some of the negative things I did before. Maybe a little more positive growth and less anger and alcohol would be good.
I pulled in and every vehicle in the parking lot was backed in. I knew I was in the right place. It was really good talking with someone who understands and cares.
I hope this encourages someone that needs help to go find it, and thanks all for the kind words.
Everytime you think you have it whipped something will again make it’s ugly head pop up again.
The catch 22 is that you can’t get any meds because you drink and you drink because you can’t get any meds.
I would like to say I’ve figured it out, but I haven’t. Sitting here now totally sober for close to six months, I’m doing pretty good, but I did it myself and alone.
I can see everything I destroyed along the way and I feel very bad about that because I hurt s lot of people who really didn’t deserve it. All you can do is apologize to the people who deserve it and move forward living a better life.
I have a couple of regrets and one of them was not reconnecting with old friends before they began passing.
I had to retire, leave the Country, get clean and sober and start a new relationship to get where I’m at now.
I hope you can make it buddy.
Every once in a while " The Man in Black" still visits and scare the shit out of me, but it’s less frequent now…
Luckily I’ve had a very healthy relationship with alcohol for a long time now. I don’t drink often and it’s very rare I have more than one.
Eating was my coping strategy much more than alcohol. I just in the last year or so started taking care of myself, working out, loosing weight, feeling better about myself.
Trying to stay positive and healthy coping going forward.
It’s funny I commented to my wife yesterday as we were driving that I saw a Purple Heart Vet license plate on a truck and instantly thought it was a Vietnam veteran, only to realize when we both stopped at the gas station that the guy was at least my age. I’ve got a good group of friends to rely on, but I do think talking to fellow veterans helps for sure. If anyone needs to reminisce about the old times, PM me, I’ll sip on some bourbon long distance with you