Vietnam Vet gets help - two years ago
If you think PTSD heals over time, think again. Chuck Keller tells his story, so Iraqi Vets don’t make his mistake:
I finally sought treatment at a veterans center a couple of years ago. It’s still difficult to admit the problem. I’ve always known deep inside that I had issues with what I saw and did in Vietnam. I have learned through my conversations with other vets that Corpsmen and Medics tend to have “special” conflicts and damage because of the unique perspective of a “non-combatant.”
We are, as a rule, “healers.” The violence and bloodiness of combat goes against the very nature of people who want to stop just those two things. So, there is the trauma of combat multiplied by the stress of trying to overcome its consequences multiplied by the psychological pressure of wondering if you did enough or if you could have done more or if your training was sufficient for the job you were trying to accomplish.
Trauma is a strange thing. You can be brave, yet have no control over how your subconscious decides to react to trauma. I remember watching a show where one soldier started having flashbacks after seeing some body bags when he walked off the plane and stepped into Kuwait for the first time. Others can go through the worst events imaginable and be relatively functional, and it doesn’t seem to have much parallel to courage or bravery. It’s just an automatic response with different triggers for everyone.
My advice to returning vets: Seek help. Take advantage of the VA’s treatment centers. Don’t be afraid to admit you’re suffering. Don’t do what I did and let your best years fester away when they could have been so productive.
It’s good advice.
