the 48th regulator said:
But, please note, PTSD manifests itself much after the fact. This is caused by lack of follow up, and bad or no treatment, months and even years down the line. We also have to find a way to implent follow up talks, visits and interviews to ensure all is well. This is what will help PTSD minimize, if not appear in the troop at all. This is where we have to concentrate on. ell after the fact when the tour, and the soldier is but a memory.
Out of all the comments, Tess has it best. While some cases are identified immediately, I have read that most cases dont occur until years later.
I went through the assessments after each tour same as everyone else. Zip, nadda to report, you're good to go, soldier on.
Years later, Ive retired and moved on. Yet I still find myself suffering on occasion from insomia over past events, nights when I relive past events and endure a smouldering rage over how events occurred, rage that lasts for days and days until I finally do something to get over it like shovelling a ton of dirt or building something. All my agression goes through my arm to a hammer to a nail into wood. At the end Im exhausted but the rage is gone. Until the next time.
Fortunately I have never been physically angry or abusive with my family, but both my wife and son know that there are times when they just shouldnt say anything to me while Im in one of my 'moods'. On the last occasion, I smouldered for days like a volcano about to burst. My son said to my wife (she told me this later) 'why doesnt he just get mad and shout and get over it?'. They see the signs and know that Im looking for an argument, a way to release my anger.
Treatment? With who? First I would have to acknowledge that I have PTSD, which I dont think I do, but have many symptoms of. I must be old school, its a 'weakness' I dont want to confront. Second, who would I talk to? Some smiling face at a local base? Another person who has no idea of the work I did or what I went through? Third, and tell them what? Like many others here, there are some jobs and deployments we cant talk about unless that smiling face has the clearance or the background to understand the work we did.
I found my own solution. Here, at Army.ca. where soldiers with similiar service, background, and experience understand what Im saying.
In the end, the soldier is a memory, but the memory hasnt gone away.
