PTSD Whats The Deal?

[BlackHat]

A bit of background, I'm joining the national guard in Arizona in about 2 weeks and going through ROTC at with my college right now. When I get out i plan to get my MOS as either a forward artillery observer or infantry. Hopefully I will be recommended to jump school and maybe ranger school after witch point I plan to swap to active.

TLDR: Long story short If all goes according to plan I should find my self "in the shit" within 4 years.

Now I've dismissed PTSD as somehting that solders kinda use when they want out of a shit situation or when they realize that the army is not Modern Warfare.

But the more I look into it, the more it seems like people who haven't really been in the more intense fire fights also suffer from symptoms.

I've always regarded myself as someone able to "maintain their shit", I feel like if my buddy got fragged by an IED and was laying in bits on the pavement I would be able to efficiently and with out hesitation be able to run over grab the biggest chunk and drag him back to cover. But after all that im reading im kind of having doubts.

Question!
Is there anything someone can do or experience short of combat that will harden them or reduce the chances of experiencing PTSD symptoms?

[Tre!nt]

Originally Posted by BlackHat

A bit of background, I'm joining the national guard in Arizona in about 2 weeks and going through ROTC at with my college right now. When I get out i plan to get my MOS as either a forward artillery observer or infantry. Hopefully I will be recommended to jump school and maybe ranger school after witch point I plan to swap to active.

TLDR: Long story short If all goes according to plan I should find my self "in the shit" within 4 years.

Now I've dismissed PTSD as somehting that solders kinda use when they want out of a shit situation or when they realize that the army is not Modern Warfare.

But the more I look into it, the more it seems like people who haven't really been in the more intense fire fights also suffer from symptoms.

I've always regarded myself as someone able to "maintain their shit", I feel like if my buddy got fragged by an IED and was laying in bits on the pavement I would be able to efficiently and with out hesitation be able to run over grab the biggest chunk and drag him back to cover. But after all that im reading im kind of having doubts.

Question!
Is there anything someone can do or experience short of combat that will harden them or reduce the chances of experiencing PTSD symptoms?

You're over thinking it. Im going for Marine Infantry Officer and im not paying that kind of stuff any mind. If you really want to second guess your decision watch The Messenger drunk. That movie really gets in your head.
Otherwise just man up and do something crazy. Im going hangliding sunday to see if it one ups skydiving. Just live your life off the couch and put yourself in high tension situations (fun situations)

[THIS IS IMPORTANT GODDAMNIT]

You're wrapped too tight for war

[Vega]

I dunno man, I dunno.

[youtube]SS1dO0JC2EE[/youtube]

[BlackHat]

Originally Posted by Erich Von Mangstein

You're wrapped too tight for war

And you can say this because you've been in combat right?

Originally Posted by Hypno

You're over thinking it. Im going for Marine Infantry Officer and im not paying that kind of stuff any mind. If you really want to second guess your decision watch The Messenger drunk. That movie really gets in your head.
Otherwise just man up and do something crazy. Im going hangliding sunday to see if it one ups skydiving. Just live your life off the couch and put yourself in high tension situations (fun situations)

I'M a thinking kinda guy, and I'm just trying to run the numbers. I don't think it will be an issue, I don't really have and aversion to killing if its me or them, and I understand that the guys who get killed made a choice to die for what they believed in so I would imagine that that would be a thing I could deal with. I guess I'm wondering if there are also personality types that are less susceptible to that kind of thing.

[THIS IS IMPORTANT GODDAMNIT]

Originally Posted by BlackHat

And you can say this because you've been in combat right?

This is something that someone who is wrapped too tight would say

[BlackHat]

Originally Posted by Erich Von Mangstein

This is something that someone who is wrapped too tight would say

Figured you might say that

[Darkhunter]

PTSD sucks. Really REALLY sucks.

[BlackHat]

Originally Posted by Darkhunter

PTSD sucks. Really REALLY sucks.

Does someone you know have PTSD?

[Darkhunter]

Me. It really sucks mostly due to the panic attacks at any signs of stress.

[FJX]

Originally Posted by Darkhunter

Me. It really sucks mostly due to the panic attacks at any signs of stress.

This is how my buddy is. When he got back from his deployment he went back to school. Every time he would have something due, or an exam coming up, he would stress out. He would then get so wound up he wouldn't be able to study at all. He ended up having to drop out and is still coping with it.

[Tre!nt]

Originally Posted by BlackHat

And you can say this because you've been in combat right?



I'M a thinking kinda guy, and I'm just trying to run the numbers. I don't think it will be an issue, I don't really have and aversion to killing if its me or them, and I understand that the guys who get killed made a choice to die for what they believed in so I would imagine that that would be a thing I could deal with. I guess I'm wondering if there are also personality types that are less susceptible to that kind of thing.

listen i was in the same spot you were. I never questioned my abilities however but how to deal with the very real possibility of dying. (only happens when ive been drinking) If you think you're going to die you're probably going to die. Im going in there with the attitude that im the baddest mother fucker alive. (ive been training for years joining the best military in the world under the best infantry branch in our military. (im really not lying to myself) You can NOT second guess yourself. If you do you owe it to your fellow soldiers to stay off the front lines. SO MAN THE FUCK UP!! If i see on more self loathing post like this i will find your OSO and tell him to drop you.

[takedrugs_killpeople]

Originally Posted by Hypno

listen i was in the same spot you were. I never questioned my abilities however but how to deal with the very real possibility of dying. (only happens when ive been drinking) If you think you're going to die you're probably going to die. Im going in there with the attitude that im the baddest mother fucker alive. (ive been training for years joining the best military in the world under the best infantry branch in our military. (im really not lying to myself) You can NOT second guess yourself. If you do you owe it to your fellow soldiers to stay off the front lines. SO MAN THE FUCK UP!! If i see on more self loathing post like this i will find your OSO and tell him to drop you.

Lol really? I don't think your recruiter will do that for you.

[Darkhunter]

Originally Posted by FJX

This is how my buddy is. When he got back from his deployment he went back to school. Every time he would have something due, or an exam coming up, he would stress out. He would then get so wound up he wouldn't be able to study at all. He ended up having to drop out and is still coping with it.

Stress is something I can barely deal with. Classes suck and concentrating is damn near impossible.

[Struwwelpeter]

Originally Posted by BlackHat

A bit of background, I'm joining the national guard in Arizona in about 2 weeks and going through ROTC at with my college right now. When I get out i plan to get my MOS as either a forward artillery observer or infantry. Hopefully I will be recommended to jump school and maybe ranger school after witch point I plan to swap to active.

TLDR: Long story short If all goes according to plan I should find my self "in the shit" within 4 years.

Now I've dismissed PTSD as somehting that solders kinda use when they want out of a shit situation or when they realize that the army is not Modern Warfare.

But the more I look into it, the more it seems like people who haven't really been in the more intense fire fights also suffer from symptoms.

I've always regarded myself as someone able to "maintain their shit", I feel like if my buddy got fragged by an IED and was laying in bits on the pavement I would be able to efficiently and with out hesitation be able to run over grab the biggest chunk and drag him back to cover. But after all that im reading im kind of having doubts.

Tryna get meds huh?

[Doc Norad]

Originally Posted by BlackHat

Question!
Is there anything someone can do or experience short of combat that will harden them or reduce the chances of experiencing PTSD symptoms?

The modern military is becoming more and more knowledgable on the subject of PTSD prevention and treatment. Not everybody experiences it, and there isn't a reliable way to discover who is more susceptible to it.

While PTSD cannot be prevented entirely, the possiblity of it occurring can be minimized through proper training and techniques such as stress inoculation. The basic principle of stress inoculation is to make the training environment as realistic as possible; realistic enough to induce the kind of stress that will be experienced in a combat situation. In this way, the shock of combat won't be completely chaotic and debilitating.

If you want to learn more in-depth information about PTSD, I highly suggest picking up the book, On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace, by Dave Grossman and Loren Christensen. It's by far one of the best books on the subject.

[iMagiNation]

You're killing fellow humans for no fucking good reason whatsoever, if you don't come back with some sort of crippling mental disease then you were a psychopath to begin with, fuck.

[Freelance Tax Collector]

Originally Posted by Doc Norad

The modern military is becoming more and more knowledgable on the subject of PTSD prevention and treatment. Not everybody experiences it, and there isn't a reliable way to discover who is more susceptible to it.

I'm not saying I disagree with your point about it being better understood, but c'mon. Powerpoint presentations by the battalion chaplain do not constitute effective prevention/treatment, which for our battalion, was about all we had. Try to talk to MO about depression/anxiety/insomnia, and they'll hand you a pamphlet with a checklist saying "don't drink caffeine 4 hours before bed" or whatever.

Originally Posted by Doc Norad

While PTSD cannot be prevented entirely, the possiblity of it occurring can be minimized through proper training and techniques such as stress inoculation. The basic principle of stress inoculation is to make the training environment as realistic as possible; realistic enough to induce the kind of stress that will be experienced in a combat situation. In this way, the shock of combat won't be completely chaotic and debilitating.

This is the reason that when rounds started coming from downrange, all the bootfuck LTs were shouting "index"

[Doc Norad]

Originally Posted by Freelance Tax Collector

I'm not saying I disagree with your point about it being better understood, but c'mon. Powerpoint presentations by the battalion chaplain do not constitute effective prevention/treatment, which for our battalion, was about all we had. Try to talk to MO about depression/anxiety/insomnia, and they'll hand you a pamphlet with a checklist saying "don't drink caffeine 4 hours before bed" or whatever.

This is the reason that when rounds started coming from downrange, all the bootfuck LTs were shouting "index"

What branch and what MOS/Rating/AFSC?

[Dr. Awkward]

A guy my brother went to school with came back from his deployment, tried to get help for PTSD, no one believed/would help him. Two weeks of nightmares and shit later and he's hanging from a garden hose.

PTSD isn't something you get because you're a pussy, it's not something you just "man the fuck up" and get over.

[takedrugs_killpeople]

yea hypnos just a moto fag depper who thinks hes tough shit just wait til you get put in your place

[Tre!nt]

i PERSONALLY dont dwell on things you have no control over. i like how he has no fear of dieing but just being traumatized. He's the one thats going to realize ptsd is a much better alternative. PTSD just seems like the last thing one should be worrying about.

[Freelance Tax Collector]

Originally Posted by Doc Norad

What branch and what MOS/Rating/AFSC?

USMC/0311/WTF is an AFSC