Comments on: Took a Day Off, But I’m Back and Pissed Off

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:05:29 +0000

Sickening – here from the Boston Globe is the VA’s reasoning which precluded Jeff Lucey from receiving its help:

Jeff was told, his family says, that the VA couldn’t treat the PTSD until he quit drinking, in contrast to what they have since learned from the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder website (www.ncptsd.org), which recommends treating PTSD and alcohol abuse simultaneously. VA officials won’t comment on Jeff’s case, but Dr. Gonzalo Vera, a psychiatrist at the Northampton hospital, says most medications used to treat PTSD don’t mix with alcohol. ”PTSD,” he says, ”is not something you can really treat with somebody who’s drinking, because it takes a lot of insight.”

He did exactly what persons in emotional distress are supposed to do – He reached out yet he was refused help. Sickening.

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/mental/articles/2005/03/01/jeff_lucey_returned_from_iraq_a_changed_man_then_he_killed_himself/?page=1

By: Tigerlily

Tigerlily — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 08:54:01 +0000

My cousin committed suicide after he returned from Iraq. I completely identify with you. The consensus in our family was that his wife was to blame. After all, she was “doped up on drugs” when the police arrived. His wife was also a soldier in Iraq.

I found out later that he received no treatment from VA, and that following his return, the military employed him to take part in military funerals.

For me, processing family members’ reactions was really hard. I was repeatedly told “there was nothing anyone could do. He could have phoned any family member, but he didn’t.”

I feel like we (our family & community) and the military let him down because of denial of PTSD. Denial & ignorance of mental illness is so prevalent — particularly concerning suicide. You say you’re reluctant to write about suicide, but this needs to be talked about more, not less.

I have Bipolar Disorder & a lot of people don’t grasp that. Fine. But when you go to war?!! It stands to reason that war will make you ill. Instead of saying “committed suicide” we should say “DIED OF MENTAL ILLNESS”.

I liked the sergeant in the clip who talked about the soldier fighting “another battle”, and “died by suicide”. Good for you Liz for raising awareness — it’s cuz of you, and lots of others in America who are demanding better treatment from VA that we’re seeing shifting attitudes

By: Liz

Liz — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:44:44 +0000

I wasn’t saying failing relationships aren’t part of the bigger picture, but perhaps I made it sound that way. What I’m trying to point out is that the Army would prefer to have the public believe it’s broken relationships rather than PTSD, but that’s too simplistic. Many people suffer changes in their relationships; it’s not plausible as the primary cause or trigger for suicide in a mass group of people who all share the same history: combat. Does that make any sense? I meant no disrespect nor do I mean to dismiss anyone’s pain.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:24:41 +0000

I can’t believe how naive/irresponsible you are in dismissing the impact of these soldiers’ relationships in order “expose” a “cover-up” that would have partisan implications. The real problem here is your refusal to criticize betrayal or bemoan disenchantment when these come packaged in a sexual wrapper. I am currently working with a man who came back from Afghanistan and has been suffering depression. His wife expects the same man who left to come home and step back into the exact same routines. Refusing to acknowledge the problems she or other spouses create (for whatever reasons–see Erin’s comments above) in order to blame “the war” is very poor.

By: dmac

dmac — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:01:52 +0000

I don’t know about other treatments for PTSD, but taking MDMA (ecstasy) before a session with a therapist has some pretty amazing anecdotal reports of how well it works. Before it was banned in the 80s, a number of therapists used it in their practices.

Studies on this are underway right now, but we shouldn’t wait if soldiers’ suicide rate is at its highest recorded level ever, especially since using MDMA in a controlled setting has relatively little risk. The small studies that have been carried out have showed amazing success with it; there’s more info here.

I realize the bigger problem is that people aren’t even getting therapy or any help, but I just wanted to add what I knew.

By: erin

erin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:37:57 +0000

i was dating a guy for a while that was in iraq and came back with ptsd. he also told me of a man he was deployed with that shot himself in the head after finding out his wife back home was cheating on him. these men (and women) are so messed up because of what bush has gotten us into & now it’s up to obama to make sure they receive proper care upon their return. let’s hope it’s sooner than later.