Comments on: Coping With The Stigma http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=coping-with-the-stigma The Web’s Leading Military Blog Since 2004 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:29:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joanne Military Girlfriend http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-56207 Joanne Military Girlfriend Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:18:32 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-56207 Wow~ I am a student at a local college and doing research on Military PTSD because when my boyfriend comes home from deployment I want to be able to be as supportive and understand as much as possible. Your story is amazing and puts a lot of things into perspective very clearly. I want to thank you for your service and I also want to thank you for this article~ it's amazing. I try and understand as much as possible, but all I can do is listen and be there for him as a loving ear. Please if you have anymore resources for me, please let me know either for him and I or even for my understanding in regards in my research paper. My paper is also being used to help him as well. He does know I am doing this and is very impressed that I am trying to understand as much as I can to better assist him into transition. Thank you again for this and an even BIGGER THANK YOU for your service Wow~ I am a student at a local college and doing research on Military PTSD because when my boyfriend comes home from deployment I want to be able to be as supportive and understand as much as possible. Your story is amazing and puts a lot of things into perspective very clearly. I want to thank you for your service and I also want to thank you for this article~ it’s amazing. I try and understand as much as possible, but all I can do is listen and be there for him as a loving ear. Please if you have anymore resources for me, please let me know either for him and I or even for my understanding in regards in my research paper. My paper is also being used to help him as well. He does know I am doing this and is very impressed that I am trying to understand as much as I can to better assist him into transition. Thank you again for this and an even BIGGER THANK YOU for your service

]]> By: Grumpy http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54072 Grumpy Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:19:39 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54072 There is nothing I say, to support the rebellion of the Principal of the school. Rebellion is like a viral spirit that infects everyone who comes in contact with it. Teach first, by example and then and *only* then, by precept. Those in authority have no right to expect submission from those under them, while the authority is acting in a spirit of rebellion. Please *do not answer to me, this is only between you and both of your counsels*. How many of the families going to that school, who knew of the uniforms *and* were from Redstone Arsenal? GodSpeed, Grumpy There is nothing I say, to support the rebellion of the Principal of the school. Rebellion is like a viral spirit that infects everyone who comes in contact with it. Teach first, by example and then and *only* then, by precept.

Those in authority have no right to expect submission from those under them, while the authority is acting in a spirit of rebellion.

Please *do not answer to me, this is only between you and both of your counsels*. How many of the families going to that school, who knew of the uniforms *and* were from Redstone Arsenal?

GodSpeed,
Grumpy

]]> By: Laura, A Military Mom http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54059 Laura, A Military Mom Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:09:13 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54059 Another excellent article...sure do wish that when #1 Son was active he would have had an NCO like you unfortunately he didn't so as soon as his active time was up there was no way he'd stay in. Will continue to pray for you and yours as you continue on in this "battle". Another excellent article…sure do wish that when #1 Son was active he would have had an NCO like you unfortunately he didn’t so as soon as his active time was up there was no way he’d stay in. Will continue to pray for you and yours as you continue on in this “battle”.

]]> By: Glenn http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54054 Glenn Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:58:02 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54054 I’ve been following the story since it hit the papers, but I just saw the videos on Vimeo today - it was utterly disgusting. The actions and attitude of the PTA officials and school officials were reprehensible. I’m frankly amazed, just amazed, at the ignorance and unprofessionalism of the PTA officers. I’ve been following the story since it hit the papers, but I just saw the videos on Vimeo today – it was utterly disgusting. The actions and attitude of the PTA officials and school officials were reprehensible. I’m frankly amazed, just amazed, at the ignorance and unprofessionalism of the PTA officers.

]]> By: Tracy S http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54021 Tracy S Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:34:06 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54021 Quoting you CJ, "I'm a very blunt and impassioned person who has strong beliefs. When you challenge those beliefs, I CAN get loud and some can get intimidated by that bluntness." So, the way you stood up for yourself, your frustration, and bluntness are just who you are not a part of your PTSD, they need to understand that, but don't. Seriously CJ, I understand how you feel about the stigma. I deal with stigma too, not because I have PTSD (I don't), but I do have another anxiety disorder: OCD. Everyone that hears that thinks of the TV show Monk. I'm not like Monk. I can laugh at some of his behaviors because yes, unfortunately, they are somewhat familiar. However, OCD has different "levels" of functionality and I'm much more functional than Monk. I rarely tell people what I have because they remember either Monk or some 20/20 special they saw about some guy who had been living in the bathroom for the past 2 years and won't come out. Yes, there are people with OCD that do that, but a SMALL percentage. I usually will just say I have an "anxiety disorder" because it's so much more tame sounding. So, yeah, I understand the stigma and the reluctance to get help. *sigh* Quoting you CJ, “I’m a very blunt and impassioned person who has strong beliefs. When you challenge those beliefs, I CAN get loud and some can get intimidated by that bluntness.”

So, the way you stood up for yourself, your frustration, and bluntness are just who you are not a part of your PTSD, they need to understand that, but don’t.

Seriously CJ, I understand how you feel about the stigma. I deal with stigma too, not because I have PTSD (I don’t), but I do have another anxiety disorder: OCD. Everyone that hears that thinks of the TV show Monk. I’m not like Monk. I can laugh at some of his behaviors because yes, unfortunately, they are somewhat familiar. However, OCD has different “levels” of functionality and I’m much more functional than Monk. I rarely tell people what I have because they remember either Monk or some 20/20 special they saw about some guy who had been living in the bathroom for the past 2 years and won’t come out. Yes, there are people with OCD that do that, but a SMALL percentage. I usually will just say I have an “anxiety disorder” because it’s so much more tame sounding.

So, yeah, I understand the stigma and the reluctance to get help. *sigh*

]]> By: Army Sergeant http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54017 Army Sergeant Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:15:35 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54017 Another thing with the civilian world and PTSD...my lawyer friend tells me that often it is used against soldiers in custody battles and things like that. "He has PTSD from combat, of course he shouldn't be allowed custody of his children.." Another thing with the civilian world and PTSD…my lawyer friend tells me that often it is used against soldiers in custody battles and things like that. “He has PTSD from combat, of course he shouldn’t be allowed custody of his children..”

]]> By: Cricket http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54011 Cricket Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:06:19 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54011 Outstanding writing and excellent insights. Outstanding writing and excellent insights.

]]> By: Karen Teeter http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54010 Karen Teeter Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:26:45 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54010 CJ, thank you for shining the light of clarity on PTSD. We all have some form of it. We are a sum-total of our life experiences. Stress is hypnotic and we all face it, a sudden shock or emotional trauma, as you stated so many things imprint upon us and stay with us inside. I have found that our minds torment us all. It is in our incessant thinking that we relive our past. I even found ancient writings that spoke of "the wheel of the mind" and that resonated with me. I am 52 and in the 70s I weighed 300lbs! I was eating but really something was eating at me. I lost all of that weight and for all of these years & through two pregnancies I only put 20lbs of that back on. We all have "our demons" to face. I found a way to stand back from my incessant thoughts instead of being captivated by them, and I heard it said once that I was "sinking in my thinking and drowning in my dreams." That, too hit me as exactly true. If you will allow me to mention the 501c once again that I donate to monthly, it is that Col. Antonio Monaco found the "silver bullet" that truly exists and it worked for me. I was using the Civilian Form of what he has rediscovered and packaged for the military and Veterans. This free gift is given from www.patriotoutreach.org and IT WORKS!! Troops have reported literal healing from PTSD using the "Coping Strategies" offered there. I hope and pray others will hear about this from here and use it, as we ALL need something like this in some form or another. My Hubby is a Vietnam Veteran, and he has his copy of the Strategies, as do both of our son-in-laws, one a Marine and the other a soldier that's been to Iraq twice and probably going to Afghanistan by June. God bless you, CJ and I hope you do run for public office in the future. Thank you for being so open and sharing here. Lastly, thank you for allowing me to, also. CJ, thank you for shining the light of clarity on PTSD. We all have some form of it. We are a sum-total of our life experiences. Stress is hypnotic and we all face it, a sudden shock or emotional trauma, as you stated so many things imprint upon us and stay with us inside.

I have found that our minds torment us all. It is in our incessant thinking that we relive our past. I even found ancient writings that spoke of “the wheel of the mind” and that resonated with me.

I am 52 and in the 70s I weighed 300lbs! I was eating but really something was eating at me. I lost all of that weight and for all of these years & through two pregnancies I only put 20lbs of that back on.

We all have “our demons” to face. I found a way to stand back from my incessant thoughts instead of being captivated by them, and I heard it said once that I was “sinking in my thinking and drowning in my dreams.” That, too hit me as exactly true.

If you will allow me to mention the 501c once again that I donate to monthly, it is that Col. Antonio Monaco found the “silver bullet” that truly exists and it worked for me. I was using the Civilian Form of what he has rediscovered and packaged for the military and Veterans.

This free gift is given from http://www.patriotoutreach.org and

IT WORKS!! Troops have reported literal healing from PTSD using the “Coping Strategies” offered there. I hope and pray others will hear about this from here and use it, as we ALL need something like this in some form or another.

My Hubby is a Vietnam Veteran, and he has his copy of the Strategies, as do both of our son-in-laws, one a Marine and the other a soldier that’s been to Iraq twice and probably going to Afghanistan by June.

God bless you, CJ and I hope you do run for public office in the future. Thank you for being so open and sharing here. Lastly, thank you for allowing me to, also.

]]> By: Jessie http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54005 Jessie Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:04:55 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54005 Thank you for highlighting my EXACT struggles. I wish there was a way to make the public understand that their fears are only fears. I hate being treated like there is something horribly wrong with me because they just don't understand. Keep up what you're doing. My prayers are with you. Merry Christmas!! Thank you for highlighting my EXACT struggles. I wish there was a way to make the public understand that their fears are only fears. I hate being treated like there is something horribly wrong with me because they just don’t understand.

Keep up what you’re doing. My prayers are with you.

Merry Christmas!!

]]> By: Carol Steward http://militarygear.com/asp/2009/12/25/coping-with-the-stigma/#comment-54002 Carol Steward Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:38:22 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6400#comment-54002 Least I forget..my Grandson too. And I think the younger you are like Jon; the harder it is on them. At least my hubby was a little older in VN. Least I forget..my Grandson too. And I think the younger you are like Jon; the harder it is on them. At least my hubby was a little older in VN.

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