PTSD Marine said 'It can be helped' and it can

'It can be helped'

By JARED MILLER
Star-Tribune capital bureau Sunday, July 13, 2008



[oas:casperstartribune.net/news/wyoming:Middle1]
CHEYENNE -- While many Americans felt helpless as they watched terrorists attack New York City and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, Cody Feeback felt something else: a call to service.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps the next day, at age 18.

"Sept. 11 happened, and it just made up my mind,” said Feeback, who grew up in Sheridan. “I figured it was my turn to do something.”

By January he was in boot camp, and within months he was in Iraq, one of the first Marines into Baghdad during the initial invasion.

Feeback later volunteered for a second tour, and spent a total of 14 months in the Iraqi desert.

"I just felt like I could contribute more and that I should because I was able," he said, referring to the decision to voluntarily return to war.

Soon after he returned from Iraq and left the military, Feeback began to experience nightmares, flashbacks and insomnia -- clues that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He also became enraged over seemingly small irritations, as well as depressed and isolated.

He no longer enjoyed his favorite activities, and he felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere -- more symptoms that pointed to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, an anxiety disorder affecting thousands of Iraq War veterans

"Once you get home, it’s a little harder to go from that to being a civilian again because you feel like you are alone," Feeback said.

Anger problems helped end his first serious romantic relationship after the war. He became enraged when his girlfriend was a few minutes late to a date, and the relationship crumbled.

"I get real mad at stupid stuff," Feeback said.

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Jackson Hole Star-Tribune - Casper,WY has a great series today on PTSD. Bravo to them!