Vietnam Veterans Need You Clued In on PTSD

What Do Vietnam Veterans Need You to Learn?
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
November 20, 2017

When the Greeks announced the earth was actually round, instead of flat, it shocked a lot of people. 

Some people still don't believe it. After all, all the pictures they see of maps are flat like this one.

NASA

Considering all those ancient people believed they'd fall off the earth if they went too far, it was not a pretty conversation to have with those who made them believe something that wasn't true at all.

For some reason, the same type of thing is happening with our veterans. Someone thought that the only veterans committing suicide are "post 9 11" veterans. Heck, they even thought there were 22 of them a day deciding surviving home was harder than combat. Guess they never bothered to see what other people actually knew. They were just too busy assuming something, then thought they were the one to do something about this new affliction. After all, it was all new to them.

Don't worry, this isn't another rant against the "awareness" raisers. I think I have it out of my system...for a while anyway. Besides, I can't write anything new that won't get me in more trouble. 

It needs to be said, that the majority of the veterans committing suicide, in need of the most help, waited the longest, are the ones no one knows are even still there. The veterans of The Gulf War, Vietnam, Korea and WWII. All of those generations came home with the same wounds but not the same attention.

They still don't have it because most of them are not on social media. They are not doing Snapchat or Instagram. As for Linkedin, they joined the VFW, American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans, plus the Vietnam Veterans of America, motorcycle clubs and linked in face to face instead of going on Facebook to do more than look at pictures of their Grandkids.

The research the VA did on suicides stated clearly...among other things, that the majority of the veterans committing suicide are over the age of 50. Guess it was easier to figure it is too late for them to get help. Guess they were wrong and you'd be right.

In 2007 148,000 of Vietnam veterans showed up for help for the first time. That should send two clear messages. Once they know why they are suffering, they want to help, and the other, should be a warning of what is to come if we get nothing right, right now.

The truth is, the bulk of research started in the 70's and expanded in the 80's because Vietnam veterans came home and fought for it. The VA has a history of PTSD "The DSM-III criteria for PTSD were revised in DSM-III-R (1987), DSM-IV (1994), DSM-IV-TR (2000), and DSM-5 (2013) to reflect continuing research. One important finding, which was not clear at first, is that PTSD is relatively common. Recent data shows about 4 of every 100 American men (or 4%) and 10 out every 100 American women (or 10%) will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime."

So, if you have PTSD, thank them for knowing that it isn't your fault. It is whatever IT was that threatened your life on this planet.

The other truth is that regular people also noticed. This song from Poison came out in 1990. 

Lyrics SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN

Well I see him on the TV

Preachin' 'bout the promised lands

He tells me to believe in Jesus

And steals the money from my hand

Some say he was a good man

But Lord I think he sinned, yeah

Twenty-two years of mental tears

Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet

Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore

To find his country didn't want him back

Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon

Our lawyers took his wife and kids,

No regrets

In a time I don't remember

In a war he can't forget

He cried forgive me for

What I've done there

'Cause I never meant the things I did"

And give me something to believe in

If there's a Lord above

And give me something to believe in

Oh, Lord arise

My best friend died a lonely man

In some Palm Springs hotel room

I got the call last Christmas Eve

And they told me the news

I tried all night not to break down and cry

As the tears rolled down my face

I felt so cold and empty

Like a lost soul out of place

And the mirror, mirror on the wall

Sees my smile it fades again 

**********

I drive by the homeless sleeping on

A cold dark street

Like bodies in an open grave

Underneath the broken old neon sign

That used to read

Jesus Saves

A mile away live the rich folks

And I see how they're living it up

While the poor they eat from hand to mouth

The rich is drinkin' from a golden cup

And it just makes me wonder

Why so many lose, so few win

read the rest of the lyrics here. 

"And it just makes me wonder why so many lose, so few win" when the truth is, they already won the battles for the rest of the world. 

The question is, "When do we help them fight for the right to matter to the rest of us?"