Tuesday, June 4, 2013

PTSD and the Hero After War

When it comes to the wound of war that leaves a scar on the soul, Vietnam veterans have been there fighting to make sure it is treated and helping to heal all generations of veterans. Brothers taking care of brothers and sisters like no one else can understand.

Wounded and Waiting PTSD and the wounds of war

Wounded and Waiting PTSD and the wounds of war.
The only difference between now and when I made this video is there are more of them waiting longer.
The troops are wounded and waiting for the care we promised them. Back lof of claims also means for them. Would you put up with it if it was workman's comp and your life? Think about them and help get their claims honored.

This is PTSD, the signs, the changes and hope

This is PTSD, the signs, the changes and hope put as simple as possible. It was the first video I made back in 2006.
Wounded Minds video for veterans and families.

Afghanistan Veteran-Police Officer killed two before himself in Alabama

Dallas County DA: Selma Police officer who fatally shot ex-girlfriend, her stepfather had PTSD
AL.com
By Erin Edgemon
June 04, 2013

SELMA, Alabama -- Selma Police Chief William Riley is remaining mum on the mental state of one of his police officers who apparently fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and her stepfather before turning the gun on himself on Sunday afternoon.

Riley declined to speak about the motives of Dwight Moorer, who served as a Selma police officer for five years, and his possible mental state the days leading up to the shootings out of respect for the families involved.

Moorer, 28, killed Keoshia L. Hill, also 28, and her 59-year-old stepfather, Bill Jackson, before turning the gun on himself.

Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson isn’t remaining as quiet.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Jackson states Moorer appeared to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder from his tours to Iraq with the Army. Moorer remained in the Army Reserves.

"When he went to Afghanistan he saw some horrific things," Jackson told the AP. "With the stress of being a police officer and the tremendous stress of some relationships, it just all came together at the same time."
read more here

PTSD Awareness Month:What do you see when they grieve?

What do you see when they grieve?
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
June 4, 2013

With June being PTSD awareness month, I've been thinking more about how far we've come in the 30 years I've been doing this.

Back when I started, few were talking about it because few were talking about Vietnam veterans. We didn't have the internet or self help books. Anything we learned had to be discovered in rows of library shelves or once in a while, if we listened carefully, from what the veterans said.

The truth is, back then families thought we had something to be ashamed of simply because we didn't know any better. No one was telling us anything. Our parents, most of the veterans of WWII and Korea were not talking about what came home with them from combat. Their best advice was get over it, get a job and settle down. If we looked closely, we could see it in their eyes, they didn't take their own advice because they were not really "over" their own wars.

In 2006 I started making videos on PTSD. Most of them were focused on Vietnam veterans because I knew more about them than the newer generation. Everything we learned on PTSD has been because of them. Most reports came from the military. Few came from the National Guards and Reservists. The fact is there should have been more attention on the citizen soldiers because when they return from war, they face more threats to their lives back in the states taking care of their communities in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency responders among other professions and to their families with the expectations they can just pick up where they left off a year before.

I made this video to explain to them what no one else was telling them.

"When National Guards go to Iraq or Afghanistan, they serve with the regular military but have to come home, back to police departments, fire departments and responding to natural traumatic events."

What we don't think about is that they are also bring the war back home inside of them, but doing what they always do. Being there when we need them.


Fast forward to today and we have a wonderful movie telling the story of a one of them and how he changed.

Terrible Love Turns into Healing Hearts with PTSD I consulted on this movie and once you see the trailer, you'll understand why I am so touched by what Christopher Thomas has accomplished. Top that off with the fact it all came from his need to make a difference for our forgotten citizen heroes. It explains what you see when they grieve.


Terrible Love Trailer from Helmsman Studios on Vimeo.