goddamnit. someone close to me is fucking up bad. he was in the army for 13 years, did 2 tours in iraq and has been back for about 2 years now. got a good job as a CO, went back to school, ect. seemed to be doing well.
but now i get word a few months ago that he isnt doing good at all anymore. he doesnt live near me, so really havent been able to keep up with him.
it seems as if he’s losing his mind, or is going through some severe PTSD. he just got a dui, his wife left him, they have a kid together for christ sake, he’s almost 3. he’s obv drinking too much, i think he’s even suspended from work.
he REFUSES help. any kind of counceling or anything. i have no idea what to do, or what he’s capable of if i do try to talk to him in person… im actually pretty scared, but i feel like i need to do something
does anyone have any suggestions? someone that could possibly speak from experience? i have no clue what he has been through except for some f’d up stories he’s told me… and thats just what he was willing to talk about
SAD. This is going to become VERY common with the soldiers from the recent wars. And it burns me how shitty they are being treated. They get horrible care and are often neglected. All you need to do is visit the VA hospital and you’ll be like WTF is this shit.
Best of luck to your buddy. Hope he makes the decision to get help. Like my buddy jnky said…nobody can MAKE him get help.
he needs to want help. Becoming a CO isn’t going to help someone who’s already has some traumatic experiences. It’s only going to reinforce his situation.
Medication and counciling is reall the only way to get through that.
I know o Vietnam vets still going through PTSD shit som are finally getting help now with new knowledge about it.
Jam if you every want any advice about any of this stop down and see me at my “office” you know where it is.
Take it from a 10 year veteran, and someone that has done 3 tours. You CAN help your friend. Call him, tell him your concerned in a nice calm tone. Tell him that he NEEDS to see a VA PTSD clinic rep. They can help him. I have been in his bad place. its not pretty, its not nice. But you need to be snapped out of it, and shown help sometimes. PTSD is an issue that will be with him forever possibly, but he needs help before something really really bad happens. Please call your friend, he needs your help more than you can ever know. Be nice and calm, he may be slightly irrational, thats why you being the rational person can help so much.
So you’re saying basically by acting so wild he’s calling out for help? I can see that as a possibility and you speak from experience so makes even more sense. Good feedback and an angle I didn’t think about before.
When I got back from Iraq I was letting a good friend of mine handle things his own way (drinking too much, failing marriage) and three months after being home he killed himself. I 100% think you should talk to him and try to make him get help.
get waaay involved in his life if you can, and if you’re up to it. You’re a pretty awesome dude so i’m sure you wouldn’t just walk away if it got too real…
Be his shoulder, give him man hugs, and do exactly what n20junkie said, so you don’t end up (hopefully) where cougarspeed did.
:tup: to you for being a standup guy