I had PTSD when I had schizophrenia and voices for 3 months straight. I eventually got on meds and after 3 years got off of it even though I still struggle with it I have the tools now by the grace of God to get through it. Praise the Lord. When I was homeless there was nothing to worry about but voices non stop. Then I got back to real life and the stress of work and others makes me feel overwhelmed at times. But God and the Holy Spirit is the only way to truly get me through it.
"WELCOME HOME," Chuck... as we Vietnam Vets still say and greet each other. I served my year in Saigon in an MI unit, HHC Battalion level in the S-3 section as a Draftsman. Air conditioned office, plus a squad leader in a QRF platoon. Never fired a shot in anger as they say, but was always ready to do so. I definitely saw and heard my share of war. One could die in town as quick as in the field if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am a country AND city boy, and have lived both of those. This has helped me with the PTSD as they now call it, instead of "shell shock" as it once was called and I went on to college via the GI Bill to get my BS in Agribusiness. I now serve on a local VFW Honor Guard. On the other hand, one of my sons chose to serve 6 years as an Airborne Infantryman. Five deployments, three combat. Slightly wounded and turned down his Purple Heart. Now still serving in the National Guard about to finish his 20 years. GI Bill college grad like myself. We have both "dodged the bullet" rockets, mortars, IED's, booby traps AND PTSD. As they say... once a soldier, always a soldier. Been following you for quite some time. Thanks Bro, for all you do.
Chuck, I understand exactly how your experience in Syria could stir up old mental, physical, and emotional responses. I'm so glad you're a Godly man and that you will work through this instead of burying it. You and all your family are in our prayers!
I served in the South African Milatary during the South African Border War in the 1980's and suffer with ptsd. Not due to combat, but due to witnessing the brutal torture and executions carried out by the enemy on innocent rural civilians in the combat zones.
@@tvalkyrie I have a dear friend who is a clinical psychologist working with Veteran soldiers dealing with PTSD. PTSD is trauma that has lifelong consequences.
I did a 10 year stint of visiting the VA Psychologist, really helped me alot, after that 10 years i was better and was able to stop taking Psych meds.I got better Time helps allot to.
Yes. I’ve been clinically diagnosed with C- PTSD. I was se*usually abused by a doctor that was imprisoned for many other victims. I have never claimed any disability payments and started my own business that was very successful. I have spent many years in therapy to deal with triggers and horrible nightmares that I take medication for. Please refrain from judgment less you’ve experienced trauma.
You’re a strong faithful person who believes in God. Many of those that struggle with PTSD do not and instead turn to drug, and alcohol. Bless you Chuck for always being open and honest and giving your all for your listeners. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Ptsd, a fragmented soul. Waves of fear and anxiety that come and go. Theirs hope to fight those feelings away by being perfect in the love of God. 🙏🏻💙 That’s how i cope, it used to be really bad for me in the mind, now it’s 80% gone.
I suffer from PTSD disability. I never had to face the things many did, but my brain was affected ina way that makes me not able to live life normal. I think the difference between having it and having the disability is that when it interferes with you being able to live life, let alone a normal one. It prevents you from participating in daily life. I think we all have out to a certain point like anxiety and panic. It’s the point when you can’t function they it. God bless you Chuck for all you do. Thank you for being up this issue that so many don’t understand. 😊
My grandfather was a doughboy. A supervisor said I had secondary PTSD. I told her "Norma, not all of us are crazy!" I served 1972-1976. USNavy. Knee each day could be my last. I was a new Christian so that helped me.
Post traumatic stress disorder many are diagnosed and living with depression, anxiety and stress that causes the body to run out of control. Medical professionals often recommend nature, breathing techniques and reminders of your safety. Self awareness is a true skill and understanding. Channeling your energy and awareness can help others understand life is stressful.
Good video. Thanks for being you and telling about your experiences. God be with you, your family and loved one’s protect you from evil and keep you from harm and may God heal your body, mind and soul from the stress of your job and travel scenarios.
I used to scoff at it while I was in the military. Even though I’d pulled dead bodies out of the water, and nearly died while diving, I thought I was fine. Then one day I had a traumatic rescue experience. Let me put it bluntly, having the taste of the inside of someone’s head inside your mouth as your trying to save their life will crush you mentally, and you won’t even realize it until you’ve walked away from the scene.
Chuck, you sound like what I've been going through since i got back from Israel after October 7th. I still haven't readjusted and Its been 7 months now since i got back. I cant even handle sleeping in the same bed with my husband anymore. Fireworks send me back to the first week of the War. Thanksfor speaking to this.
Thanks Chuck, this was so informative and very helpful to understand how it is for soldiers who come home. I always love to hear your stories. Thank you and God Bless 🕊️🌈💜
Hey, Chuck. I think it's related to being 'trapped' in a vulnerable position, for however long. Certain words, situations, environments, and even people can be triggers. It's a kind of learned brain behavior, subconscious protection, or reaction. Trauma typically presents as a delayed reaction. I'm not a veteran, but after yrs of seeing issues in my life, and comparing notes, I realized I had a lot of the same symptoms. I survived a very violent, chaotic ( traumatic ) childhood, and an abusive adult life. Like I say, the symptoms are almost identical. It's the trauma that causes the "delayed stress." It took me a long time to realize this..... Thanks for listening, maybe my experience will help somebody else. P.S. a lot of us are misdiagnosed by "professionals." Keep on truckin !!!
As a nurse, I’ve seen different levels of PTSD and most can gradually heal & learn to cope ! I remember recently you shared that animals (especially your spoiled monkeys) soothed your infrequently restless soul ! Carry on ! You’re a valued blessing to us all !!
My father in law was in Vietnam and witnessed his best friend be blown to pieces to the point they could only identify his dog tags. He was raised a Christian, however, lost his faith before the war and the war pretty much cemented his disbelief. It affected him for 40 years till he reached out to the VA for help. He got help in the form of antidepressants and some counselling sessions but it hasn’t helped. It has affected his relationships with his family over the years. I truly believe if he hadn’t lost his faith, his life would have been so different.
I read somewhere that if your experience is validated and you feel safe and supported after the event you are a lot less likely to develop. I know some people are more likely but I’d like to believe that by simply supporting people after a traumatic event we can reduce their chances of this. Ptsd is horrible to live with. Extremely grateful for the research the US Army has done because of veterans.
I am just now understanding that I have ptsd. It’s taken a very long time for me to understand that’s what it is. Don’t wish to explain the circumstances that caused this but it happened in childhood followed by some bad adult experiences. Thanks for sharing Chuck because I am waking up to it myself. I have been unfair to friends and can be antisocial. But how blessed is the Lord to show us just like you were able to see your own reaction. God Bless you. I know this is probably an earlier recording from you that’s blessed (less beard!) or maybe not. It spoke to me.
Many veterans put in a claim but never follow up on it because it gets remanded so many times and the amount of evidence required to check all the right boxes is so overwhelming. The process alone can create PTS. I can only imagine all the acts of valor under fire that went unnoticed because the right person wasn't there to witness the event.
You need a Disability Lawyer, the DAV do it for free, they always turn down the first time, but second time after they bring you in for a physical, and go over your Medical Records they will aprove it.
I was diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health issues, because I can’t stop thinking or worrying about going out at times, it was because my dad tried killing me twice and have stab wounds all over my body, it’s a terrible thing if you truly have PTSD.
Chuck, I just love you!❤️🙏✝️ this conversation shows what a Godly, precious man. It helps to hear from a soldier, reporter in the midst of war sharing this experience and hearing your humanity as well as your humbleness. Thank you! May you have a blessed day and know how much you impact we, that so appreciate, “ The Truth”. May God bless you and Connie and your beautiful family, as he keeps you safe.✝️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗
It's a terrible shock to come back to civilian life because of the freedom of it. You were in a totally structured environment, every minute of your time somebody else planned for you, the time you got up, what you ate, how you dressed, everything, all of it and also who you were (your grade) and what was the meaning of what you were doing (a very obvious, life and death kind of meaning). Then you come back and have none of those things. It's incredibly hard to handle. Call it PTSD or whatever.
My husband was asleep on the couch. The TV was showing a fire on an Aircraft Carrier. When the general quarters went off, he was off the couch and at the front door before he woke up.
Wow! That was SO good. I plan on having my husband listen to this as we run into this all the time in our relationship. Thank you for being so open about it!
What happened to me at 9 years old was so tramic that I stopped talking for awhile. But through the Power of Jesus Christ He has help me and continued to help me work through it. I have been diagnosed with PTSD too. But not looking for any funds. I was born for this reason, to show the world that Jesus is the way and the truth. John 14:6 a And No I donot blame God, He doesn't want any of His children to go through anything hamfull. But He new I would go through it.
Chuck how do do it? You say very serious things with such an incredible sense of humour. I never miss an opportunity to listen to you. Thank God for you and for people like you🙏
Wish this was a thing in the 80s. My sister's dad suffered from this BAD from the Vietnam war. But sadly he was forced to deal with this terror in his mind ALONE for the rest of his life. Distorted his family and marriage as he used alcohol and pornography to block out his memories and nightmares. 💔
True statement, well said! Those of us who live it daily do learn how to cope, but that only happens one day at a time, and the triggers and intrusive thoughts don’t go away simply because we want them to go…
Wow… this was so good to hear. Thank you for your honest & open comments. We all can learn & have more compassion & understanding & patience to our loved ones that experience what you have. Praying for you & your family as you guys get reacquainted while you’re adjusting to family life. I so appreciate your being on the front lines reporting the truth! God bless you & keep you. In Jesus name, amen!
I so appreciate you articulating what it is like to come out of living in a dangerous place and trying to fit into a calmer place and the challenges that are different. It helps me better understand my children's challenges with my shorter responses when I grew up where survival was much more of an issue. They are great kids, but they all have a strong response whenever they hear "alarm" enter my tone. We will have to live with it all our lives. Our souls have been deeply engraved by response to danger. We just try to spot it sooner and be kind to one another. Bless you as you live with your family with the results of your very valuable work!
Chuck, have you read Tribe by Sebastian Junger? You speak to some of the things he writes about in his book. He hypothesizes PTSD is a lot more nuanced than it's made out to be from simply experiencing combat, and it's more of the environment that vets find themselves in where their decisions and jobs dramatically affect the people around them, and have massive consequences, only to return to a society where we are much more isolated, and things aren't as high stakes. I think what you said about you'd almost just rather be back there, is why so many veterans miss war. Highly recommend the book if you are trying to learn more about it yourself.
I'm glad he brought that up - I started off at 18 in the offshore oilfields - I had worked out there for yrs. - any little mistake was a serious issue - I had been through blow outs and all that - in my case I just focused on reading a same chapter out the word over and over again till I could recite them by memory - that's called mental transmutation when you direct your thoughts into another direction - I know PS 1, 18, 23, 27, 37, 91 by heart and so on - I would copy the word into note books called Talley books that we kept notes in as we worked in the oilfields daily - The crews thought I had job notes in mine Talley book - I found that if something ate at me to just take my Talley book and open it and recite a chapter and the stress left me - At some point I no longer added the book, chapter number or verse number - I'm 69 now and I might know 50000 words by heart - I'm not a church going person but I know the word of God - I don't hardly remember any thing about blow outs - For yrs emotionally I was extreamly ridged, also any little thing was a big deal to me - I had gone to a boarding school as a kid - you could say it groomed me for the offshore oilfields - I knew I was the way I was as a result of going to a boarding school and working in the oilfields - I became hard on my crews offshore also - they told me they learn't a lot from me but I was hard - When my wife wanted a divorce, she discovered my other side and I got custody of my son's at 4 & 5 - I couldn't work a regular job - that attitude chuck spoke of is called a I.T. attitude, institutional training attitude - I found I could do contract work in prisons with my attitude just fine lol - inmates would not mess with me - I contracted in large prisons for 20;yrs - I raised my son's with that I.T. attitude - they have been married for 17 yrs and are extreamly well off - one went in the military for a time and graduated top motivator of 650 kids out of boot camp - I've been retired for a few yrs now and have become a lot easier going - Chuck put words to the way I had been for yrs - I'm really glad he mentioned those attitudes - it's difficult to just switch attitudes -
I have worked with veterans with PTSD for nearly 20 years. I'm a veteran myself. I was skeptical at first about claims for PTSD but then I saw dramatic changes in men that I knew very well and women that I worked with. Post-traumatic stress is a disorder and it's labeled as such to help us deal with it medically. I would encourage you to seek help from the VA. One of the things the VA does pretty well is help with post-traumatic stress disorder
Chuck, Its called "GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME" (GAS) and its something most combat soldiers have had to deal with. I know. It's the stress of combat and seeing things that most normal people wouldnt want to see but its a fact of combat. Under this kind of stress your mind requires time to make the adjustment back to real life. You get pissed off because in your mind, people and your family make problems out of things that you feel are of no consequence or you are agitated and impatient. Sometimes it takes a while but if you are unaware of this metal process you could fail to adjust causing further stress on you and your loved ones. Sometimes it can last years, if so then it might be time to talk to a professional but usually just knowing this is natural is enough for you to deal with it and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome it. Brother Chuck, the human mind was never created to see broken and mutilated bodies but even in this fallen world God gives some of us the ability to endure such things because we were made to be warriors but we still need a time to make the adjustment from war to peace. Its one of the reasons around 2006, Special Forces made it policy that nobody could redeploy and then go straight on leave. We needed to time to decompress/off-gas the stress and be around our fellow soldiers under garrison conditions. We saw a lot less family violence after this policy was instituted. Anyway, that's my take on it. God bless and take time to decompress.
It's real... maybe knowing your boundaries have been breached and talking about how this affects you AND your " others " would help...but until you realize you've been breached all the problems are met with confusion. Chuck you explained this better than I've heard before. ( I'm a total lay person) Thanks.👍👍👍👍👍👍
I saw and photographically documented dead bodies for my whole enlistment in the army. This included body parts, suicides, and children. I was only 18 years old and thought I was fine. But once I ETS’d my anger was out of control and cost me quite a few relationships with friends and family. I couldn’t relate to anyone. I cope by isolating. After a hard days work I go into my library and delve into books.
It’s not all about the money. However, pts and other similar trauma experiences can need some very expensive help to work through the issues. …. I could write a book!! Be patient and compassionate with yourself and others. “Be ye kind…”. Thanks for your work.
Great vid Chuck … thank you. I’m a 29 year LEO vet with Accumulative Post Traumatic Stress. I have learned to deal with it … thank You Jesus. Take care.
Great comments & video! My meager self-diagnosis in years of law enforcement & emergency support convinced me to certain precautions, like never sleeping with a firearm too handy, and letting our Westie sleep on top of the covers! GOD is Faithful!
Thanks Chuck. I am a 34 year long military retiree with 20+ years specifically flying Search and Rescue. Although God spared me from direct combat operations, I experienced a lot of death and dying during those years. I too don't personally align with PTSD, but know that something has changed in me that manifests, at times, way outside of my normal behavior. You wanted to ascribe it a term or name and the best I could think of is: CTSS - Chronic Traumatic Stress Syndrome. This helps me separate from PTSD while still maintaining that something is just NOT right at times! Thanks for your Podcast insights. Best regards Russ Harris USCG, Ret
PTSD is simply a label for a set of symptoms. It helps you, your loved ones, and your medical practitioners understand what is happening to you, without you having to explain the minutia in every critical interaction (such as with your wife). Many people's trauma is resolved in a few weeks to a few months, usually without medication. Trauma that is long term is typically labeled PTSD. BTW, congratulations on actually owning your behaviors and admitting there is something out of the norm happening with you. Best wishes I will keep you in my prayers. P.S. Its rarely in anyone's best interest to admit PTSD to the Veterans administration. There have been several cases where the VA red flagged veterans. In some states this has affected veteran's whom are absolutely capable from owning firearms. Catch 22.
I was in combat in Vietnam war. Not in country like many, but on a DDG in Tonkin bay, we fired over 10 thousand rounds and did line backer missions which resulted in 600 rounds be fired at our ships.. something happened due to lack of sleep and firing guns and the stress which caused PTSD where I was homeless for 7 years, tried suicide drug addiction until my death bed when Yeshua came and pulled me out of hell. Be careful of churches, a lot of cons out there. I became a chaplain had a street and prison ministry and three great sons with my best friend my wife. Yeshua is awesome!
I think I have it. Sometimes I have anxiety attacks even though I know I am safe. I would like to be healed. My brain cognitively knows that everything is okay, but my body is quite sure that I am going to die. It’s a ridiculous handicap.
This is a perspective I had not really considered before. I suspect PTS is something we all experience in different ways because of all the various ways life traumatizes us. But being in a combat situation is not something I have experienced thus far in my life. It must be the ultimate trauma. My grandfather -- career Army & veteran of WWII & Korea -- very quietly had his own PTS issues he mostly kept quiet about. In his time, people just had to bear whatever cross life put on them and there was little if any sympathy shown to them. Maybe what's missing today is the very fact that we don't look at from the Biblical standpoint of "take up thy cross and follow Jesus." We have lost so much of our spirituality in our modern day that it seems so foreign to think of bearing His cross.
I'm not talking from military but my vehicle caught on fire and in 5 seconds it was all gone and burned Praise God I got out. I still have a problem when seeing vehicles on fire and my therapist said I did have PTSD. I'm still working on it.
It’s a medical condition. I’ve seen a 5 yr old who had experienced severe abuse, and he would literally sweat profusely and shake when a male adult spoke or yelled loudly around him. He would aggressively lash out at peers for no discernible reason, and his poor mind was severely inhibited in various functions. His neurological biochemistry had been changed.
I'd imagine it would be hard to decompress & ramp things down after that. I don't know how one transitions; it'd be like going from only having a light switch flipping off/on to suddenly going back to having to use a dimmer switch.
*''get it done''* *''Mission gets accomplished'' that's the only thing that matters* As a swim coach and lifeguard at the pool I can relate to that 🙂 Yes, you just don't have time to pronounce some full, elaborated expressions and phrases like in normal daily situations. You are in charge for people's safety and _that's the only thing that matters_ ✅
My husband was a Vietnam war vet and retired Army 1st Sargent. He wondered why some were so affected by war and others not. I told him I think it depends on a person’s character and personality. He had a strong personality yet even he had anger issues. From PTSD? I think maybe, but don’t know for sure. He would never seek treatment for anything like that! As time went on he mellowed some. We people are complicated!
Thank you for stating what is in my mind… war was simpler even with bombs going off and being shot at…you eventually roll over and refuse to go to bomb shelter because you are so exhausted but I’d do it again in a heart beat if I didn’t get this dumb spinal injury. Been since 2009 for me, Afghanistan and other fun places and I don’t jump as much anymore but still do especially which feels like an electrical shock going through your body and then the adrenaline and then crash from that so ya fun times. Your lucky to still have a spouse get counseling I had too because I was going through 6 different surgeries but hey they could put humpty dumpy back together again after all 🤪
Full understand, specially this year couldn't enjoy the fireworks,tears started to fall,post on Facebook about it , told them couldn't enjoy thinking about Israel and how they wasn't enjoying the same sounds😢 Plus my Yorkiepoo go crazy also and thunder and lightning 😢
Dear Chuck 🙏🏻✝️ I can see in your face that something wasn’t going goo, please take care and if you need help, get it done, is your family the most important thing you have, also your very important part of the world 🌎 I’ll be praying for you dear, blessings for you and your family 🙏🏻🙏🏻😘😘✝️🇨🇦👋🏻
I'm praying for y'all. My PTSD started before the age of one when my arm was broken under mysterious circumstances. I grew up thinking anxiety and panic were normal, that other people could deal better than me. Praise God, He delivered me of the fear and the "broken spirit." (Prov. 17:22)
Yes, any near death situation changes you, your outlook on what is and isn't important. Others who haven't experienced that change cannot understand it, and frequently chock it up to you being an, well, not nice, because you see little reason to tolerate, live with, some things.
It is hard to go from on realization to another that are on the other side of the spectrum. More down time might be a good idea. Doing it can be difficult. A time well spent for all involved.
It is the body readjusting to a non-stress environment as it learns to let go of the tension. The body has lived in a highly control environment to survive, which becomes who you are. And, you had better be damn proud of yourselves for being able to do it! Knowing you may face the hell again does not allow you to let go, otherwise, next time, you may not survive. Learning to trust yourself to let go, while still protecting yourself is key. Letting that inner purity of yourself that you were when you went to war go again is scary....what if I do not have the skill to protect that inner innocence again. Love your inner innocence as you would a baby coddling in your arms. Only you can coddle that inner innocence back to life with all of its vibrance, purity and goodness. Remember, a soul that can kill is not the norm. War requires that you become something of an animal to survive; something most do not want to be. Retrain that inner animal to be patient, kind and loving as you would a baby or child. Allow that inner purity and love to burst through again and wraps your arms around that inner innocence and love it back to life. Only you can do that for yourself. And, let the Master recreate in your inner being that beautiful, untarnished soul that existed eith childlike innocence, not childishness! And, above all forgive yourself. Killing someone is extremely difficult for the average person, and against the laws of G-d. Only G-d gets to give and take away the breathe of life. Even so, sometimes it has to be done in accord with the laws if G-d. It was your job and your were required to do it. Still, it is a breach of G-d's law. You are not guilty under the law as you were ordered to do it, but there was still a breach of the law, which needs repair. Allow G-d to repair that breach. And, above all, embrace what you remember and ask G-d to use it to keep you from becoming something He never intended for anyone to be. If the world could reach a state of inner purity, there would be no hate, war, jealousy, etc. Give yourselves a bug inner hug and bring back those loving, innocent, kind and pure souls you were and still are!
Hey Chuck, I'm on the other side of this conversation, and when we were active duty, we WERE in the same boat. It took some real thinking, and understanding for us to "figure out" what was "wrong". He was in your shoes, for long runs at a time, and when he came home, he just wanted to go back to "normal". I was at home, with the kids, DOING a different normal, because, I had to pick up the slack for his end. IT BECOMES a HABIT. You just do it, without thinking about it. The first day or so was usually, he was exhausted, I continued in my routine, and THEN, he was ready to assume HIS WAY of doing things. I take the trash out at night, he likes to take it out early morning. Fighting over garbage? YOU betcha! I get it ready to take out, and he pops in with , I got that. Me- OK, well it's ready........IT'S ready!!! Let the argument begin. This is MY routine, and YOU have invaded my way of surviving, my way of coping with the fear of a phone call, the fear of "that" car driving up to the house, what if the car breaks, what If I get sick, or injured, who will help me? THAT- WHAT IF?!? So Chuck, may I highly suggest, that both of you have a sit down, and a cup of coffee, and make a list of-what her NORMAL is when you are there, and what YOUR normal is, when you are there. Then decide, when she can give up on your jobs, that you are NOW willing to get back into doing. Both of you live in a fight or flight zone, she is at home, you are in theater.. But, even apart, you BOTH are on this path...GIVE EACH other grace for that!
Chuck I am a psychologist and I specialise in trauma. The criteria for PTSD are exposure to a threat to life or physical integrity and helplessness and or horror. If you are able to act and respond in the situation you are less likely to develop PTSD. However you can have some of the symptoms just not at the level of a full diagnosis. Acute stress disorder is what is present for the first month after exposure. And yes even you Chuck Holton can develop PTSD. EMDR therapy is the most effective treatment and next time your in Israel, find out about how they are using the Butterfly hug as a first response.
There are many types of traumatic stress, and varying degrees of it. What is traumatic stress to one person, may not be to another. When what you have been through was stressful enough that it changes your behavior and relationships, then I think it can be considered "traumatic" stress. So when you realize there is a problem, you are in a varying degree of post...traumatic stress. It's not different from post traumatic stress; it is just a form of it. I say all this to say, I don't think you can call it something different than PTSD.
If you don't believe PTSD is real then you have never had it..😢 I was abused all my childhood, it basically ruined my life. Never got on disability or any help but it was sooo bad. You have no idea. This is a constant 24 hr. a day thing from childhood . When your grown you know your not able to function but I didn't realise what was causing it until a few years ago.. It's totally real and you dont need to be in combat to have it..
I had PTSD when I had schizophrenia and voices for 3 months straight. I eventually got on meds and after 3 years got off of it even though I still struggle with it I have the tools now by the grace of God to get through it. Praise the Lord. When I was homeless there was nothing to worry about but voices non stop. Then I got back to real life and the stress of work and others makes me feel overwhelmed at times. But God and the Holy Spirit is the only way to truly get me through it.
A real man is humble enough to recognize what he's done and willing to contemplate the root of his actions. Chuck Holton is a real man.
I totally agree there! 😊
PTSD is a component of Trauma which covers a wide scope.
We deal with it daily with many foster children.
"WELCOME HOME," Chuck... as we Vietnam Vets still say and greet each other. I served my year in Saigon in an MI unit, HHC Battalion level in the S-3 section as a Draftsman. Air conditioned office, plus a squad leader in a QRF platoon. Never fired a shot in anger as they say, but was always ready to do so. I definitely saw and heard my share of war. One could die in town as quick as in the field if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I am a country AND city boy, and have lived both of those. This has helped me with the PTSD as they now call it, instead of "shell shock" as it once was called and I went on to college via the GI Bill to get my BS in Agribusiness. I now serve on a local VFW Honor Guard.
On the other hand, one of my sons chose to serve 6 years as an Airborne Infantryman. Five deployments, three combat. Slightly wounded and turned down his Purple Heart. Now still serving in the National Guard about to finish his 20 years. GI Bill college grad like myself.
We have both "dodged the bullet" rockets, mortars, IED's, booby traps AND PTSD.
As they say... once a soldier, always a soldier. Been following you for quite some time.
Thanks Bro, for all you do.
Thank you very much for your service and sacrifices. I'm sorry how you were treated when you came home. God bless you!
Chuck, I understand exactly how your experience in Syria could stir up old mental, physical, and emotional responses. I'm so glad you're a Godly man and that you will work through this instead of burying it. You and all your family are in our prayers!
I served in the South African Milatary during the South African Border War in the 1980's and suffer with ptsd. Not due to combat, but due to witnessing the brutal torture and executions carried out by the enemy on innocent rural civilians in the combat zones.
I work @ VA Hospital, Everyone is different! Don't just dismiss this ! 💕 Love & Care for All! 🙏
@@tvalkyrie I have a dear friend who is a clinical psychologist working with Veteran soldiers dealing with PTSD. PTSD is trauma that has lifelong consequences.
I did a 10 year stint of visiting the VA Psychologist, really helped me alot, after that 10 years i was better
and was able to stop taking Psych meds.I got better Time helps allot to.
PTSD is real. We have to be compassionate and understanding with the people experiencing it.
Yes. I’ve been clinically diagnosed with C- PTSD. I was se*usually abused by a doctor that was imprisoned for many other victims. I have never claimed any disability payments and started my own business that was very successful. I have spent many years in therapy to deal with triggers and horrible nightmares that I take medication for. Please refrain from judgment less you’ve experienced trauma.
I agree,,,my reaction to Chuck was the same as yours,,,he uses the word,,,I a lot,,, 😢
Transition from high alert to less is a process, not easy.
You’re a strong faithful person who believes in God. Many of those that struggle with PTSD do not and instead turn to drug, and alcohol. Bless you Chuck for always being open and honest and giving your all for your listeners. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Ptsd, a fragmented soul.
Waves of fear and anxiety that come and go.
Theirs hope to fight those feelings away by being perfect in the love of God. 🙏🏻💙
That’s how i cope, it used to be really bad for me in the mind, now it’s 80% gone.
I suffer from PTSD disability. I never had to face the things many did, but my brain was affected ina way that makes me not able to live life normal. I think the difference between having it and having the disability is that when it interferes with you being able to live life, let alone a normal one. It prevents you from participating in daily life. I think we all have out to a certain point like anxiety and panic. It’s the point when you can’t function they it.
God bless you Chuck for all you do. Thank you for being up this issue that so many don’t understand. 😊
Psyilocybin mushroom therapy looks promising to treat PTSD. Please check it out
My grandfather was a doughboy. A supervisor said I had secondary PTSD. I told her "Norma, not all of us are crazy!" I served 1972-1976. USNavy. Knee each day could be my last. I was a new Christian so that helped me.
Post traumatic stress disorder many are diagnosed and living with depression, anxiety and stress that causes the body to run out of control. Medical professionals often recommend nature, breathing techniques and reminders of your safety. Self awareness is a true skill and understanding. Channeling your energy and awareness can help others understand life is stressful.
Psyilocybin mushroom therapy looks promising to treat PTSD
Good video. Thanks for being you and telling about your experiences. God be with you, your family and loved one’s protect you from evil and keep you from harm and may God heal your body, mind and soul from the stress of your job and travel scenarios.
I used to scoff at it while I was in the military. Even though I’d pulled dead bodies out of the water, and nearly died while diving, I thought I was fine. Then one day I had a traumatic rescue experience. Let me put it bluntly, having the taste of the inside of someone’s head inside your mouth as your trying to save their life will crush you mentally, and you won’t even realize it until you’ve walked away from the scene.
💔 ❤
Chuck, you sound like what I've been going through since i got back from Israel after October 7th. I still haven't readjusted and Its been 7 months now since i got back. I cant even handle sleeping in the same bed with my husband anymore. Fireworks send me back to the first week of the War. Thanksfor speaking to this.
Seek out Dr. Eugene Lipov in Chicago!
Thanks Chuck, this was so informative and very helpful to understand how it is for soldiers who come home. I always love to hear your stories. Thank you and God Bless 🕊️🌈💜
Hey, Chuck. I think it's related to being 'trapped' in a vulnerable position, for however long. Certain words, situations, environments, and even people can be triggers. It's a kind of learned brain behavior, subconscious protection, or reaction. Trauma typically presents as a delayed reaction. I'm not a veteran, but after yrs of seeing issues in my life, and comparing notes, I realized I had a lot of the same symptoms. I survived a very violent, chaotic ( traumatic ) childhood, and an abusive adult life. Like I say, the symptoms are almost identical. It's the trauma that causes the "delayed stress." It took me a long time to realize this..... Thanks for listening, maybe my experience will help somebody else. P.S. a lot of us are misdiagnosed by "professionals." Keep on truckin !!!
Amen!! 50+ years of ptsd! I know crazy but true…… I admire our military and pray for them everyday, they are our hero’s! 🙏🏻
As a nurse, I’ve seen different levels of PTSD and most can gradually heal & learn to cope ! I remember recently you shared that animals (especially your spoiled monkeys) soothed your infrequently restless soul ! Carry on ! You’re a valued blessing to us all !!
Psyilocybin mushroom therapy looks promising to treat PTSD
BLESSINGS... Chuck and His Family...!!! 💪🙏💗
I just want to give you a shout out too..Thank God for nurses!! 🤗❤
My father in law was in Vietnam and witnessed his best friend be blown to pieces to the point they could only identify his dog tags.
He was raised a Christian, however, lost his faith before the war and the war pretty much cemented his disbelief.
It affected him for 40 years till he reached out to the VA for help. He got help in the form of antidepressants and some counselling sessions but it hasn’t helped. It has affected his relationships with his family over the years.
I truly believe if he hadn’t lost his faith, his life would have been so different.
EMDR can help with PTSD.
PTSD is very real hard to live with and deal with it affects every day life I know how hard it is 😢
I read somewhere that if your experience is validated and you feel safe and supported after the event you are a lot less likely to develop. I know some people are more likely but I’d like to believe that by simply supporting people after a traumatic event we can reduce their chances of this. Ptsd is horrible to live with. Extremely grateful for the research the US Army has done because of veterans.
Especially if you're supported and loved right away after it happens.
I am just now understanding that I have ptsd. It’s taken a very long time for me to understand that’s what it is. Don’t wish to explain the circumstances that caused this but it happened in childhood followed by some bad adult experiences. Thanks for sharing Chuck because I am waking up to it myself. I have been unfair to friends and can be antisocial. But how blessed is the Lord to show us just like you were able to see your own reaction. God Bless you. I know this is probably an earlier recording from you that’s blessed (less beard!) or maybe not. It spoke to me.
Many veterans put in a claim but never follow up on it because it gets remanded so many times and the amount of evidence required to check all the right boxes is so overwhelming. The process alone can create PTS. I can only imagine all the acts of valor under fire that went unnoticed because the right person wasn't there to witness the event.
You need a Disability Lawyer, the DAV do it for free, they always turn down the first time, but second time
after they bring you in for a physical, and go over your Medical Records they will aprove it.
Those that can’t get what they saw out of their heads can’t move forward, that’s PTSD I don’t care what anyone says! I lived it
Is it not a spectrum,,,,perhaps Chuck there is an element of denial in your comment?
Prayers 🙏
I was diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health issues, because I can’t stop thinking or worrying about going out at times, it was because my dad tried killing me twice and have stab wounds all over my body, it’s a terrible thing if you truly have PTSD.
Praying for you! I'm glad you're here.
Chuck, I just love you!❤️🙏✝️ this conversation shows what a Godly, precious man. It helps to hear from a soldier, reporter in the midst of war sharing this experience and hearing your humanity as well as your humbleness.
Thank you! May you have a blessed day and know how much you impact we, that so appreciate, “ The Truth”.
May God bless you and Connie and your beautiful family, as he keeps you safe.✝️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗
Appreciate your honesty and willing to share this
It's a terrible shock to come back to civilian life because of the freedom of it. You were in a totally structured environment, every minute of your time somebody else planned for you, the time you got up, what you ate, how you dressed, everything, all of it and also who you were (your grade) and what was the meaning of what you were doing (a very obvious, life and death kind of meaning). Then you come back and have none of those things. It's incredibly hard to handle. Call it PTSD or whatever.
GOD bless you Mr Chuck 💖
Great book on helping people heal from trauma. Great for this in recovery, caregivers or health workers, 'The Worst is Over."
which types of trauma does it reference
My husband was asleep on the couch. The TV was showing a fire on an Aircraft Carrier. When the general quarters went off, he was off the couch and at the front door before he woke up.
The Body responses, the brain catches up later.
Wow! That was SO good. I plan on having my husband listen to this as we run into this all the time in our relationship. Thank you for being so open about it!
What happened to me at 9 years old was so tramic that I stopped talking for awhile. But through the Power of Jesus Christ He has help me and continued to help me work through it.
I have been diagnosed with PTSD too. But not looking for any funds. I was born for this reason, to show the world that Jesus is the way and the truth. John 14:6 a
And No I donot blame God, He doesn't want any of His children to go through anything hamfull. But He new I would go through it.
Chuck how do do it? You say very serious things with such an incredible sense of humour. I never miss an opportunity to listen to you. Thank God for you and for people like you🙏
Wish this was a thing in the 80s. My sister's dad suffered from this BAD from the Vietnam war. But sadly he was forced to deal with this terror in his mind ALONE for the rest of his life. Distorted his family and marriage as he used alcohol and pornography to block out his memories and nightmares. 💔
Thank you for being truthful and real.
Hyper vigilance is hard to turn off, once it's turned on.
True statement, well said! Those of us who live it daily do learn how to cope, but that only happens one day at a time, and the triggers and intrusive thoughts don’t go away simply because we want them to go…
Wow… this was so good to hear. Thank you for your honest & open comments. We all can learn & have more compassion & understanding & patience to our loved ones that experience what you have. Praying for you & your family as you guys get reacquainted while you’re adjusting to family life. I so appreciate your being on the front lines reporting the truth! God bless you & keep you. In Jesus name, amen!
I so appreciate you articulating what it is like to come out of living in a dangerous place and trying to fit into a calmer place and the challenges that are different. It helps me better understand my children's challenges with my shorter responses when I grew up where survival was much more of an issue. They are great kids, but they all have a strong response whenever they hear "alarm" enter my tone. We will have to live with it all our lives. Our souls have been deeply engraved by response to danger. We just try to spot it sooner and be kind to one another.
Bless you as you live with your family with the results of your very valuable work!
I have PTSD from a car accident. However I still have to drive.
That's rough!
Thanks for sharing Chuck.
Chuck, have you read Tribe by Sebastian Junger? You speak to some of the things he writes about in his book. He hypothesizes PTSD is a lot more nuanced than it's made out to be from simply experiencing combat, and it's more of the environment that vets find themselves in where their decisions and jobs dramatically affect the people around them, and have massive consequences, only to return to a society where we are much more isolated, and things aren't as high stakes. I think what you said about you'd almost just rather be back there, is why so many veterans miss war. Highly recommend the book if you are trying to learn more about it yourself.
Hello Chuck, always in my prayers ☝️🙏❤️
I'm glad he brought that up - I started off at 18 in the offshore oilfields -
I had worked out there for yrs. - any little mistake was a serious issue -
I had been through blow outs and all that - in my case I just focused on reading a same chapter out the word over and over again till I could recite them by memory - that's called mental transmutation when you direct your thoughts into another direction - I know PS 1, 18, 23, 27, 37, 91 by heart and so on -
I would copy the word into note books called Talley books that we kept notes in as we worked in the oilfields daily -
The crews thought I had job notes in mine Talley book -
I found that if something ate at me to just take my Talley book and open it and recite a chapter and the stress left me -
At some point I no longer added the book, chapter number or verse number - I'm 69 now and I might know 50000 words by heart -
I'm not a church going person but I know the word of God -
I don't hardly remember any thing about blow outs -
For yrs emotionally I was extreamly ridged, also any little thing was a big deal to me -
I had gone to a boarding school as a kid - you could say it groomed me for the offshore oilfields -
I knew I was the way I was as a result of going to a boarding school and working in the oilfields -
I became hard on my crews offshore also - they told me they learn't a lot from me but I was hard -
When my wife wanted a divorce, she discovered my other side and I got custody of my son's at 4 & 5 -
I couldn't work a regular job - that attitude chuck spoke of is called a I.T. attitude, institutional training attitude -
I found I could do contract work in prisons with my attitude just fine lol - inmates would not mess with me - I contracted in large prisons for 20;yrs -
I raised my son's with that I.T. attitude - they have been married for 17 yrs and are extreamly well off - one went in the military for a time and graduated top motivator of 650 kids out of boot camp -
I've been retired for a few yrs now and have become a lot easier going -
Chuck put words to the way I had been for yrs - I'm really glad he mentioned those attitudes - it's difficult to just switch attitudes -
Hey Chuck, great to see you live!!!
I have worked with veterans with PTSD for nearly 20 years. I'm a veteran myself. I was skeptical at first about claims for PTSD but then I saw dramatic changes in men that I knew very well and women that I worked with. Post-traumatic stress is a disorder and it's labeled as such to help us deal with it medically. I would encourage you to seek help from the VA. One of the things the VA does pretty well is help with post-traumatic stress disorder
Chuck,
Its called "GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME" (GAS) and its something most combat soldiers have had to deal with. I know. It's the stress of combat and seeing things that most normal people wouldnt want to see but its a fact of combat. Under this kind of stress your mind requires time to make the adjustment back to real life. You get pissed off because in your mind, people and your family make problems out of things that you feel are of no consequence or you are agitated and impatient. Sometimes it takes a while but if you are unaware of this metal process you could fail to adjust causing further stress on you and your loved ones. Sometimes it can last years, if so then it might be time to talk to a professional but usually just knowing this is natural is enough for you to deal with it and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome it. Brother Chuck, the human mind was never created to see broken and mutilated bodies but even in this fallen world God gives some of us the ability to endure such things because we were made to be warriors but we still need a time to make the adjustment from war to peace. Its one of the reasons around 2006, Special Forces made it policy that nobody could redeploy and then go straight on leave. We needed to time to decompress/off-gas the stress and be around our fellow soldiers under garrison conditions. We saw a lot less family violence after this policy was instituted. Anyway, that's my take on it.
God bless and take time to decompress.
PTSD is real
Yes it is
I live with PTSD, and a slight form of agoraphobia myself 😢
@@marycorzette6562 Ditto. Agoraphobia is not how my horrific trauma manifested itself
It's real... maybe knowing your boundaries have been breached and talking about how this affects you AND your " others " would help...but until you realize you've been breached all the problems are met with confusion. Chuck you explained this better than I've heard before. ( I'm a total lay person) Thanks.👍👍👍👍👍👍
I saw and photographically documented dead bodies for my whole enlistment in the army. This included body parts, suicides, and children. I was only 18 years old and thought I was fine. But once I ETS’d my anger was out of control and cost me quite a few relationships with friends and family. I couldn’t relate to anyone. I cope by isolating. After a hard days work I go into my library and delve into books.
Apparently listening to bees building a hive.......
Over time, helps dealing with PTSD. 😊
It’s not all about the money. However, pts and other similar trauma experiences can need some very expensive help to work through the issues. …. I could write a book!! Be patient and compassionate with yourself and others. “Be ye kind…”. Thanks for your work.
Great vid Chuck … thank you. I’m a 29 year LEO vet with Accumulative Post Traumatic Stress. I have learned to deal with it … thank You Jesus. Take care.
9:21 Maybe call it BEAST MODE
Thanks!
Welcome!
God bless you Chuck, you are in my prayers,you can talk to us anytime,we have ear and time for it❤❤ Mary from Canada.
Great comments & video! My meager self-diagnosis in years of law enforcement & emergency support convinced me to certain precautions, like never sleeping with a firearm too handy, and letting our Westie sleep on top of the covers!
GOD is Faithful!
Thanks Chuck. I am a 34 year long military retiree with 20+ years specifically flying Search and Rescue. Although God spared me from direct combat operations, I experienced a lot of death and dying during those years. I too don't personally align with PTSD, but know that something has changed in me that manifests, at times, way outside of my normal behavior. You wanted to ascribe it a term or name and the best I could think of is:
CTSS - Chronic Traumatic Stress Syndrome. This helps me separate from PTSD while still maintaining that something is just NOT right at times!
Thanks for your Podcast insights.
Best regards
Russ Harris
USCG, Ret
PTSD is simply a label for a set of symptoms. It helps you, your loved ones, and your medical practitioners understand what is happening to you, without you having to explain the minutia in every critical interaction (such as with your wife). Many people's trauma is resolved in a few weeks to a few months, usually without medication. Trauma that is long term is typically labeled PTSD. BTW, congratulations on actually owning your behaviors and admitting there is something out of the norm happening with you. Best wishes I will keep you in my prayers. P.S. Its rarely in anyone's best interest to admit PTSD to the Veterans administration. There have been several cases where the VA red flagged veterans. In some states this has affected veteran's whom are absolutely capable from owning firearms. Catch 22.
I was in combat in Vietnam war. Not in country like many, but on a DDG in Tonkin bay, we fired over 10 thousand rounds and did line backer missions which resulted in 600 rounds be fired at our ships.. something happened due to lack of sleep and firing guns and the stress which caused PTSD where I was homeless for 7 years, tried suicide drug addiction until my death bed when Yeshua came and pulled me out of hell. Be careful of churches, a lot of cons out there. I became a chaplain had a street and prison ministry and three great sons with my best friend my wife. Yeshua is awesome!
IS HE WORTHY SHANE & SHANE ( LYRICS)♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I think I have it. Sometimes I have anxiety attacks even though I know I am safe. I would like to be healed. My brain cognitively knows that everything is okay, but my body is quite sure that I am going to die. It’s a ridiculous handicap.
Thank you! Very helpful!!!
This is a perspective I had not really considered before. I suspect PTS is something we all experience in different ways because of all the various ways life traumatizes us. But being in a combat situation is not something I have experienced thus far in my life. It must be the ultimate trauma. My grandfather -- career Army & veteran of WWII & Korea -- very quietly had his own PTS issues he mostly kept quiet about. In his time, people just had to bear whatever cross life put on them and there was little if any sympathy shown to them. Maybe what's missing today is the very fact that we don't look at from the Biblical standpoint of "take up thy cross and follow Jesus." We have lost so much of our spirituality in our modern day that it seems so foreign to think of bearing His cross.
I'm not talking from military but my vehicle caught on fire and in 5 seconds it was all gone and burned Praise God I got out. I still have a problem when seeing vehicles on fire and my therapist said I did have PTSD. I'm still working on it.
It’s a medical condition. I’ve seen a 5 yr old who had experienced severe abuse, and he would literally sweat profusely and shake when a male adult spoke or yelled loudly around him. He would aggressively lash out at peers for no discernible reason, and his poor mind was severely inhibited in various functions. His neurological biochemistry had been changed.
Praying for you
Agreed not much grace, fight mode etc Cop life is similar in some ways and events.
Perhaps. "HYPER VIGILANT"
A constant survival mode.
I'd imagine it would be hard to decompress & ramp things down after that. I don't know how one transitions; it'd be like going from only having a light switch flipping off/on to suddenly going back to having to use a dimmer switch.
*''get it done''*
*''Mission gets accomplished'' that's the only thing that matters*
As a swim coach and lifeguard at the pool I can relate to that 🙂
Yes, you just don't have time to pronounce some full, elaborated expressions and phrases like in normal daily situations.
You are in charge for people's safety and _that's the only thing that matters_ ✅
I´ve read somewhere that veterans who develop PTSD often have experienced abuse as a child.
I lived with for 56yreas..my husband had it. Its real.
My husband was a Vietnam war vet and retired Army 1st Sargent. He wondered why some were so affected by war and others not. I told him I think it depends on a person’s character and personality. He had a strong personality yet even he had anger issues. From PTSD? I think maybe, but don’t know for sure. He would never seek treatment for anything like that! As time went on he mellowed some. We people are complicated!
Thank you for stating what is in my mind… war was simpler even with bombs going off and being shot at…you eventually roll over and refuse to go to bomb shelter because you are so exhausted but I’d do it again in a heart beat if I didn’t get this dumb spinal injury. Been since 2009 for me, Afghanistan and other fun places and I don’t jump as much anymore but still do especially which feels like an electrical shock going through your body and then the adrenaline and then crash from that so ya fun times. Your lucky to still have a spouse get counseling I had too because I was going through 6 different surgeries but hey they could put humpty dumpy back together again after all 🤪
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV come to me all you who are weary
Full understand, specially this year couldn't enjoy the fireworks,tears started to fall,post on Facebook about it , told them couldn't enjoy thinking about Israel and how they wasn't enjoying the same sounds😢 Plus my Yorkiepoo go crazy also and thunder and lightning 😢
Dear Chuck 🙏🏻✝️ I can see in your face that something wasn’t going goo, please take care and if you need help, get it done, is your family the most important thing you have, also your very important part of the world 🌎 I’ll be praying for you dear, blessings for you and your family 🙏🏻🙏🏻😘😘✝️🇨🇦👋🏻
I'm praying for y'all. My PTSD started before the age of one when my arm was broken under mysterious circumstances. I grew up thinking anxiety and panic were normal, that other people could deal better than me. Praise God, He delivered me of the fear and the "broken spirit." (Prov. 17:22)
My husband was in Vietnamese war in the 60’s, he had some reactions after he returned home, that was different, I think he suffered from that.
God bless you and your wife❤️❤️ from Norway
Yes, any near death situation changes you, your outlook on what is and isn't important. Others who haven't experienced that change cannot understand it, and frequently chock it up to you being an, well, not nice, because you see little reason to tolerate, live with, some things.
Vietnam Vets the struggle is real.
"Toxic hyper- vigilance." Sounds good to me. :)
Dude ,when a child is mentally & physically abused daily for many years it's as bad if not worse than any combat. Take my word...😮
I think PTSD could apply to people who have lost loved ones too although it might be coined differently.
It is hard to go from on realization to another that are on the other side of the spectrum. More down time might be a good idea. Doing it can be difficult. A time well spent for all involved.
Ptsd can be managed, there is help
It is the body readjusting to a non-stress environment as it learns to let go of the tension. The body has lived in a highly control environment to survive, which becomes who you are. And, you had better be damn proud of yourselves for being able to do it! Knowing you may face the hell again does not allow you to let go, otherwise, next time, you may not survive. Learning to trust yourself to let go, while still protecting yourself is key. Letting that inner purity of yourself that you were when you went to war go again is scary....what if I do not have the skill to protect that inner innocence again. Love your inner innocence as you would a baby coddling in your arms. Only you can coddle that inner innocence back to life with all of its vibrance, purity and goodness. Remember, a soul that can kill is not the norm. War requires that you become something of an animal to survive; something most do not want to be. Retrain that inner animal to be patient, kind and loving as you would a baby or child. Allow that inner purity and love to burst through again and wraps your arms around that inner innocence and love it back to life. Only you can do that for yourself. And, let the Master recreate in your inner being that beautiful, untarnished soul that existed eith childlike innocence, not childishness!
And, above all forgive yourself. Killing someone is extremely difficult for the average person, and against the laws of G-d. Only G-d gets to give and take away the breathe of life. Even so, sometimes it has to be done in accord with the laws if G-d. It was your job and your were required to do it. Still, it is a breach of G-d's law. You are not guilty under the law as you were ordered to do it, but there was still a breach of the law, which needs repair. Allow G-d to repair that breach.
And, above all, embrace what you remember and ask G-d to use it to keep you from becoming something He never intended for anyone to be.
If the world could reach a state of inner purity, there would be no hate, war, jealousy, etc.
Give yourselves a bug inner hug and bring back those loving, innocent, kind and pure souls you were and still are!
Hey Chuck, I'm on the other side of this conversation, and when we were active duty, we WERE in the same boat. It took some real thinking, and understanding for us to "figure out" what was "wrong". He was in your shoes, for long runs at a time, and when he came home, he just wanted to go back to "normal". I was at home, with the kids, DOING a different normal, because, I had to pick up the slack for his end. IT BECOMES a HABIT. You just do it, without thinking about it. The first day or so was usually, he was exhausted, I continued in my routine, and THEN, he was ready to assume HIS WAY of doing things. I take the trash out at night, he likes to take it out early morning. Fighting over garbage? YOU betcha! I get it ready to take out, and he pops in with , I got that. Me- OK, well it's ready........IT'S ready!!! Let the argument begin.
This is MY routine, and YOU have invaded my way of surviving, my way of coping with the fear of a phone call, the fear of "that" car driving up to the house, what if the car breaks, what If I get sick, or injured, who will help me? THAT- WHAT IF?!? So Chuck, may I highly suggest, that both of you have a sit down, and a cup of coffee, and make a list of-what her NORMAL is when you are there, and what YOUR normal is, when you are there. Then decide, when she can give up on your jobs, that you are NOW willing to get back into doing. Both of you live in a fight or flight zone, she is at home, you are in theater.. But, even apart, you BOTH are on this path...GIVE EACH other grace for that!
Chuck I am a psychologist and I specialise in trauma. The criteria for PTSD are exposure to a threat to life or physical integrity and helplessness and or horror. If you are able to act and respond in the situation you are less likely to develop PTSD. However you can have some of the symptoms just not at the level of a full diagnosis. Acute stress disorder is what is present for the first month after exposure.
And yes even you Chuck Holton can develop PTSD.
EMDR therapy is the most effective treatment and next time your in Israel, find out about how they are using the Butterfly hug as a first response.
As x police in south Africa, i was shot in spine bullet went straight thew me, im ok. Had. PTSD for a year, ok now, only walk with a limp.
Ptsd don't discriminate it could catch up with you at anytime but God bless ill pray for you when it catches up with you.
There are many types of traumatic stress, and varying degrees of it. What is traumatic stress to one person, may not be to another. When what you have been through was stressful enough that it changes your behavior and relationships, then I think it can be considered "traumatic" stress. So when you realize there is a problem, you are in a varying degree of post...traumatic stress. It's not different from post traumatic stress; it is just a form of it. I say all this to say, I don't think you can call it something different than PTSD.
I have been diagnosed with C-PTSD
If you don't believe PTSD is real then you have never had it..😢 I was abused all my childhood, it basically ruined my life. Never got on disability or any help but it was sooo bad. You have no idea. This is a constant 24 hr. a day thing from childhood . When your grown you know your not able to function but I didn't realise what was causing it until a few years ago.. It's totally real and you dont need to be in combat to have it..