Azboy

Like I said above, appeal the rating, this is your life not theirs!

GeneS Loc: Glendale,AZ

Best help you can get is go visit vets in the VA nursing homes. They need some one to visit with
really makes their day. Some haven't had a visit in years. Helped me. I realized just how lucky I am.
VA says I'm 10 % PTSD. RRRRRighTTTT

robear40

I agree with the last part of this suggestion. I. too , am a VN Vet and just had a reunion with our Naval Advisory Group in San Diego. (We rode as advisors on VN River craft during the War.) Some still work and some have taken up Art or other hobby. This is necessary to keep the feelings from piling up within. I try to ride a bike 50 to 100 miles per week as well. I am normally successful at this. I love the feeling of being on a bike, whether mountain bike or road bike. I have a great bunch of friends who do the same here in the mountains of Western NC. You can join a bike, karate, hiking, or other club, join a seniors exercise club, (Planet Fitness is exceptional)
, etc., etc. However, the impulse must come from you. You must direct this impulse and nurture it. If you are drinking, stop! Worst thing for you along with letting your weight go. Good Luck.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

I used to think that VETS, especially Vietnams vets, attributed all the bad stuff happening to them, after coming home form Nam, on the "Nam experience. I didn't quite BUY the idea. Seems like a dippy "way-out".. I was way wrong!! We all had a couple of serious things in common... At the very least, we were all dragged away from "LIFE-AS-WE-NEW-IT"" and most of us were separated from almost everything we cared about for about a full year. Back in those days of Viet-Nam ways, we had almost no news of "Back-Home". We were on the opposite side of the planet, and so damned ISOLATED. Having to leave your lover, wife friends, and all that mattered, for such a long time, was, in and of itself, very traumatic, for all of us. Though, I can only speak for myself, going to Vietnam, totally CHANGED MY LIFE. And totally changed my OUTLOOK on everything. I was witness to many deaths each week, as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, and it made me sick. We have all suffered for no real GOOD reasons,Having served in Viet Nam, But our lives are in our own hands now. Kinda SAD, isn"t it? But we go on. I hope that you Keep/get a good thought, and persevere . Thanks for your service BROTHER!!!! RJM

Vietnam Vet

The National Anthem and Taps do that to me too.

Vietnam Vet

I am a minister John. I don't know if my faith helps or not. I wonder if I actually chose this career to find forgiveness.

Vietnam Vet

I actually have a follow up appointment with my VA Dr next Friday. I think I will talk to her abut this.
I was given the PTSD assessment by a social worker at a VA clinic. I met with a group for a while before we moved.
I had a 50% disability when I was discharged, but it was changed to 10%.

illininitt

This happens to people who did not even go overseas. I was in the Army from 06/68-06/70. Almost 50 years later....I still can't believe my country did that to me. You would think the bitterness would have subsided after all this time....it's gotten worse. When I got out I threw all my "Army Stuff" away. Never wear Army caps or t-shirts. Avoid wearing green because of those two years. I don't want to give anyone the impression I think it was OK for what they did to me! 49 years later....it still hurts....

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

As we get older the experiences of war resurface. It was especially bad for my father in law who worked espionage during WW2. His dreams were terrible. Get the best help you can. I was fortunate enough to be sent to Germany not southeast Asia. Thanks for serving.

Ron Schulz Loc: Colorado

The problem, as you describe it, sounds to me like PTSD. I was in 'Nam 67-68. When I got out of the Navy I thought I left everything behind me. It wasn't until I was around 40 years old that I started having nightmares and flashbacks. After many years of this my wife said I had to get help and soon. I went to a psychiatrist who determined after a few visits that I indeed had PTSD and should go to the VA for treatment. I was already getting a 10% disability for asbestosis so I was familiar with how the system worked. I went to a local Vet Center to see how I should proceed. They sent me for evaluation at the VA clinic. After much testing and working with a really great psychologist I learned how to cope with my feelings. I also go to bi-weekly group sessions at the Vet Center with other PTSD vets and that really helps when we can discuss how were coping. I'm also on meds so I can finally sleep all night. I just got my permanent disability rating of 100%. It's a long process to recovery. I've learned that, no matter how much I try, there's always something that can trigger a flashback. It's learning what to do about it that helps me.
Good luck in your healing...

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Vet Nam 67-68. Tell us about your photography. We can strike up some positive dialogue among us types who "been there, done that."

Fkaufman1 Loc: Florida

Was that priest Father Joe Turner?

jaduff Loc: Northern NJ

Nam 67-70 (ASA). Wasn't out in the field much but used to get occasional rocket and mortar attacks. Was blessed to meet my wife two months after I got out and was able to talk through the unclassified stuff with her. Eventually started going to Mass just to spend more time with her and converted on our wedding day in 74.

Not the demons experienced by others here, but can attest to the benefits of prayer counseling and exercise. And just being able to talk through stuff. Lost a good friend of 35 years a year ago tmrw to suicide. He got depressed, wouldn't talk about it, didn't return phone calls and just gave up. He's in a better place, but please don't take that route.

I've found that if I can try to live in the moment, seeing the beauty of this day rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, my outlook improves.

And of course seeing the artwork here causes me to be more observant of the beauty around me.

In my prayers brother,

John

Vietnam Vet

I did the sleep study a few months ago. I fell asleep during the first half, and thought I fell asleep the second half but they said I didn't. I will ask about that next Friday at my follow up appt. I called the crisis line a about 2:00 this morning, asked about talking with someone, a social worker is supposed to call me tomorrow or Monday.

santabud

Don't give into the VA. Keep trying by putting in for disability. It took me six and a half years to get an increase in my disability. Keep appealing and sooner or later someone will listen if you have PTSD. They want you to give up. As one Vietnam vet to another get what you are entitled to. God bless!