# PTSD and me, or why I'm back in the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ptsd-and-me-or-why-im-back-in-the-u-s/487306 "2009-02-25T01:47:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ptsd-and-me-or-why-im-back-in-the-u-s/487306/1 "2009-02-25T01:47:17Z")
Hey folks, I’m sure many of the newer members don’t know me but I remember some people tracking my travels, so here goes: –2003-2005 Sri Lanka; tsunami survivor, suicide bomber missed me by 15 seconds, anthrax scare during which I was the spokesperson, etc, – 2005-2007 Peru, 2 elections, 6 earthquakes, got out before the big one –2007-2008 Kabul, Afghanistan. Mortars, suicide bombers, rockets in the compound, constant small arms fire, mass graves etc. –2008 Singapore. PTSD proved too strong so now I’m back in DC working. I have an excellent doctor doing weekly therapy and I have a combat support group, but it’s still hard. At least I have my work here and my wife and dog, and friends. In case anyone was wondering if I was still out there, the answer is yes, but. ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ptsd-and-me-or-why-im-back-in-the-u-s/487306/2 "2009-02-25T02:01:19Z")
Whoa, welcome home. I hope things go more smoothly for you, take care of yourself! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ptsd-and-me-or-why-im-back-in-the-u-s/487306/3 "2009-02-25T02:04:49Z")
I’m glad you’re home and getting the help you need. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ptsd-and-me-or-why-im-back-in-the-u-s/487306/4 "2009-02-25T02:22:16Z")
I hope things get a LOT more boring for you! Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ptsd-and-me-or-why-im-back-in-the-u-s/487306/5 "2009-02-25T02:38:16Z")
Your thread title caught my eye, as nobody seems to mention PTSD too often on these boards. I have it (for a non-combat related multitude of deeply painful and entrenched experiences) and I have learned to live with it. I’m glad you are working with a competent medical professional as it is one of the most difficult psychological disorders to treat – there is unfortunately no medication that can take away memories of horror. One of the most effective things for me has been narrative work (integrating and remembering and verbalizing), putting voice to that which is unspeakable. and giving yourself space to grieve. I strongly suggest you read the book _Trauma and Recovery_ by Judith Herman. Her groundbreaking work revealed that whether resulting from political imprisonment, child abuse or a natural disaster, PTSD follows the same course of symptoms for all sufferers\*, and can be healed in much the same way. So some of us civilians may have more in common with you than you think. I wish you all the best on your healing journey and welcome you home. \*she does distinguish between PTSD brought on by a single trauma and PTSD brought on by multiple interpersonal traumas… these do have a separate constellation of symptoms, so I think, as you are a person who has experienced multiple traumas over a course of years, her book would be of particular interest to you.