That Sioux Falls paper discusses Vietnam veterans Clay Mennis and Gene Murphy's struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. Contrary to the foul narrative that veterans claiming PTSD are whining welfare queens, reporter Doreen Weinstein finds that veterans' distrust of government after the war extended their very real suffering:
When Vietnam soldiers came home, “there was no one to talk to,” says Gene Murphy of Sioux Falls, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War who spent 11 months in the jungle, ran reconnaissance patrols and sustained a spinal cord injury. He’s been a paraplegic since 1969.
“We sucked it up and worked it out. And then you moved forward. A lot of guys felt fortunate to be alive,” he says.
Many suffered alone.
“They didn’t trust the federal government,” Murphy says. “They didn’t treat them right when they returned.”
As a result, therapists say, trust often is lacking with Vietnam veterans [Doreen Weinstein, "Veteran Coping with PTSD: 'I Feel Blessed'," that Sioux Falls paper, 2013.05.26].
Saying PTSD sufferers are fakers and moochers makes things worse, too:
Beliefs and avoidance reinforce PTSD, [VA clinical psychologist] Carter-Visscher says.
“The way we think about the trauma can develop unhealthy, deeply rooted beliefs, such as, ‘People can’t be trusted.’ ”
In addition, Carter-Visscher says, “pushing away fear and anxiety, initially we feel less pain.” But avoiding thoughts, emotions and conversations about the trauma actually makes it worse.
Negative reactions to PTSD, such as being told, “Just get over it,” also can reinforce it [Weinstein, 2013.05.26].
Forty years after his service, Mennis finally overcame his mistrust of government at took advantage of the help the Veterans Administration offers:
Beginning CPT therapy with Carter-Visscher wasn’t easy, though. “I was mad at her,” Mennis admits. “She was getting on my case. She kept pushing things in my face — things I tried to forget about.”
He was required to write about his experiences. Describing disturbing events is part of the healing, Carter-Visscher says. “We go after the harmful thoughts.”
Since completing therapy, Mennis’ life has changed. He has hope. His troubling memories have been put in perspective.
“Now, when the triggers come up, the memory is not as traumatic or overwhelming,” Carter-Visscher says [Weinstein, 2013.05.26].
So, Brad Ford, care to spend this Memorial Day weekend calling this soldier a faker?
How many vets got over agent orange? Get over it does not fix a problem. If you put someone in either a just war or an unjust war, we still have the responsibility to help then either deal with something that you can not get over or help them heal.