From a friend and Gulf War vet's blog. I'm glad he finally wrote about this (his own PTSD diagnosis):
"I thought with finally learning what I had, or what was wrong with me (PTSD), it would be more helpful than it actually was.In the back of my mind I believed I was literally crazy until I learned about my malady. I had the thought that by knowing what was "wrong" with me, that in someway I would get better. I assumed this knowledge would somehow cause a shift in my thinking. I had expectations of my enlightenment to be more profound than it was; but nothing changed except that I now knew more than I did before. My mind at this time could not fathom that I had become a member of the walking wounded.
When I had the realization of my condition, that a name could be assigned, I felt an immense relief. But then it hit me that nothing had changed at all! I expected this awareness would have a greater impact than it did.What I did find in this new perception, a deep profoundness and discernment which had escaped me before,I finally found myself to be no longer alone."
His warranted conclusion?
"It hit me just recently that information can lead to knowledge but without necessarily leading to wisdom."
Editor's note: Scott Lee's background, in his own words:
"I am a Army veteran of the first Gulf War, I was a driver of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. My unit fought the Iraqi Republican Guard in three campaigns and my vehicle was point for the brigade. I drove for 172 hours straight, engaged in 100 hours of sustained combat and witnessed literally thousands of enemy combatants die in that short span of time. Since being honorably discharged from the service of my country I have struggled with PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, homelessness, social and health issues. It took me 7 tries and 15 years to go through the VA bureaucracy to get the help that I needed. Nothing has been given to me that I have not fought for with my life, either in the Gulf War or with the VA. I gave freely of my time and service, the same was not done for me."
For a link to Scott Lee's excellent blog, PTSD: A Soldier's Perspective, click here.
