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~POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER~
* Characteristics in Vietnam Era
Veterans*
The Vietnam experience differed from previous wars and subsequently
opened the door for the Vietnam era Veteran to Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), either chronic or delayed. Some of the differences are
as follows:
1) A 'Tour of Vietnam', for most Australians, lasted for 12 months. This
caused a change of commitment to the war from that of 'winning' to
'staying alive' for 365 days! Thus, the war became a highly encapsulated
event for each unit, and in many instances (particularly for REO's, or
reinforcements) an individualized war. There was no continuity between
those who preceded or followed - particularly for Air Force and
shore-based Naval personnel. No matter where one was, all of Vietnam
seemed hostile; the enemy was all around. Australian troops were often
forced to kill women and children combatants. The enemy struck by ambush
and booby-traps and was rarely seen. Military objectives were secured,
often with the loss of mates - killed and wounded, but not held; the
only observable outcome was the 'body count'!
2) Vietnam was a political war and the lack of 'intention to win' was
seen and felt among combatants and support troops as early as 1963 - 10
years before Australia's involvement ended!
3) Vietnam was, for Australia, a young man's war as most who served were
aged between 19 and 25 (the average age of the WWII serviceman was 26).
Whilst struggling to survive in the hell of Vietnam, back home students
all across the country were actively protesting against the war. Even
the families and friends of those serving grew increasingly weary of the
Six O'clock News by having the horrors of the war being thrust into
their lounge rooms. Many Veterans (and in some cases even those
servicemen based in Australia who had not yet served in Vietnam) were
degraded, attacked physically, and even spat upon when they returned
home!
4) With the advent of jet travel, many servicemen found themselves
standing at deserted major airports in the early hours of the morning,
less than 24 hours after being in a 'firefight' or on the receiving end
of a rocket attack. They were told to go on 10-days leave and then
report back to base. Many (particularly the Conscript!) to be
immediately discharged and told to 'go get a job', as though they had
just returned from a vacation - no counseling, no guidance or anything
to help them adjust back into society!
Recent statistics show that an alarming number of Australia's Vietnam
Veterans are currently suffering from PTSD.
*Intrusive Thoughts and Flashbacks
* Replaying combat experiences in their minds, searching for alternative
outcomes. * Flashbacks triggered by every day experiences: a helicopter
passing overhead, the smell of urine, the smell of diesel fuel, the
smell of mold, the smell of Asian food cooking, green tree lines,
popcorn popping, rainy days and Asian refugees simply walking down the
street.
*Guilt - Suicidal Feelings and Thoughts
*Self-destructive behavior: picking hopeless physical fights, single-car
accidents, compulsive blood donors
*Self-inflicted injuries to 'feel' pain - many 'accidents' with power
tools
*High suicide rate
*Financial suicide. As soon as things are well off, doing something to
lose it all, or just walking away from it
*Survivor's Guilt - When others have died around them they ask,
"How come that I survived when others more worth than me
didn't?" (This pertains mainly to medical personnel)
NOTE: If any of
this information has struck a nerve, or if it would seem to describe
someone you know and love, please contact your nearest POINT MAN Outpost
immediately. The Point Men of POINT MAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES have
dedicated themselves to the comfort and aid of their brothers in arms.
POINT MAN is comprised of Vietnam Veterans (and those from more recent
conflicts) from all branches of the Armed Forces. The majority of our
services are free, because you have already paid the price!
SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PTSD
*Depression
*Anger
*Anxiety
*Tendency to react under stress with survival tactics
*Emotional constriction
*Loss of interest in work and activities
*Survivor guilt
*Hyper-alertness
*Avoidance of activities that arouse memories of traumas in a war zone
*Suicidal feelings and thoughts
*Flashbacks to Vietnam
*Fantasies of retaliation and destruction
*Cynicism and distrust of government and authority
*Alienation
*Concern with humanistic values overlaid by hedonism
*Negative self-image
*Memory impairment
*Hypersensitivity to justice
*Problems with intimate relationships
*Difficulty with authority figures
*Emotional distance from children, wife and others
*Self-deceiving and self-punishing patterns of behavior such as an
inability to talk about war experiences
*Fear of losing others
*Tendency to fits of rage
*Denial of any social problems, or even denial of active service in the
Vietnam War
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