Question:
Famous (a…@earthworld.com) wrote:
: : Independence Day is a wonderful holiday, and must be acknowledged. : However, I wish that the fireworks component would br deleted as an : activity. I am sure that many combat veterans would agree. Keep the : faith. I am not a veteran myself, but I tend to agree with you. I have panic disorder rather than PTSD, but in trying to understand my disorder I have spoken with a number of veterans that have panic disorder and/or PTSD. I agree that fireworks are more a thrill for civilians, and don’t show much respect for veterans with PTSD. Someone should organize a quite gathering of civilians and veterans at local war memorials, so that the public can be better acquainted with the veterans who have defended the independance we all enjoy. Best Wishes, Arthur
Response:
I bet there are a lot of animals that would agree with you (us) too. It broke my heart last night (in between startle reponses) seeing hit animals. That alone should be enough to scrap the fireworks and stick with bbq. Take care eileen
Response:
Hello Eileen: I know that the creatures of the earth displayed the many PTSD symptoms that are common to us……….Thank you for reminding me that life is more than what we humans depict it to be. To join you, I would rather enjoy a warm day and evening relaxing with the "Q" nearby……..living life with and in peace. Famous HeyYou97 <heyyo…@aol.com> wrote in article <1998070604165200.AAA03…@ladder03.news.aol.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I bet there are a lot of animals that would agree with you (us) too. It broke > my heart last night (in between startle reponses) seeing hit animals. That > alone should be enough to scrap the fireworks > and stick with bbq. > Take care > eileen
Response:
On 5 Jul 1998 19:10:53 GMT, "Famous" <a…@earthworld.com> wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hello Everyone: >I thought I would offer a few words about the events of yesterday and the >effect that it had on me. Many Americans do not realize that fireworks are >not conducive to positive mental health for many combat veterans, including >myself. I do not derive pleasure or enjoyment from this activity because >it exascerbates PTSD symptoms I incurred during the Vietnam War. >Independence Day is a wonderful holiday, and must be acknowledged. >However, I wish that the fireworks component would br deleted as an >activity. I am sure that many combat veterans would agree. Keep the >faith. >Peace and Love, >Famous
Sorry you and a few like you don’t like fireworks, but the rest of us 250 million Americans just love them. Isn’t it rather self-centered to seek to deny the rest of the country? Hey, stay inside and turn the TV up loud! RB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
Capt’n Butler (CharlestonRh…@yahoo.com) wrote:
: : Sorry you and a few like you don’t like fireworks, but the rest of us : 250 million Americans just love them. : : Isn’t it rather self-centered to seek to deny the rest of the country? Isn’t it rather self-centered to disrespect the views of veterans with PTSD? Answer: Yes. : Hey, stay inside and turn the TV up loud! Are you suggesting that injured veterans do not have the right to enjoy public life? Are you suggesting that such folks should be condemned to a housebound existance? – Arthur
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Arthur Anderson wrote: > Capt’n Butler (CharlestonRh…@yahoo.com) wrote: > : > : Sorry you and a few like you don’t like fireworks, but the rest of us > : 250 million Americans just love them. > : > : Isn’t it rather self-centered to seek to deny the rest of the country? > Isn’t it rather self-centered to disrespect the views of > veterans with PTSD? > Answer: Yes. > : Hey, stay inside and turn the TV up loud! > Are you suggesting that injured veterans do not have the > right to enjoy public life? Are you suggesting that such > folks should be condemned to a housebound existance?
Hi, Arthur! As insensitively phrased and otherwise objectionable as the post which you quoted is, it does bring up a valuable point. I have seen many people who try to cope with PTSD by trying to change the world around them into a place in which they will be more comfortable. I have never seen this work. The most successful people I have seen with PTSD learn to adapt to the situations that they find they must endure. The request (or wish) for the entire American populace to give up fireworks is not a reasonable request. There are too many sources of trauma to eliminate them all. Encouraging that wish is not helpful, because it simply places the blame for dysfunction on society and, not infrequently, erodes motivation for PTSD sufferer to make the changes necessary to resume a fulfilling public life. My biggest objection to the post you quoted is that it seems to deny the real suffering that the veteran is going through. There are much more effective ways to understand and support PTSD sufferers while letting them know that the world cannot change for them. Regards, John
Response:
John H. Casada (cas…@uthscsa.edu) wrote: : : Hi, Arthur! Hi John, : As insensitively phrased and otherwise objectionable as the post which : you quoted is, it does bring up a valuable point. : : I have seen many people who try to cope with PTSD by trying to change : the world around them into a place in which they will be more : comfortable. I have never seen this work. : : The most successful people I have seen with PTSD learn to adapt to the : situations that they find they must endure. The request (or wish) for : the entire American populace to give up fireworks is not a reasonable : request. There are too many sources of trauma to eliminate them all. Yes, I realize that. I wasn’t suggesting that the country give up fireworks, just that alternative celebrations be considered. : Encouraging that wish is not helpful, because it simply places the blame : for dysfunction on society and, not infrequently, erodes motivation for : PTSD sufferer to make the changes necessary to resume a fulfilling : public life. This isn’t what I was trying to encourage, but I can see how my post might be interpreted that way. : My biggest objection to the post you quoted is that it seems to deny the : real suffering that the veteran is going through. There are much more : effective ways to understand and support PTSD sufferers while letting : them know that the world cannot change for them. I agree. Best Wishes, Arthur
Response:
Arthur Anderson wrote: > This isn’t what I was trying to encourage, but I can see > how my post might be interpreted that way.
Arthur, I feared that my post would be misunderstood. While I was addressing you, I was not attributing the idea of societal change to you. (I couldn’t think of a simple way of making that distinction in my original post). You simply highlighted an important part of PTSD recovery. For many PTSD sufferers I know, this problem is a two edged sword. Being treated differently from other people simply reminds them of the effects of the trauma. Being treated the same as others is very stressful. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place! Regards, John
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In article <6nvvvr$…@netaxs.com>, a…@netaxs.com (Arthur Anderson) wrote: > Capt’n Butler (CharlestonRh…@yahoo.com) wrote: > : > : Sorry you and a few like you don’t like fireworks, but the rest of us > : 250 million Americans just love them. > : > : Isn’t it rather self-centered to seek to deny the rest of the country? > Isn’t it rather self-centered to disrespect the views of > veterans with PTSD? > Answer: Yes. > : Hey, stay inside and turn the TV up loud! > Are you suggesting that injured veterans do not have the > right to enjoy public life? Are you suggesting that such > folks should be condemned to a housebound existance? > – Arthur
Whoa! Don’t put words into my mouth! I’m a combat veteran wth "PTSD, chronic, severe". Lot’s of people really enjoy fireworks. I used to, years ago. I just stay inside and well within the "no-fire" zone. C. Butler is not condeming anyone to anything, he is suggestion common curtosey from the few to the many. He never suggested that the many drag me out of my house and force me to do anything! I don’t much care for Xmas either. Are you suggesting that everyone give up on St. Nick?
Response:
Jon Hold (jonh…@eudoramail.com) wrote:
: : Whoa! Don’t put words into my mouth! I’m a combat veteran wth "PTSD, : chronic, severe". Lot’s of people really enjoy fireworks. I used to, years : ago. I just stay inside and well within the "no-fire" zone. C. Butler is : not condeming anyone to anything, he is suggestion common curtosey from : the few to the many. He never suggested that the many drag me out of my : house and force me to do anything! I don’t much care for Xmas either. Are : you suggesting that everyone give up on St. Nick? No, I’m not suggesting that the public should give up certain holidays. I was only responding to what appeared to be an unsympathetic response to the original poster. If my response was too severe, please accept my apologies. Guess I’ve just spent enough years confronting distorted perceptions and unethical sales pitches that I tend to over react at times. Best Wishes, Arthur
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