November 10, 2010 - Don Bankosh stands next to the bathroom door in his bedroom and points to large holes he punched into it during a fit of rage several years ago.
He could have replaced the door. Instead, he keeps it damaged so he won't forget that day and others like it.
It is a daily reminder of his shame at that outburst, a warning to hold at bay the anger, fear, guilt and other effects of the post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, he acquired after nearly two decades as an Army helicopter medevac soldier rendering aid to casualties.
Now, after five suicide attempts, numerous inpatient stays in PTSD clinics, individual and group therapy, prescription medications and the support of his fiancee, Don, 42, says he is happy. And he is vigilant in his recovery.
That's why every day he dutifully follows the to-do list left by his fiancee, Kathleen Zappone, 37, that includes everything from dusting to taking his medications to remembering to eat lunch to cleaning the hardwood floors of the stone house they share on an acre of land in rural Crabtree, Westmoreland County. He needs to keep busy so there is no idle time for the horrific images of death and suffering to invade his psyche. {read rest }
Vietnam Veterans: Vietnam Veterans, by their sheer numbers of those suffering, helped raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
All four video's in the series can be found here including our brother Vietnam vets video, with links back to their stories.
The Country, for the most part ignored with many calling those who served slackers and more, much more. Why because they don't mind paying for the destructive toys of Wars while Condemning diplomacy that works to solve misunderstandings and more, but they refuse to pay what is really needed as to the results of those Wars. Just listen now as numbers of people are condemning everything about their Government including a certain political party, yet do you hear them or their spokespeople they flock to hear mention anything about the continuing two conflicts at present especially as to those getting killed and maimed, No! Unless they feel the need to use them in mention of their 'support?' while waving their 'flag?' of 'patriotism?', but No Demand That They Should Suffer by giving those who served what they deserve and are owed, right or wrong as to ones thoughts on these Wars served in!!
To me everyone who is sent into an Occupation theater develops some form of PTS, many much more then the rest {especially the combat veteran but all know,including the people who's country is being occupied and destroyed, what's going on and others see or live through directly the same}, why because actual War Zones are the total opposite of how one was brought up and taught from right and wrong and more, even Military training for the mind knows it isn't yet the reality to be lived. Same goes for, and our helping each other, us Vietnam Vets and those civilians who recognized, over these years has made it understandable that civilians, not only in occupation theaters, suffer from PTS those who've lived through extreme traumatic experiences in their lives, children and adults, also suffer from and have often been misdiagnosed because of the lack of understand or just ignoring of PTSD by the masses.
The top video and story is the last of a four part series from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette the Vietnam Veterans video is the closer. You can find the links at the papers site or by using the posts I've provided.
The following is from another site, it's a PSA: Hearts of Heroes from Real Warriors * Real Battles
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