War vets turn to farming, instead of prescription drugs..

[oldsoldier]

Thanks for the kind words Snow Walker not just about me but the other oldsoldiers of my generation.

I'll keep this short but I want to tell you something about the age differences. There's a part of me frozen in time at 20 that will always be there. When I look in the mirror my eyes will literally not let me percieve the all grey hairs just the blonde ones that used to be there. It is bizarre I can tell you. At any rate thank you once again.

Your Older Young Brother
oldsoldier

[Snow Walker]

maric I know you're not a veteran but love mr maric dearly and you're a great wife for it.

Just a few comments here. I lost the love of my life when I came back because I was so changed. I went on an adrenaline and alcohol trip trying to get the rush back and then we lost our baby through a miscarriage.

I can say now that the booze or drugs short term are bad enough and long term a ticket to an empty life of sadness. I'm not against prescription meds but SSRIs need care just like insulin for a diabetic.

Another thing is there's nothing wrong with someone getting riled and going off but no hitting anyone. The catch there is on booze that's a real problem.

I agree that love is so necessary for both husband and wife. That along with doing things together, talking and making plans slowly is great. In my climbing days we used to say, "don't look at the top of the mountain" just put one foot in front of the other. Believe me I have a good idea what wives go through and it's no picnic. A lot of the Vet Centers have groups for women to get together and talk about common problems.

It is a good thing for veterans to work farms, get close to the earth or spend time in the woods they love. So is having a dog if possible but anything to be passionate about until the dust settles. If I had my wish it would be for the men to love their women madly and never let go. Hang in there as tough as it gets you're a survivor too.

Oldsoldier, you speak with words of wisdom my friend! I was at the V.A. earlier today and I got talking with an old Vietnam Vet. Not only do us current combat Vets. have to stick together, but I think it really helps talking with those who served before us. Things have changed in the military, but the more they do, the more they stay the same also. I felt so good talking to that guy and had a big grin inside when I walked away!

Everyone has their ghosts and no one is perfect, we all make mistakes. I do want you to know one thing right now though! Oldsoldiers like yourself have done far more good then you think...it was those such as yourself who made me want to serve this country just as you did. The military we have today greatly reflects all of you who came before us. The examples you guys set for me make all I went through so worth while.

Your Brother,
Snow Walker

[oldsoldier]

maric I know you're not a veteran but love mr maric dearly and you're a great wife for it.

Just a few comments here. I lost the love of my life when I came back because I was so changed. I went on an adrenaline and alcohol trip trying to get the rush back and then we lost our baby through a miscarriage.

I can say now that the booze or drugs short term are bad enough and long term a ticket to an empty life of sadness. I'm not against prescription meds but SSRIs need care just like insulin for a diabetic.

Another thing is there's nothing wrong with someone getting riled and going off but no hitting anyone. The catch there is on booze that's a real problem.

I agree that love is so necessary for both husband and wife. That along with doing things together, talking and making plans slowly is great. In my climbing days we used to say, "don't look at the top of the mountain" just put one foot in front of the other. Believe me I have a good idea what wives go through and it's no picnic. A lot of the Vet Centers have groups for women to get together and talk about common problems.

It is a good thing for veterans to work farms, get close to the earth or spend time in the woods they love. So is having a dog if possible but anything to be passionate about until the dust settles. If I had my wish it would be for the men to love their women madly and never let go. Hang in there as tough as it gets you're a survivor too.

[maric]

maric what they don't say about Seroquel and other anti-depressants like SSRI types is that given to younger agitated people, it can send them into orbit without a rocketship. It fuels the agitation in many cases and needs close watching.

I know about the high suicide rate it's a national disgrace. The best I can offer is for veterans to find what they love, get out into nature and keep busy with their lives and passions. That's a natural medicine for feeling good or better.

Take care.

Thanks for the posts oldsoldier. I am not a veteran, I am just married to one. A very proud one at that! I didnt know my husband before he went to Iraq at age 19, to jump out of planes and watch all of his friends die....I do know war changes a person, how could it not? By saying that I think so many wives have a lot to deal with when their husbands do return. Its almost as "hush hush" as the issues their men face. I think some instigators with depression can be drugs and alcohol. They are just depressants, and when you turn to them, instead of positive ways, well.. it isnt a good combo. I know many of you have returned home, and Im positive many have had your own battles here. Love the ones around you, who love and dedicate themselves to you. You have to open up and trust. No one is alone, and if working the fields, or being alone in the wilderness or even fishing is a way to be at peace, even if temporarily, then embrace that. Nature and exercise are the best medicine. So is communication..
not to say that antidepressants arent for some people, they are just extremely over prescribed and misused. Then they are pulled from the shelves because they are deemed unsafe...The whole purpose of programs like this, its my understanding, is to find an inner peace and work thru trauma. Im sorry if anything I put here upsets anyone.. I dont intend to do so...

[oldsoldier]

Read this earlier. Thought a few of you might like the article.. The suicide rate among our vets is way, way too many..Just wanted to share this short article..
http://healthimpactnews.com/2011/war...tead-of-drugs/

maric what they don't say about Seroquel and other anti-depressants like SSRI types is that given to younger agitated people, it can send them into orbit without a rocketship. It fuels the agitation in many cases and needs close watching.

I know about the high suicide rate it's a national disgrace. The best I can offer is for veterans to find what they love, get out into nature and keep busy with their lives and passions. That's a natural medicine for feeling good or better.

Take care.

[oldsoldier]

If I can make one suggestion to younger veterans it would be stick together. I mean that in a social sense. Find some other brothers you relate to even though you may want to isolate. Hang out together, call each other or just write but be your own squad. Only the closest family members might get what your trying to deal with.

It breaks my heart to see how you guys have been treated. I've followed both wars since the beginning and y'all are the best of America. Never forget that no matter what you run up against.

You're all in my prayers. God bless you and yours!

[Snow Walker]

The woods is my church.

Hey, you stole my saying...I couldn't agree more!!!!

I've been telling people that for years and they look at me like I'm crazy.

[Stitch]

The woods is my church.

[Snow Walker]

That was an awesome article and thank you for posting! May not be organic, but what does this look like to you? My family, spending time in the woods and working the land have done far more for me then the VA!

All the VA does is assume your a liar and push pills down your throat.

Sending our soldiers back to Iraq and Afganistan over and over again is another example of how stupid most Americans are. I want to know how most Americans think this is ok. Put me on office and I will tell you right now there are plenty of wanna be Americans coming over that southern border who can take their turn in combat to earn their citizenship!

There are soldiers who have been in combat and still are that should have been pulled from duty and yet they volunteered to go back again because serving in the war zone is all they understand.

The American people need to wake up!

You see, the American people would have never put up with enacting a draft and yet they overlook the fact that our soldiers and their families are being destroyed by serving tour after tour! Worse yet, once these soldiers return home they are looked at like "what is wrong with you." It's a no win situation for them and a win, win for this so called government!

It's no different then the border with Mexico. Why should the government fix it when it's easirer and more beneficial to idiots like obozo to victimize the illegals coming over so they can count on them for votes.

Wake up people.

I would like to see how the average American would change after only serving one tour in Iraq or Afganistan.

He wasn't a close friend, but a close friend of my Brothers who I knew very well served FOUR tours as a sniper and I saw first hand how his life fell to pieces. (He is the one that taught me how to build ghilliesuits by the way.) Any way, after serving all that time overseas and returning home to his family he was killed when crossing the street by a driver passing by.

This country needs to wake up before it's too late. I honestly think most Americans look at the number of soldiers killed in these conflicts as being small when in reality it is compared to WWII, Vietnam etc.., but what they don't see is the devestating effect it has had on the lives of those who are fortunate enough to return. To be honest, why wouldn't a soldier want to return to combat when they come home to find a country/life they can no longer relate to. You see, after serving so many tours you start seeing that the only people who understand you are the BROTHERS YOU SERVED WITH.

God Bless Our Men and Women in Uniform!!!!

[maric]

Read this earlier. Thought a few of you might like the article.. The suicide rate among our vets is way, way too many..Just wanted to share this short article..

http://healthimpactnews.com/2011/war-vets-turn-to-organic-farming-for-mental-health-instead-of-drugs/