I'm going to caveat us this entire post as I am recovering from jaw surgery at the moment and might come off overly snippy. I apologize in advance.

It's not hard for them to find proper care. Military personnel have tons of options for the treatment of PTSD. I have a slight touch of it, it's manageable with a lot of physical exercise and some reflective hobbies like fishing. A guy I work with has a very bad case of it, with traumatic brain injury (concussion) on top of it. He has at least 12-15 hours of therapy a week at various doctors and therapists in the DC area. He is by no means an exception - military personnel and veterans have wide ranging options on treating PTSD.

I see two problems at the moment with the treatment of PTSD and the perception of PTSD.

1. We're dealing with PTSD seriously for the first time in our nation's history. It almost became a qualifier for a Purple Heart (and should be). This means we're on the cutting edge on understanding the causes, effects, and treatments of PTSD. To make matters worse, you are also dealing with TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury - in many cases, and that can amplify existing effects or have unique effects that make diagnosis and treatment difficult. In addition, PTSD, like most psychological damage, is not something that can be cured and short term alleviation is rare.

2. The second issue is that many vets are not aware of all the options available to them, and in many cases, they aren't even aware that they are suffering from something...there's a lot of pride associated with these folks, and to many it is admitting that have something wrong with them. Psychological illnesses are like that...many people don't admit they are depressed, etc...

The perception of lack of treatment is out there because the VA is overwhelmed, the strategic communications from the military could be a LOT better, and we're not really sure how to deal with this at the moment...we're learning as we go...not an excuse not to take care of our own, we have to do better, but we're really treating PTSD with the seriousness it requires for the first time in the history of the nation.

See you tomorrow, feeling pretty shitty right now.

I guess I'll talk to you about it later, but my wife is a therapist at a community health clinic and treats soldiers that can't find care under their insurance when they get back.

I hope you feel better

I'd like to talk to you about that off line tomorrow if possible. I'll send you a PM. I am in a position to influence.

That would be great

The Dude wrote:if we're doing amateur psychology, i think the actual date would be too important to do it not on the anniversary

Could have pushed it up cause the date of the marathon?

It was Patriots' Day. It's the same holiday the Va. Tech shootings happened on. It's the same holiday the Waco siege ended on. It's the same week Columbine happened. It could be coincidental.

The date really doesn't matter, though.

The Va Tech shooting and Waco siege had nothing to do with a holiday in Massachusetts

and neither did the OKC bombing but they happen to all have that in common

OKC bombing wasn't on Patriots' Day

oh my mistake

The Va Tech guy was influenced by Columbine if I recall. The people that do these things do like to try to match up what they do in close proximity to anniversaries of other events sometimes.

It's weird that this week is so awful historically. It's the beginning of Spring. People should be happy.

My birthday is Friday, it's usually around when all these happen.

drsmooth wrote:speaking of getting it right, CNN backing off its breathless "confirmed ricin" reporting

apparently confirmation was not confirmed

Is now. Letter was intercepted at postal facility and never got to Sen Wicker's office.

Wheels Tupay wrote:Much rather have them take their time and get it right then rush to unsound conclusions.It is important to keep a cool head, figure out the facts and have a responsible, measured reaction to the attack.

Also, just because we the public aren't aware of leads or suspects doesn't mean law enforcement doesn't have any. Sometimes it's advantageous that a suspect doesn't know they're a suspect, especially in such a high media profile case.

BTW, has anyone confirmed where Delmon Young was on Monday?

It was also the day that taxes are due, which I don't think should be forgotten. If it's some domestic nutjob, and it probably is, no doubt they are angry about the government being in their lives.

My conspiracy theory is that it came from the NRA. See why we need guns?!?! Distract us from the gun legislation being discussed and put our focus on the latest tragedy rather than the school shooting.... heck, it even happened in new england, which is the area most in tune to the school shooting and the aftermath.

But most likely it was some lone crazy person angry about something that they shouldn't really be that angry about (I have to pay taxes and follow some basic rules!!! Nevermind that he/she got to Boston on roads or rail paid for by those taxes, ate food and drank water inspected and regulated by those taxes, and used all manner of services paid for with those same taxes).

not sure if i saw it in this thread, but the Saudi guy was let go as he did nothing but run away from an exploding bomb. the guy who tackled him should be ashamed

not quite, he's still being considered a person of interest (in a good way, as the cops think he may have witnessed something).

Reddit is on the job

http://www.reddit.com/r/findbostonbombers

what is wrong with people?

Edit: very gruesome pic