re what are your fleas?

[Guest guest]

I have to say the worst fleas I have is this stupis PTSD that I have

been living with my whole life. Only in the last few years, when I

have been in therapy, have I been able to deal with some of it, but

my PTSD is so active, and keeps coming back. It is really hard to

live this way.

If you think about it, we first began to understand PTSD after the

Vietnam War, when veterans were not able to hold jobs or function in

society. If you look around any city, you will see many homeless

Vietnam vets; they are scarred by PTSD and just can't function as

normal human beings. Although I have been homeless, I am not now,

but emotionally and psychologically, I don't feel too different or

far away from these homeless Vietnam vets. I think my PTSD is

comparable.

I read a book about PTSD, and there are two kinds. One kind of PTSD

comes from a one-time event, that affects you. Another kind of PTSD

is much worse, and much harder to heal from; this second kind of PTSD

comes from repeated traumatic experiences over years. And since the

traumatic experiences of KOs happened when they were very young, and

us KOs often don't know anything different, our PTSD can be really

really bad.

I know I struggle with PTSD on a daily basis, my head is so messed

up.

For your paper, I would recommend reading a book about long-term

PTSD, and how devastating it can be, and how hard to heal, and how

people struggle to live with the PTSD. I think that is a

major " flea " that many of us deal with.

It almost seems like " flea " is too mild and cute a word for the

reality that I live daily with PTSD. I am grateful for the

interactions I am able to have with people.

Your friend

Walking to.