TBI - Double Trouble w/ PTSD?

Notice anything about the comparison below?

Similarities? What if you have both?

This post is a continuation of the previous post on PTSD. Have you read the blog post on PTSD? https://www.warriortraditionfund.org/post/banned-do-you-even-ptsd Their are eight symptoms; Anxiety, Suspicion/Paranoia, Substance Abuse, Headaches, Sleep Disturbance, Memory impairment, Depression, Rage. Increased Anger/irritability of TBI that are also part of PTSD. It is important to remember that with TBI or PTSD you may some, all, or no cross over symptoms. Remember, every person has different experience, reactions, outcomes. In my case I have both TBI and PTSD. Of the symptom listed in both TBI & PTSD, I have 7 of 8...but initially had all 8, drinking was my substance abuse then but hasn't been for 15 years. On the TBI side I additionally experience impaired decision making from time to time, occasional word retrieval problems, very low frustration tolerance, some elevated impulsive behavior, noise sensitivity, avoidance of crowds/social isolation. Like wise on the PTSD side I experience guilt , intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hyper vigilance, being easily startled. What a mess...right. Yes, but understand, and I want to be extra clear on this, I by no means am equating my situation to anyone else nor am I suggesting I went through the levels that many of our Veterans have. Nevertheless...

I have been blessed and fortunate to be able to get off many medications including pain killers but that is good and bad. Good, because like I said it is a blessing to not be in that medicine induced fog that only alleviates the symptoms marginally. I have a high tolerance to meds anyway which means I'd have to take 3-4 times what the average person would and still only get a marginal relief factor. Bad because with out meds it was still worse than with meds. Over time I have gotten used to the situation and learned to cope with the symptoms but not with out extreme ramifications to me, my family and people I came in contact with. And by no means am I exempt at this point from relapsing into anything. But I have come a long ways from where I was when I left the military. I explain that another day in a different blog post perhaps. Below are the areas I touched on in the PTSD post (link above). When you consider each of the symptoms listed above that affect me on a daily basis, each of these areas just become that much more important. Remember each Veteran who experiences TBI, PTSD or both at the same time is going to be completely different than the next. Over the last 19 years since I was Medically retired I have seen & experienced this reality with every single Veteran I know, met or spoke with via phone or text. Often times they just need someone to take the time to listen & understand before they try to fix them. In fact, like myself, I've had Veterans who simply weren't getting the help they needed because they couldn't get through the process and no one would take the time to stop, listen, understand and then hold their hands to ensure they made it through the process to receive that help. Do you remember the old saying "stop, drop & roll"? Maybe its time for people to "Stop, Listen & Understand".

Expectations. What are your expectations of me? Do you even PTSD?

Listen & Remember.

Understanding & Patience

Healing vs Impressing