I Lost Friends To Suicide

by Anonymous

I have no idea where to start or how to even begin to write this. I am four weeks out of the Army. I was discharged due to a failed drug test.


Well I came in to our barracks room to find my best friend/battle buddy/roommate hanging in our latrine door way. As I came in to find his lifeless body hanging, I did what any TRUE GRUNT would do. I cut him down and immediately began my CLS teachings. I kept doing cpr and yelling for help.

No one ever came. I sat with him, holding him close begging him to come back. After an eternity it seems, I picked him up and carried him to our battalion staff duty and begged them to help.

I can't get it off my mind, so I started self-medicating and now am out of the army. Following all of this I've lost another due to self-execution. I've pushed the only family I have away, and have nothing else. I want my life.



Response from Dr. DeFoore

Hello, and thanks for telling your story here. The trauma you've been through is unimaginable. Losing someone you care about to suicide is a gut-wrenching pain, and very challenging to recover from. I don't know how much help I can offer here, but I'll try.

I strongly encourage you to write about your experiences, combat trauma and the trauma associated with the suicide of your friends. This has been found to be very helpful to war veterans. When you write about your experience, it sorts it out in your mind, helping you to come to terms with what happened. You will find guidelines for this writing process on this page.

It is also extremely important that you get clean and sober. If not, then you will be unable to heal emotionally. When you self-medicate, you put your emotions on hold, which stops the healing process.

I'm not pretending that I have the answers for you here, but these things just might help.

I wish you all the best in your healing and recovery.

And thank you so much for your service.

Dr. DeFoore

Viet Nam Vet With Road Rage

by Anonymous

I have a 7 year relationship. My friend has road rage, honks if another car does not start immediately from a light, honking, blinking lights, exploding (in car) etc. He also gets extremely frustrated when he cannot complete an act instantly. He shouts, swears LOUDLY but it only lasts a few seconds. He does not get physical. He was in Viet Nam. The rage is generally not directed at me, but from his inability to complete or start the task, getting keys from pocket, etc.




Response from Dr. DeFoore

Hello, and thanks for telling your story here. It sounds like your friend might be suffering from PTSD symptoms. If so, there isn't much you can do until or unless he does some work with his issues.

I suggest you look at this page on relationships, and follow the recommendations you find there. relationship problems.

Being in the presence of another person's rage is traumatic, even if it is not directed at you. You are being traumatized in this relationship, and you must take care of yourself, or you will only add to his problems over time.

This site has several pages on PTSD and road rage. If it feels right to you, suggest that your friend come to this site and do a search on "road rage" and "PTSD."

Believe in yourself, and take good care of yourself so that you can bring your best to your friend.

My very best to you,

Dr. DeFoore

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