Jun

13

WHAT YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT

Filed Under Combat PTSD, PTSD, Tears of a Warrior, Trauma, Treating PTSD, Veterans, War 

by Janet J. Seahorn, Ph.D

 war-torn

It was something I was not going to do – view the HBO special War Torn.

 

 I tried watching it almost two months ago but didn’t last ten minutes before I had to turn off the DVD. It had too many reminders of suffering associated with the aftermath of combat. Yet, last night I decided to see what it had to say about PTSD, since this has been our mission for the last twelve years – including research & writing.

 

Throughout the movie there seemed to be a very powerful, recurring theme, a theme of silence. Silence made the veteran a prisoner of his/her own memories. It did not matter what branch of the military a person served – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard…

 

The role one played during combat was quite expansive, overwhelming individuals who served in all facets of war. From the front lines of combat, to medics, nurses, body baggers, and any person who had participated in the tensions of war. What was similar, however, was the manner in which the experiences were seared on the mind, body, and spirit. This mark of trauma often left the individual with a sense of hopelessness, apprehension, torment, and sometimes shame.

 

Then, to add insult to injury, when the vet came home… home to a place that he/she would feel safe and normal, returning to civilian life sometimes added greater stress. Many family members and friends simply wanted the vet to be like he was before he left for war. Become normal again.

 

Perhaps these words might offer some understanding of what isn’t talked about and isn’t said when a war veteran returns home.

 

THINGS YOU DON‘T TALK ABOUT

By Janet J. Seahorn, Ph.D.

 

What don’t you talk about,

You survivors of war?

You, who are suppose to be brave,

To be fearless and bold.

You, who have witnessed the best of mankind,

And the worst.

You, who daily endured death;

Who lived with the unknown

The woundedness of others

And the scars within yourself.

 

What don’t you talk about,

You warriors of battles recent and old?

The panic attacks that grip your throat,

The night sweats from vivid dreams;

Anxieties that propel you to a universe

That seems out of control.

Anger unprovoked and dangerously destructive.

The self-medication… attempts to silence

The voices and erase the gory scenes.

 

What don’t you talk about

You, who cry with Silent Screams?

You, who cannot seem to find your words,

For words are too simple, too clean

To describe your distress

To others who have no concept of war.

 

For what you don’t talk about

Your brother and sister warriors understand.

They have been to that place of darkness.

They know – and in that knowing

They are there to walk beside you

If only in spirit.

Perhaps these fellow casualties

Make talk a bit less necessary.

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