Quote:
Originally Posted by anthony  You see, a veterans emotional state has nothing to really do with the actual impact of war itself, because their emotional reasoning was stripped already at basic training. You are taught to hate the enemy, feel nothing, walk, talk, run, climb, swim, tie your shoe laces, etc etc. You as an individual are removed during Army training and replaced with an instinctive thought of team.
Soldiers aren't even aware of this at the time, and most never aware of it even after.
Being a soldier is never left when you sign off your military service, as it still continues with you because it proved effective in saving you and seeing you return home, hence to the solider this is more important than emotions which where stripped during basic training. You see, this thought pattern is acceptable and required on the battlefield, it is not however an effective means of life after the battlefield though, and seeing that, and changing that is as big as healing trauma itself.
Anyway, I could write a novel on this topic
What you must know though, is that its not ok to be emotionally numb, its not ok to not feel anymore, regardless whether it saved you before, |
Anthony, I find this information most interesting. Never once thought of, nor considered this. Husband was in the Marines for 4 years and this info. helps me understand (that which I couldn't previously understand, and sometimes with great frustration).
Just the other day I found myself very upset with him and soon afterwards writing it all down, for my personal journaling, just to get it out. What I wrote about was my great frustration and anger with his lack of emotional reasoning and the way he has expected me to Not Feel and to perform, perform, perform, perform...ect. Just like you said. Though I've experienced this as a pattern of expectations of his, he can shift and be flexible and it is not a daily occurance.
Last night, I persuaded him to at least listen as I read this post of yours. Though it was a challenge to keep him awake, because as soon as he sits he generally falls fast asleep, he heard much and found it most interesting as well. I find it amazing as it most definately answers questions I've had all the years I've known my husband. And over time I've grown to spot at times his thought patterns, but I couldn't put it into words, understand it or figure out the how and why?
I wish you would write a novel on this topic one day Anthony! Again, Most Interesting.
Oh, and when IraqVet said,:
"I, personally, don't feel anything when others fight or are sad or angry. Sometimes, I feel almost like I should laugh in their face at their ridiculous feelings of importance."
Sounds just like what I've been thinking and suspecting with my husband. I just now asked him if this was true of him and he nodded most definately in the affirmative.
...Amazing..Amazing..Amazing!....Real answers to real questions.