Well I just got done talking to the Navy Doc again today concerning my PTSD issues; after a two hour session I thought that it was quite a breakthrough for him to ask me if I felt my condition was resolved.

How do I know? I told him that evaluation of my condition was part of his skill set, not mine; I also told him truthfully that, living inside this thing, I could say that I had learned coping skills that I did not know nineteen months ago when I returned from Iraq.

So am I "resolved"?

Well, I know that I can cope with the occasional dream or frustrating feeling better than I could last year. When this first began, I had no idea how to live with, much less get rid of, these intense feelings or emotions. Yes, my condition is resolved.

Resolved implies many things. It does not mean that I will never again have a bad day, or a bad dream; it does not always mean that I will handle myself in the correct manner when it comes to getting angry or frustrated. It means that I now recognize my condition and have skills that will help me travel through the rough patches and come out on the other side a whole and balanced person.

I still get the creeps when I am in a big crowd. I still jump at really loud (unexpected) noises. I still loose my temper and yell sometimes. I will probably always be dealing with the emotions that come from my life experiences; some days I may not want to be around anyone else besides another veteran. But, I know these feelings. When they are inappropriate, I can addresss them. I can talk to my wife or my close friends. I can blog my emotions into the ether that is the world wide web. I can pray for more grace and more patience. I can live with this without regret for having been a Marine.

You're welcome America and, I love you.

VRS

Mike