Let’s talk about what type of traumatic events can trigger or cause PTSD ..read more

After my 1-year stint in Vietnam, I still had 2½ to go in the Navy. In this episode, I will tell you about more traumatic events during the next 2½ years that solidified my PTSD and would lock it up in my brain for the next 50 years ..read more

In this episode, I will tell you why I decided to join the United States Navy and how I ended up fighting in the Vietnam War ..read more

The lack of emotions, like sympathy, empathy, happiness and love, are major symptoms of my PTSD. I thought that not having these emotions was a normal part of my personality. Even though my lack of emotions was keeping me from having positive relationships, I thought there was nothing I could do about it, because that was who I was.  I have recently realized, that my lack of positive and negative emotions are not personality traits, but they are caused by my dysfunctional PTSD brain. That means that being unemotional is not who I am, but it is who my brain is telling me that I am ..read more

In this episode, we are going to discuss Dr. Sophie Mort’s blog post titled: ‘6 Ways to Switch off the Fight-or-Flight Response…and Feel Calm Again’. I have used 3 of the 6 techniques to help me get out of the ‘Fight-or-Flight Response’ mode. As we discuss those 3 techniques, I am going explain how I have used these techniques to get my brain to start operating normally again ..read more

In this episode, I want to dig deeper into what Dr. Mort has written, by adding my experiences to her strategies. As I do this, you will see how I have applied her strategies in my life and how those strategies have helped me overcome some of the socially dysfunctional symptoms my PTSD ..read more

When I went to the VA Disability Department to apply for disability for the ringing in my ears, I found out that a Vietnam Veteran who has had a heart problem could possibly qualify for VA Disability. I was told that the VA says that the heart attack of a Vietnam Veteran was probably caused by Agent Orange.  I applied and was approved for 40% VA Disability ..read more

In this episode, we will discuss how my personality, attitudes, and behaviors were changed from ‘normal’ to ‘dysfunctional’ as a result of my PTSD. I went from being a ‘good sailor’ in the Navy, to being a ‘bad sailor’ after my PTSD event in Vietnam. I carried those dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors into civilian life after my discharge from the Navy. For the next 50 years, I was described as ‘a bull in a China closet ..read more

Your mind controls your brain and your brain controls your body. When you have PTSD, your mind may no longer be in control of your brain. When that happens, your PTSD brain is on autopilot, and the signals it is sending out may be destructive to you.  Let's discuss how to get your mind back in control of your brain and your body ..read more

My personality changed while I was in Vietnam 50 years ago. I have always thought that my Vietnam personality, attitudes, and behaviors were the real me. But I have recently realized that my dysfunctional personality that I came out of Vietnam with was not who I am at all. My new personality (post-Vietnam) is a composite of all the symptoms of my PTSD. Those symptoms include: a heavy dose of hyperactivity, a severe lack of emotions, a total disrespect for authority, a 'My-Way-or-the-Highway' attitude, and lots of other negative attitudes and behaviors. Now that I know that my personality today ..read more