Page 667 - Total War on PTSD

received from his community is what truly helped him get his life back on track. He now devotes his career to helping other Veterans do the same.
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As evidenced by the many caveats and treatment techniques discussed in the preceding chapters of this book, PTSD has a real impact on real people like Rieman. When real people are hurting and don’t receive the treatment that they need, they may turn to thoughts of suicide, as evidenced by Rieman’s cautionary tale.
Importantly, not all Veterans are as fortunate as Rieman. One of the less fortunate Veterans who was also struggling with substance abuse after service was U.S. Army Sergeant John Toombs. When Toombs was turned away from a VA emergency room, he ended up taking his life on the property shortly thereafter. In a recorded message, Tombs stated: “When I asked for help, they opened up a Pandora’s box inside of me and just kicked me out the door. That’s how they treat Veterans ‘round here.”
According Toombs’ father, David Toombs, “As far as my son, he told me the main trigger for him, was that hopeless, helpless feeling, that would draw you so far down.” For many Veterans suffering with PTSD, overcoming those feelings of hopelessness and helplessness can feel like a Sisyphean curse — every time they seem to make progress, they end up sliding backwards. As Rieman confirms, this feeling that the cycle can never be broken is often what leads to suicide. Of course, as Rieman knows personally, the cycle can be broken, but doing so requires hard work on the part of the individual. However, it also requires a broader societal shift to re-shaping our cultural approach to the military, mental health generally, and the inter-relationship between the two.
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