Category: loneliness

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Battling PTSD Can cause Heartache for a Family

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. We help bring change to lives. The response has been wonderful.  We just past 3,994 new subscribers. That was a huge increase in 2016. We only had 1,000 two years ago. In 2017 help us to make it to 4,000.

We are only six away of reaching our goal.  We will be giving a prize to the person who is our 4,000th person to subscribe. Somebody will win in the next few hours. 

Help us make it to 4,000 by subscribing today if you haven’t already. This shows you care for veterans. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that, and the posts will come straight to your inbox.                            ____________________________________________________________

Doug Bolton, the founder of the blog, Signs of Hope, which is at www.dailysignsofhope.com, has written a new book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It reaches out the many military and veterans who may be battling anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, rejections, and the many other usual suspects. There are 22 military connected suicides every day. That is almost one every hour. Doug wants to help stop those statistics.  

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This is a new social network just for veterans. I joined it and made instant friendships with veterans who want to talk about what I want to talk about. Please check it out. You will be glad you did. 

https://www.rallypoint.com/join/spc-douglas-bolton

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We have just added a fantastic product for people who are suffering from PTSD. I have looked at the video myself. It is a little long, but it is very valuable. Go to   https://sites.google.com/site/v4vweaponspackage/  to see for yourself. It will change your life if you suffer from PTSD. 

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The 4th of July is passed, and life will settle back down for us veterans, but will it really?

Many veterans have struggles all year around. They battle PTSD, TBI, depression, homelessness, war wounds, etc.

There are many brother and sister veterans who don’t have the peace they need. They feel they don’t have the support they need. They would rather hide in their bed all day.

I feel for these heroes. They served their country and should be respected, and get the treatment they need.

If you know of someone who is suffering, reach out to them. Show them they matter. It could in your own family.

The hard part is that many veterans don’t want people to know they are hurting. They hide in their little world and try to go at it alone. Some many suicides happen because of this. There are 22 veteran suicides everyday. I didn’t say every week, or even every year. This is everyday.

How do you know if a veteran is hurting?

  • Have their feelings changed about the world since they left the military? Often this is a sign of an inner battle going on inside them.
  • Do they seem distant and do not want to talk about their experiences from the military? This is a sign of PTSD.
  • Do they get angry easily? Another sign of PTSD.
  • Do they refuse to  get help? They feel they are suppose to be tough guys, and not seek help.
  • Do they break down crying and they don’t know why? The memories come rising up in their brains like a huge tidal wave.
  • Are they abusive? Domestic violence has no place in the homes, but PTSD often causes it.

So what can we do about it?

  • Love them unconditionally. Not matter how hard it gets your consistent love will overcome them eventually.
  • Make them seek help. This is one huge step to their recovery. They will probably fight this, but you might have to let them know that it is a deal breaker if they don’t get help.
  • Try to make their environment stress free as possible. If it is near the 4th of July, go for a trip away for the fireworks for a couple of days. It will be a good bonding time, and the veteran will not be jittery from the noise.
  • Listen to them! If they want to talk that is a huge break through.

I fully understand that it is hard on the whole family. You are probably close to battling depression yourself. Stay strong, you may be the only hope for a struggling veteran.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

Posted on

Change is Hard Even if it’s Good Change

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. We help bring change to lives. The response has been wonderful.  We just past 3,885 new subscribers. That was a huge increase in 2016. We only had 1,000 two years ago. In 2017 help us to make it to 4,000.

We are only 115 away of reaching our goal.  We will be giving a prize to the person who is our 4,000th person to subscribe. 

Help us make it to 4,000 by subscribing today if you haven’t already. This shows you care for veterans. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that, and the posts will come straight to your inbox.                            ____________________________________________________________

Doug Bolton, the founder of the blog, Signs of Hope, which is at www.dailysignsofhope.com, has written a new book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It reaches out the many military and veterans who may be battling anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, rejections, and the many other usual suspects. There are 22 military connected suicides every day. That is almost one every hour. Doug wants to help stop those statistics.  

______________________________________________________________

This is a new social network just for veterans. I joined it and made instant friendships with veterans who want to talk about what I want to talk about. Please check it out. You will be glad you did. 

https://www.rallypoint.com/join/spc-douglas-bolton

______________________________________

We have just added a fantastic product for people who are suffering from PTSD. I have looked at the video myself. It is a little long, but it is very valuable. Go to   https://sites.google.com/site/v4vweaponspackage/  to see for yourself. It will change your life if you suffer from PTSD. 

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Change is hard even if it is good change. 

I have been connecting with many veterans through RallyPoint. It is a social network just forminitary and their families. Here is the link. Check it out.

www.rallypoint.com/join/spc-douglas-bolton

One thing I have been hearing from people I am connected with is the hard times they have been having since they moved to the civilian life. The change they have to go through is very hard at best.

  • Fitting into a civilian job.
  • Finding new friends
  • Learning to not force their feelings onto others.
  • Battling PTSD,TBI, Depression, Homelessness, War wounds.

The list could go on. Many of you could write your own list.

When I am writing this I am directing my words not only to the veterans, but to their families and friends. You are an important part of their transition. You need to help the veteran through his change. 

There are so many who are struggling. 22 veterans take their own lives every day! Some say that figure is even higher.  Some veterans can not win the battle of change that is churning in their own heads.

I am glad to say that I have finally found peace for me. I was very depressed when I came out of the military. Yes, it was half a century ago, and they didn’t have the word PTSD, but I was there. I was struggling. I considered suicide myself. I even sat in my rig one day back in 2001,and was ready to check out of this hotel called earth.

God stopped me that day, and directed me into writing, and here I am spilling my guts to you.

So, What can we do to fight back? How can we survive?

  1. The first thing I learned is that most of my battle was in my head. I finally realized that the mind can control you in a positive way and a negative way. If we let it, the mind can be our secret weapon. If we block out the negative thoughts and only allow positive thoughts, I whole life will change.

Sound too simplistic? It may be for some, but check it out as one of your steps to recovery on the path of change you are walking.

2. Slow down. You don’t need to rush into anything. You have heard the saying about people who are in the rat race? Will I am here to tell you that even rats rest. They sleep after a hard day of scaring people. BTW… even the tides rest. They come up to a high spot and pause for a few minutes and then they go into the other direction. That is what we need to do. We need to pause and go the other direction to accept change.

3. You may think you aren’t capable of taking all this on. Maybe you are thinking you would rather stay in bed all day and forget the world. You may even want to stick your head in the sand and hide. You are strong! You may not have heard that in a while, but back to basics my friend. When you went into the military, you were a mean, green, fighting machine. Find that same fire in your belly. Dig deep and pull out the strength you had then.

4. Know when to ask for help. Others can help you change. Most veterans feel they shouldn’t ask for help because they are supposed to be tough. If I kept that mentality I wouldn’t be here today writing to you. Ask for help! I am going to share a telephone number with you, and please call it if you have any self destruction ideas for yourself.

There is always help for you 24/7 at: 1-800-273-8255

5. Take charge of your life. Do a turn around. Stop letting the dark side control you. Accept the change.

 

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

Posted on

Some Memorial Day Heroic Stories-Marines

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. The response has been wonderful.  We just past 3,885 new subscribers. That was a huge increase in 2016. We only had 1,000 two years ago. In 2017 help us to make it to 4,000.

We are only 115 away of reaching our goal.  We will be giving a prize to the person who is our 4,000th person to subscribe. 

Help us make it to 4,000 by subscribing today if you haven’t already. This shows you care for veterans. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that, and the posts will come straight to your inbox.                            ____________________________________________________________

Doug Bolton, the founder of the blog, Signs of Hope, which is at www.dailysignsofhope.com, has written a new book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It reaches out the many military and veterans who may be battling anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, rejections, and the many other usual suspects. There are 22 military connected suicides every day. That is almost one every hour. Doug wants to help stop those statistics.  

______________________________________________________________

This is a new social network just for veterans. I joined it and made instant friendships with veterans who want to talk about what I want to talk about. Please check it out. You will be glad you did. 

www.rallypoint.com/join/spc-douglas-bolton

______________________________________

We have just added a fantastic product for people who are suffering from PTSD.I have looked at the video myself. It is a little long, but it is very valuable. Go to   https://sites.google.com/site/v4vweaponspackage/  to see for yourself. It will change your life if you suffer from PTSD. 

______________________________________________

The war combat heroes are many. My book I am writing called, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and out of the Trenches of Life,” is full of heroes. I have written about many who talked to me on the phone and shared their story. These are stories about heroes.

I have shared my experiences while deployed to Korea. I speak out against soldiers giving in to PTSD. I cry for those who are maimed and in wheelchairs. I share thoughts on how to survive in this not so friendly world.

One of the heroes I talked to I met accidently. I decided to stop at Carl’s (Hardy’s) fast food. I got my meal and was walking towards my seat. I walked by a man that was obviously a Vietnam veteran and a Marine since he wore a hat that said so. I thanked him for his service, and eat my meal.

I watched him. He was in pain. He had a cane. He was bent over. He was younger than I was. He got up to throw his trash away, and I saw legs that couldn’t hold him up too well. He had a heavy limp. As he walked by me, I asked him if he would like to sit and talk with me for a few minutes. He had that look like,”no way man,” but when I told him I was a veteran as well, he sat down.

I started asking him questions knowing I had to walk a thin line so I didn’t intrude into area he didn’t want to talk about.

Here is how the conversation went.

Me: Where and when did you serve?

Marine: I was on a helicopter ship off the coast of Vietnam.

Me: What did the helicopters do?

Marine: They sent supplies to troops; Carried troops from one battle station to another; sent food to the villages for the people who were starving.

Me: What was the worst moment you had while stationed there?

Marine: My very best friend was a helicopter pilot, and one mission his helicopter had a problem;  went off the end of the ship down into the water. He and another Marine were trapped in the helicopter and it went to the bottom of the ocean. The water was to deep to try to recover their bodies.

Me: So Sorry my friend. Were there any other bad moments for you?

Marine: When  we came home on the planes the people lined the terminal and called us names, and had signs that called us murders and other things.

I have more from this hero, but you will have to buy the book to read the rest of his story, (This is called a hook!) and many other interviews  from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. These are all heroes you need to learn about.

I want to thank all over our veterans and current military, for their dedication and service to their country. You are all Heroes. God bless each and everyone of you.

For those who have lost a loved one, like family, I feel your pain. I have been there. God is our strength, and our fortress. He will see us through the storms we face.

For those veterans who may be struggling:

There is always help for you 24/7 at: 1-800-273-8255

 

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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