Mental Illness

There’s been a lot of talk in the news and blogs lately about American soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome (PSTD) and how this often leads to substance abuse and addiction. Flawed, but at least effective in raising awareness, The New York Times published After the Battle, Fighting the Bottle at Home with an emotionally charged video that has been referenced ad nauseum by political forces on the left and the right.

Unfortunately they are far more concerned about using the problems of our soldiers as tools to promote their candidates and ideologies than talking about solutions. So this morning I visited my old first sergeant who now runs the Veteran’s Affairs office to refine the TDA stance on this issue. A veteran of two wars, combat experience, and a second career of taking care of “his” veterans… he is an authority on the subject and a very dear friend.

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The complicated and all encompassing nature of alcoholism never ceases to amaze me. It seems that every time I am asked about the disease that I have to concentrate on just one facet lest I confuse myself in the explanation. The mental, physical, social and environmental aspects of the disease are all very relevant and easy to explain one at a time, but together they have a pathological relationship that can be as difficult to understand as quantum physics.

Today I was asked how someone could continue to drink knowing full well the damage it is causing which raises a whole other issue; the lack of perspective those with healthy minds have in relating to those suffering from this mental illness.

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