... of a man suffering from primary PTSD and those loved ones that it affects and the story behind it
939046
A glimpse into the life of a man suffering from primary PTSD and those loved ones that it
affects and the story behind it. Our family of origin can color our entire life if the dysfunction
is deep and a childs "sense of self"  is so profoundly comprimised.  This is one mans story
of living life around the pain.  This is not light reading...it is a true account by one who loved him.
2677616
I had two brothers in the U.S. Navy during WWII, both of whom experienced battles in the Pacific.  SAILOR MAN brought back many memories of that dramatic time. My brothers returned safely, but other service people in our neighborhood did not.  Their injuries and deaths affected their families and our neighborhood in many dramatic ways.  SAILOR MAN relates realistic scenes my family and I experienced during those years of WWII and the aftermath. Later I served as a Chaplain in a VA Hospital for 25 years, interviewing  and counseling injured veterans like J.P. Nunnally.  Their troubled mental and emotional lives were the direct result of WWII experiences similar to those related in SAILOR MAN.  .
4570306
Luis tells more than just how Tuesday and he came together but also when and why they are together. Anyone who might not understand how PTSD can be so debilitating, this book gives a person an insight to what it can be like and maybe provides an option to others who may have it.
647031
I was very interested in this book and the truth behind the ugliness of war. My father served in WWII and was severely injured in Anzio,  Italy. He had a severe head injury and though I never heard the term PTSD and all the physiological effects war can cause, but I know my father had to have suffered from this difficult condition. He became epileptic and had a fast temper. We kids and my mom were the objects of his direct hits of anger. This story embraces the need for understanding for our service people who  continue to come home altered and changed from who they were to a different more mature, seasoned individual. I really enjoyed this authors keen insight into the effects of  war and great stress it places on them and those they love. I loved the love stories of the three main characters, Lucy, Skarlet and Ellie.
913861
This was one of those books I couldn't put down and fortunately I didn't have too.  The main theme of this well written book is about parental abuse, parental neglect and a man's life long battle to overcome the mental challenges created by growing up in such an environment.  What Mr. Panesi shares in his story are details many of us have experienced in our own lives or sadly watched unfold in the lives of others we've known and loved.  Although at times a very troubling story, it still shows how his life was also touched by angels.  There were people who loved him, people that helped him without expectation of personal gain and the incredible strength within himself to succeed in spite of his tragic childhood.  Even though this story ends, you will be inspired with the feeling Mr. Panesi's life, although matured, has just begun.
3994100
Maybe stories like this will help people really understand how hard it is to overcome trauma. Changing someone's understanding of what it takes to help a victim move to a survivor is a big deal.
1043107
A great read. The author's writing is exceptional and he tells an interesting story which educates one on what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is, the various symptoms that people can experience and the multitude of causes of PTSD. I really enjoyed the writing and that he 'taught' about a symptom or the history of PTSD, then gave real life examples, almost case studies. Great book, I highly recommend it!
4531137
It is hard to say that I "love" this book since it is such a sad story but I do give it 5 stars. As anyone who has read my work knows, I am very interested in true stories about alienation, having written books based on true stories of adults who were alienated as children (Adult children of parental alienation syndrome) and a book based on true stories of parents currently alienated from their children (surviving parental alienation). I have heard many tragic stories and I will add this one to the list of well-written memoirs written from the perspective of a targeted parent. This story shows, as many other stories of alienation do, how unenlightened and incompetent legal and mental health professionals can do real damage to the lives of families and children affected by alienation. It is maddening and heartbreaking to see how alienating parents are supported by the system designed to protect children. There is obviously much work to do to address this very serious form of child abuse.
185948
An interesting story of the effects of a sexual assault of not only the victim but their loved ones as well.  A story with many aspects.  A look into the real struggles the victims and others must over come.  The author really nailed on this one.  You can't finish this story with out offering a prayer for the victims of the assaults and their loved ones
3233181
I was eager to read this book, especially as someone who is also in the same community as the author. However, I was really saddened by the story and feel that it is important to note that the thoughts and experiences of this author are not the same for all the spouses in the aviation or military community. There are a large majority of us who encourage our spouses to pursue the career that they love. Yes, there are times that are hard but I feel like there could have been are much better description to the trials that are faced. Her story is one of many, but honestly their military journey was easy compared to many others. One deployment with no children, shore duty, and a training officer tour that again kept him state side. I feel like this book came off as a woe as me story from someone who honestly could have been dealt and even worse hand. The war at home is real, there are struggles that every military family must come to terms with in their own way. She hardly touched on the reality of the glorious homecomings, the reality of having to learn to coparent again after a long deployment, learning to merge two working parent schedules in which the military career comes first, or even having to sacrifice holidays and childhood milestones like open houses and Christmas performances. These are the things that we deal with on a daily basis.  I would have loved for her to talk about the reality that we have been at war for 13 years, and that military families are spending their entire 20 years of service in a war, and how that plays out. It's okay to love our country, it is okay to be proud of the sacrifice that others make, regardless of your political party affiliation or anti war pacifism as this author plainly alludes to. There is more to our story, military spouses are strong, flexibly, resilient, independent, caring, tired, and proud. Not everyone is cut out for this life, like the author and her family, many will serve and leave when they are able to. But for the spouses who devote a lifetime, those are whose voices should be heard.
2588009
The story has helped me understand my feelings better.  I was able to relate to his feelings and experiences.  I feel one who has experienced PTSD should acquire this book.  PTSD is not limited only to military personnel, there is something here everyone.  Even if you know someone with PTSD, this book might provide you with new insights in their condition.  The book includes his experiences in combat.  Though that might be your experience, there is still material that I found to be of great benefit to me.
1186016
Abdulaziz has created a family of well-developed characters, and we hear them speak, watch their behaviors and listen to their thoughts as they deal with the effects of physical, mental and sexual abuse.  Their abuser, husband to one victim, father and grandfather to the others, has just died as this story opens.  We learn their pain and their individual stories as the estranged and broken family members gather to deal with the death and burial of this hated man.  Abdulaziz has shown us many forms of dysfunction victims of familial abuse can suffer, and the terrible damage that secrecy and non-disclosure can do.
517569
Others should read this.  My job is to get these guys to open up and talk about the horrors they experienced but can't talk about with those who haven't experienced similar "activities", this includes family members.
The ability to talk about their experiences is important in their healing process.
305817
I chose this rating because it was representative of Iraqui experiences and the tender love of a special dog. I thought there was a lot of references about his experience as a soldier but it had to be there for those who don't understand the emotions and unseen problems as a result of PTSD.  We also shouldn't judge these vets until we know how they got to that point  and the trauma they endured and there is no easy fix. It is important that the service dogs match well with their vet and able to meet the challenges  from this horrible result of war.
199698
Interesting reading where the author does' t hold back remarks about certain people and situations.  It helped that I knew some of the back story to some of the events.  His story lingered on my mind for quite some time after reading it, and I will re-read the story again.  It is remarkable that someone has to endure the post traumatic stress from the aftermath of two justifiably shootings, and also blaze the trail for how his department has to handle such critical life changing events in someone's life as well as others who may follow in that organization.  It is clear that the author is still dealing with those events and I feel deeply for him and his family over his ordeals.
3310534
My dad served in Viet nam, I had a very hard time relating with him and understanding his many moods over the years.  This book has been so very helpful to me in mending the relationship I have with my dad.  I now understand why sometimes he is moody and hard to reach.  It breaks my heart that so many years later, even with help from the VA, my dad still suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.  My dad was a medic and even though Mr. McCourt's book is not a gory, bloody, story I still get the impression that my dad saw horrors that still visit him today.  Thank you so much for sharing your story.  There are many of us who do not know how to relate to our loved ones and they won't talk about.
3966721
Love Our Vets was a very heart felt book to read, and close to home for me. Not many people know my Father served in Vietnam and has been diagnosed just in the last 10 years with PTSD, but I knew he had it from the things I experienced as a kid growing up with him. Welby and Dr. Suzanne Best, Ph. D. co Author did an amazing job on this 222 page book, that starts off with an Introduction letting you know this book is NOT a marriage manual, or a diagnose yourself manual, it IS a book that will help bring comfort,  encouragement, and practical help for your loved ones and veterans turn their pain into hearts filled with love. What I liked the most about this book is, that it is REAL and every day people can relate to what Welby has gone through . Men and woman who suffer from PTSD have a hard time with Fear, loneliness, anxiety, and I have witnessed all of these, but the sleepless nights I think is the worst symptom I remember from childhood with my father, and he would re live parts of war.
There were a few chapters that really hit home for me like chapter 35 on knowing if addictions are due to PTSD or not. Chapter 28, this one hit me good I tell you, How much do we tell our kids, I have told my oldest about her Grandpa, but not about the PTSD and now reading this book makes me want to sit down and explain to her a little more in depth. Chapters 24-25, WHY should I pray for him? and WHAT should I pray? I pray every night for my Father, Now the hard part is to admit to you all that I have turned my father out of my life and my children's lives because of the drugs, alcohol, lie after lie after lie, the way he treated my mom, my sister, and myself. The affairs, lying about affairs, I just could not take it anymore , and only saw him if lucky one day a year. This book helped me a little understand some things, but I still feel for my family sake to keep him away. My father is a NON-Christian since Nam, he has told me a many a time " If there is a GOD he would not have allowed such things to happen that did happen in Vietnam". So for those that live, or have lived with someone who has/had PTSD I urge you to get this book, to look up the links I have added through the info I have posted, and don't be afraid to ask for help, someone to talk to. Almost forgot to tell you in the back of the book there are prayers for each day, and poems as well. Again this was a VERY helpful book, made me re look at some things and I would like to  Thank you  Welby and Dr. suzanne for a very well written book.