I feel as if people don’t think of the long term effects of what the war can do to you. My best friend since second grade decided to enlist in the military when he couldn’t find a job after we graduated high school. He’s like a brother to me and it was so hard not seeing him while he was gone and deep down I was really worried about how our friendship would be when he returned. Well I was right to worry. His family and I were so excited and couldn’t wait for his return last April. The changes that I saw took place were instantly noticeable. I spent the night at his place one weekend and throughout the whole night he would keep waking up from nightmares where he would start screaming and it was so loud I could hear it from the living room. I walked into his room and he would be sweating bullets.  I also noticed how angry he would get when before he was a kickback person who didn’t have a care in the world. One time we were at a restaurant and he thought someone gave him a “look” and he like jumped down his throat over nothing. How do I get my best friend back and help him through these hard times?

Your experience it worrying me! My good friend is coming home next month from Iraq and his parents and I are trying to throw him a late birthday/welcome home party, but there seems to be some problems. His parents attended a meeting this last Saturday in regards to his return like date and time and the Marines there were saying how when they return they all react differently. They said that some will talk about what they see, others will hide everything, some experience PTSD and some will return and will remain quiet even if they were outgoing before they left. His parents talked to him the other day and said you can just hear all the anxiety in his voice, but for some reason they felt like he almost wasn't happy to come home, like there was nothing to come home to. This worries me. I know my friend won't be returning the same way, I'm just scared it will be awkward and I don't want to overwhelm him.

I think he may have to see a psychologist. I'm sure the stuff he saw and went through in Iraq were horrible, and getting over them will be very hard. He will need proffesional help.

has your friend talked to you about things that happened while he was in iraq? maybe situations he's been in. I know all soldiers see horrible things, but maybe if he talks about it it will help him.

I think your friend really needs to seek out help and talk abuot his problems. everything he has experienced. Maybe if he talked about it with other soldiers seeking help too could be beneficial. I dont knwo but I wouldn't leave him like that.

I have two friends that came back from Iraq and want to reenlist so I'm assuming for them they didn't think it was that bad and give them an anxiety disorder. I wonder why it affects certain people and not others..?

This study found that 1 in every 8 soliders returning home after the war will experience this and less than half will seek help. That isn't good. I think when people have problems like this they should get help because it will probably make their overall life and health better.