Always be an optimist

[Denis]

Like many of you I suffer from depression,anxiety, PTSD etc but my mottos for survival is "Always be an Optimist" and":There is always someone worse off than you'.

These certainly are platitudes but my personal story might help. 

I am a Vietnam Vet - I saw a man shot dead in front of me - it only got to me in 50s.I was a Bandsman (musician) and the Bandmaster still kept conducting even when the shots were fired - stupid bugger. I am fortunately on a Vet's pension but in my last job as a consultant and teacher I was earning $900 a day in 2004, not every day of course.

 When I was born in 1949, I had an elder brother who had Cerebral Palsy (CP) -  spastic they called it in those days.Five years later my sister was born - she also had CP. My other sister has her Masters in Nursing.

 I have been married threee time sao I do understand those issues -0 my wife and I have been married

[Denis]

Last post unfinished and I can find no way of editing. I do not like my typos LOL.

We have been married 12 years was what I was trying to say. I see my Psych once a month and on antidepressants.

 However life is what you make of it.

[The_Real_David_Charles]

Sorry Denis,

The typos are as challenging as my reading.  I actually read "I see my Psych once a month and on antidepressants" as "I see my Porsche once a month and on antidepressants" !!!!!!!!!!!!!   Well, you did mention $900 a day........

A lot of the PTS from returning soldiers seems to linger forever.  I've had a few psych admissions and there's always an ex soldier struggling with sleep and forever reacting to small stuff.  It's like they're trapped.   No amount of medication can dull those memories.   Most don't talk about the wars or combat they've experienced.

"Will you still love me, will you still need me, when you're 64 ?" as the Beatles song goes.  I was a musician in the Irish Guards in the late 80's and can still remember playing some Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace where we played the "Hawaii Five-O" theme tune along with Elgar's Nimrod !

Adios, David.

[geoff]

dear Denis, your have had a terrible experience which would have upset anybody, and the family history is awful for all of you, however I'm not sure that I agree with you ' life is what you make of it'.

There are so many times when this is not possible, or that we even care about it. Geoff.