Combat PTSD

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#1
Do any of you know about Combat PTSD from Viet Nam? Some say that it was so bad they left or lost their souls there. I often wonder if they could have been so dead inside that a demon could have entered them. They stay in survival mode a lot. Can any of you relate to someone like this?
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,440
5,387
113
#2
Do any of you know about Combat PTSD from Viet Nam? Some say that it was so bad they left or lost their souls there. I often wonder if they could have been so dead inside that a demon could have entered them. They stay in survival mode a lot. Can any of you relate to someone like this?
Hi Sherry!

Welcome to CC and I hope you'll feel free to jump right in here.

I'm so sorry to say that I can't give any meaningful advice about the situation you are presenting -- many here in singles might be in younger age ranges and might not be able to relate, especially to the time of the Vietnam War.

Please don't be discouraged if you don't get many answers here in Singles (but I'm hoping you will.)

I know we've had several members on this site mention being veterans so I hope they will see your threads and answer.

May I suggest that perhaps you would also like to make a thread like this in the Family and Miscellaneous sections of the forum as well? Some of the people who would be more qualified to answer might be hanging out there. Many people with the life experience you're looking for might be married don't come to the Singles forum.

I do hope that people will share stories and insights with you -- I'd be interested in reading them as well.

God bless, and we're glad you're here.
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#3
Hi Sherry!

Welcome to CC and I hope you'll feel free to jump right in here.

I'm so sorry to say that I can't give any meaningful advice about the situation you are presenting -- many here in singles might be in younger age ranges and might not be able to relate, especially to the time of the Vietnam War.

Please don't be discouraged if you don't get many answers here in Singles (but I'm hoping you will.)

I know we've had several members on this site mention being veterans so I hope they will see your threads and answer.

May I suggest that perhaps you would also like to make a thread like this in the Family and Miscellaneous sections of the forum as well? Some of the people who would be more qualified to answer might be hanging out there. Many people with the life experience you're looking for might be married don't come to the Singles forum.

I do hope that people will share stories and insights with you -- I'd be interested in reading them as well.

God bless, and we're glad you're here.
ty n God bless
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,578
17,046
113
69
Tennessee
#4
Do any of you know about Combat PTSD from Viet Nam? Some say that it was so bad they left or lost their souls there. I often wonder if they could have been so dead inside that a demon could have entered them. They stay in survival mode a lot. Can any of you relate to someone like this?
Sorry, but I'm not familiar with this topic. It would be very hard for me to relate to someone like that but I would certainly pray for them for God to heal their minds. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#5
Ty ..... It more of the Holy Spirit needing to connect with their Spirit n Mind for them to heal I was told but I still like to know what others think. God bless
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,412
13,756
113
#6
Do any of you know about Combat PTSD from Viet Nam? Some say that it was so bad they left or lost their souls there. I often wonder if they could have been so dead inside that a demon could have entered them. They stay in survival mode a lot. Can any of you relate to someone like this?
Welcome to CC, Sherry,

I know little of PTSD, but I do know that any trauma can be an open door for demonic influence. Sustained, significant trauma, would be much more so.
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#7
Welcome to CC, Sherry,

I know little of PTSD, but I do know that any trauma can be an open door for demonic influence. Sustained, significant trauma, would be much more so.
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#8
Ty. My X would be fine n then his whole person would change n would be full of hate n anger. He was not the same person.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,412
13,756
113
#9
Ty. My X would be fine n then his whole person would change n would be full of hate n anger. He was not the same person.
It's possible and plausible that he was influenced by a demonic entity. Obviously, that's not a diagnosis though!

BTW, a tip: avoid using the term "possessed" because it will cause arguments. :)
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,276
9,327
113
#10
All I know is the old saying: "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger... and leaves you with a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms."

I wouldn't say they left their souls there, but the human mind can be broken quite badly in such situations. And we aren't very good yet at healing that kind of wound.

I would hesitate to bring demonic possession into any conversation about PTSD though. People can be broken quite thoroughly without it.
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#11
It's possible and plausible that he was influenced by a demonic entity. Obviously, that's not a diagnosis though!

BTW, a tip: avoid using the term "possessed" because it will cause arguments. :)
All I know is the old saying: "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger... and leaves you with a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms."

I wouldn't say they left their souls there, but the human mind can be broken quite badly in such situations. And we aren't very good yet at healing that kind of wound.

I would hesitate to bring demonic possession into any conversation about PTSD though. People can be broken quite thoroughly without it.
Ty God bless
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#12
It's possible and plausible that he was influenced by a demonic entity. Obviously, that's not a diagnosis though!

BTW, a tip: avoid using the term "possessed" because it will cause arguments. :)
Ty God bless
 

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
Sep 17, 2018
4,058
3,172
113
#13
Do any of you know about Combat PTSD from Viet Nam? Some say that it was so bad they left or lost their souls there. I often wonder if they could have been so dead inside that a demon could have entered them. They stay in survival mode a lot. Can any of you relate to someone like this?
It's not possible to leave your soul behind anywhere. For any reason. I believe such a statement is not meant to be literal, but rather a way to express the severity of what they were exposed to.

As far as any demonic influence, it doesn't take PTSD to be influenced by demons. Everyone already is.

The way trauma works is it gets stuck in a part of the brain and the brain cannot process it. When you sleep your mind processes your recent memories. This allows them to be understood as a past event.
With trauma that memory stays in place, rather than being processed. This prevents the brain from cataloging it and instead when it comes forward, rather than being a memory it places them back in the place where the trauma is. They are not just remembering it, but reliving it as if they were there again.
Imagine taking the biggest extremes of fear fear and violence and having to relive those moments again and again. Being randomly triggered without warning. Often disrupting sleep, leaving one tired often.
Now imagine the physical toll that takes on someone. Put all that together and imagine the mental and emotional toll that takes on someone.
Their souls aren't left behind. Their experiences are just that devastating. And few ever get treatment or help so it continues for years. That drains a person. Changes them.
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#14
It's not possible to leave your soul behind anywhere. For any reason. I believe such a statement is not meant to be literal, but rather a way to express the severity of what they were exposed to.

As far as any demonic influence, it doesn't take PTSD to be influenced by demons. Everyone already is.

The way trauma works is it gets stuck in a part of the brain and the brain cannot process it. When you sleep your mind processes your recent memories. This allows them to be understood as a past event.
With trauma that memory stays in place, rather than being processed. This prevents the brain from cataloging it and instead when it comes forward, rather than being a memory it places them back in the place where the trauma is. They are not just remembering it, but reliving it as if they were there again.
Imagine taking the biggest extremes of fear fear and violence and having to relive those moments again and again. Being randomly triggered without warning. Often disrupting sleep, leaving one tired often.
Now imagine the physical toll that takes on someone. Put all that together and imagine the mental and emotional toll that takes on someone.
Their souls aren't left behind. Their experiences are just that devastating. And few ever get treatment or help so it continues for years. That drains a person. Changes them.
Thank you....I truly love this man n suffered emotionally cause even though I loved him I could not help him. He could get so cold. I read a lot about PTSD n understood some of it. I just couldn’t understand the shutting down n pushing me away N then the next morning being some what loving. It’s like he’d get scared to show he cared. After seeing so many die I guess one is afraid to truly let go n love. Please pray for my X. His name is Doug. I’m trying to move on but he is in my heart just like my late hubby of 44 yrs is. It’s just that this wound is fresher. God has been so good to me Even so. God bless
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#15
its the same as anyone suffering from PTSD...trauma. what happens is people try to compartmenatalise so they dont have to keep reliving the trauma. Not only do war veteran suffer from it in combat but nurses do too when they witness all the dead and dying around them. And have to deal with it.

its not just related to Vietnam...this can happen to anyone who has been in a violent situation.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#16
I have not been to Vietnam myself but a good book to read or movie to watch is Noble, look up Christina Noble and the work she is doing with streetkids and orphans there, who were devastated by the war.
 
Sep 13, 2018
2,587
885
113
#17
Good movie, but if you really want to know the reality of what your X went through watch the movie "Platoon" with Charlie Sheen.
 
Aug 2, 2009
24,644
4,305
113
#18
I just couldn’t understand the shutting down n pushing me away N then the next morning being some what loving. It’s like he’d get scared to show he cared.
Those were probably just times when he really needed to be alone. Bless you for loving him the way you did. ♥ All I know is that I've heard combat vets say that no one can truly understand what they've been through or are going through except other combat veterans. God bless them.
 
Sep 13, 2018
2,587
885
113
#19
Good movie, but if you really want to know the reality of what your X went through watch the movie "Platoon" with Charlie Sheen.

My mother's brother got drafted just after his 18th birthday. At 19 he got wounded and was sent home. Thank God my grandmother did'nt get notice of this after he arrived home. I was a young child but I never heard him mention the war to anyone. 20 years later when I came home to visit. He and I went out for a drink to catch up and out of the blue he started talking about his experience. I was horrified about the stories he told. I could never imagine at the age of 18 how I could have possible endured such a thing!! . My grandfather fought in WWII and came back a hero. My uncle's came back and were taunted as " baby killer's" that makes me sick. In my mind, I have the greatest respect for my uncles and all the other men in my town that did'nt make it home. And always will. There are several Retired Vet men's groups around. Maybe you could encourage him to go there and be around his own people...
 
Apr 23, 2020
81
32
18
#20
My mother's brother got drafted just after his 18th birthday. At 19 he got wounded and was sent home. Thank God my grandmother did'nt get notice of this after he arrived home. I was a young child but I never heard him mention the war to anyone. 20 years later when I came home to visit. He and I went out for a drink to catch up and out of the blue he started talking about his experience. I was horrified about the stories he told. I could never imagine at the age of 18 how I could have possible endured such a thing!! . My grandfather fought in WWII and came back a hero. My uncle's came back and were taunted as " baby killer's" that makes me sick. In my mind, I have the greatest respect for my uncles and all the other men in my town that did'nt make it home. And always will. There are several Retired Vet men's groups around. Maybe you could encourage him to go there and be around his own people...
I tried so many times to get him to get help. I tried to get him to join a Marines group. I think he has now that I’m not there. We’ve been divorced about 2 Mos. I think he has already moved on. My words don’t mean anything to him. I wish him the best. It’s all in Gods hands. My Dad had Shell Shock. He died at 41. I guess in some ways I thought I could help my X but I think I made it all worse. I had never heard of PTSD nor Combat PTSD....