You got me at “...dryer sheets should be fragrance free...”
Years ago I was amused at the ads for “natural scent Right Guard Deoderant.”
What would that be, exactly? Like a locker room? Sweaty arm pits?
A person doesn’t have to go to war to have PTSD. I’m convinced that anybody who has been on the planet for a while probably has acquired at least PTS.
The “D” component (disorder) is a result of a false negative belief system about the self (for instance, rape victims who take on guilt because somebody might suspect they were dressed too provocatively).
It skews the reality and is triggered by non-causality cues (like rapid fire connections like associating SE models with Korea).
For myself, I make amends by pointedly buying products made-in-Vietnam, because we trashed the place when I was there. If those poor people want to experiment with Capitalism now, I can afford to support that effort in a limited way with my wallet, even though they resisted having Capitalism rammed down their throats fifty years ago.
Anyway I’ll close this skree before drawing a penalty for waxing political.
Rusty,
I think the dryer sheets was merely a reference or metaphor for what you said. TBH, I've cheated death 4 times in my life, and survived each time. I don't know how I was allowed to live each time, because each time was different, some could have been a rather nasty demise, but each a rather harrowing experience. We'll swap stories some other time. And also, some of my experience (possibly the result of these traumas) does involves a mild thought processing disorder that associates catch phrases or buzzwords in a non-directive fashion. It stems from my youth and not maturing socially until my mid-20s.
You might note that sometimes people when stressed may experience more random thought patterns. My doctor tells me it's similar to "cocktail party syndrome," where a person may enjoy several different conversations with people and try to make sense of their evening once they've stepped away from the gathering and gone home. They're still worked up from the previous part of the evening, and it's like a light bulb was switched on, and can't be switched off. They struggle to unwind so they can sleep, but are still reliving the previous evening in their thoughts over and over again.
Sometimes after a busy day at work, this occurs. What helps solve this problem is a brisk walk for about 20 to 30 minutes. It helps clear the mind and settles the nerves. It also helps cope with any lingering aggression one may have. Unfortunately, today, I needed to stay put in my apartment awaiting a guitar effect I had mentioned in a previous post and finally was able to rework my effects board satisfactorily. I'd guess that the dryer sheet reference and mentioning of an SE Korean guitar was my reading your words from your earlier post and trying to make sense of it, much the same way my "cocktail party syndrome" from my previous day's work had caused the random thought process.
It is something many younger people experience when they are teens who happen to party every so often. The stress of partying and trauma can have a detrimental effect over time if the teens brains don't hardwire correctly, and this may follow them during later life. Such was my case. FTR, I don't follow current fashion trends like man buns or tight pants. Just viewing your avatar reassures me you may be a hip old guy without the pony tail or trendy clothes. (Don't worry, I only wear a business suit to meetings and prefer cargo pants at work and cotton sweatpants/sweatshirt at home. It's just my preference and keeps me warm enough when the thermostat needs turning down, or nothing is in the oven....man buns WTF?)
That being said, I'm personally neutral towards politics. While I support law enforcement and obey the laws designed to protect people in general, am honest when paying my taxes, and appreciate public services that are provided for people, I find that certain emotional triggers IRL and what I view or read in the media may be off-putting, and sometimes only create aggression.
Coping with the triggers is somewhat of a challenge, because if the response comes across as oddball humor, it's noticeable. My feeling is that I'm relatively educated like many folks are, but use my creativity in words rather than music. And that may not necessarily be a bad thing, it just needs some self-control and judicious use of the delete key and edit features if something does not feel like it should be posted.
Regards Vietnam, my Dad was a USAR officer who retired as a full colonel in the mid-80s. My Dad never saw combat, nor served overseas. My Dad's job in the USAR was training the drill sergeants who trained the soldiers how to survive while on duty overseas. My Dad sorrowfully described the times when he would watch the cargo aircraft arrive back from the west coast, bringing back soldiers who had completed their tour. He also tearfully described his feelings as he watched flag-draped coffins arrive off the tarmac. It tore him up inside, because Dad felt that he had failed to do his job correctly training the sergeants who were supposed to have trained the men.
Other than that, Dad didn't speak much about his service in the USAR. Dad detested violence and war, but was aware that his scholarship through college was based on ROTC, and that someday he might need face the facts that his military service didn't make him a man, only that his family was cared for and their needs fulfilled. Being a good father to his children was what our family defined my Dad's role as being a man.
Regards myself, I was fortunate enough to finish high school after the Vietnam conflict ended, and was too old for the Panama/Noriega incidents, as well as Desert Storm. Part of who I am is based on my work and hobbies, not by who I am in the community or public eye. Part of who I am is not based on a desire for notoriety, nor fame, nor riches, nor position.
There are far too many people who look for these things in life, and never are satisfied with what they attain. They complain when they don't get what they want, thrive on challenge, and are addicted to "winning."
I think that finding happiness and peace within one's own life is realizing that no matter how much one tries to make positive changes for oneself, there are a number of people who will challenge you to do more of what they want so that what you receive in return is only lip service. Sometimes they look for any weakness they can exploit and are very quick in finding fault with what people say or do. They honor others with praise, but they are empty words with little substance behind them. "Nice job, you tried."
To reassure you, no, I'm not depressed, but only tired. Perhaps I should appreciate why my Dad used to say at day's end, "Another day, another dollar. What's leftover in the fridge?" (My coping mechanism rationalizing what this is worth in words...others call it their "viewpoint" or "2 cents." It's only my contribution to this forum, perhaps worth a dollar to some, nothing to others.)
