I am the mother of 4 boys, just recently remarried and relocated to another city with my husband, who is a Naval Officer. My lil' ones are 10, 9, 7, 4  and the twins are about 2 now (two cats, who are just as demanding as the children.)   

(Here is Zen sleeping as always, with another mouse caught...thankfully made of soft fabric this time. His twin brother Zippy is busy running through the house...how he got his name.)

All my children each have their own personalities, as any parent knows.  When they are not trying to all get their own "special time" with Mom or their new Step-Dad, then they are teaching their littler brothers how to defend themselves by irritating them from day one.  

I just remarried after a very traumatic (quick) (re)marriage. Unfortunately, that first marriage created a problem that caused PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), something we used to only hear about in Vietnam vets.  Now we hear it a LOT, with the men and women coming home from the war.  GOD BLESS YOU ALL. 

I hope "The" Docs do a program on PTSD.  Did you know that IBM is the one company that has invested a HUGE amount of resources and HR departments to help veterans return to a safe, new American working environment?  They were the ONLY company I have heard of as I have researched for the past 4 years.  (Well done, IBM!) Companies  are going to need to be much more aware and make some big changes for some of us who are returning to work only to find ourselves in a "new world" were fear is painfully silent and not addressed. 

For those of us that deal with this every day and then again at night (welcome to nightmares and no sleep), it's difficult to discuss that insomnia-causing night time trauma with anyone...we all just want it to go away. We are eagerly looking for the comfort of the "old" normality of our civilian jobs, but find ourselves difficult to concentrate, get out of bed on time, still jumpy, and of course feel isolated-wishing and begging to be back to the normal they remember.   

Having said that, I am not your normal average 30ish woman.  However, I try to do the best she can each and every day.  I believe FAITH in GOD, laughter, and common sense will keep myself strong and advise anyone who is looking for unsolicited advice to consider the same (because we ALL love that!) 

I do have true words for those who are new to PTSD, however how you've acquired it, please trust me when I say these few but important words: 

• When you are overwhelmed and it seems like the smallest task becomes frustrating -FIND a psychologist to talk out your fears; your perhaps new inabilities, or your "oversensitivity" to what you never noticed before in your old normal American life. 
• YOU can't do it alone and isolated. 
• Your wives and husbands are not the enemy nor are they trained professionals that know how to heal you.  
• Don't be afraid- go to a doctor.  It doesn't make you less of a hero and trust me, all of us ARE heros to someone in life.  It may be a 4 year old looking for you to find their teddy bear or it may be someone you have no idea that you have helped.  ALL of us are HEROS in one way or another.  When you are watching the nightly news and you become angry over things you can't control - TURN IT OFF. invest in good health care (hahaha) and May God Bless You and Keep You.

Kelly