Getting My Letters From War

letsgottoafghanistan:

After combat duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, members of the National Guard appear to have higher rates of mental health problems than those in the Active Component, researchers have found.

Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with serious functional impairment increased from about 7 percent to more than 12 percent over a nine-month period, compared with only about a 1 percent increase among those in the Active Component, according to Jeffrey Thomas of Walter Reed Army Institute in Silver Spring, Md. and colleagues.

(via gijoe68)

He texts me that he’s “back in the states and it’s good to be home.”

…

Um… wtf do I say? So I text him back something along the lines of, “Welcome back!!!”

God, that just sounds awful. I honestly wanted to say more, but I felt it was inappropriate. The truth is that I’m really glad he’s home safe and is back with his friends… but I’m not really part of that.

I have no delusions anymore, even if he might.

Whatever we had left… it’s dangerous now.

I feel bad. I’ve turned into a homewrecker. It’s got a dry humor to it, really lol…

Apparently, his girl doesn’t like that we talk. Which is weird, seeing as I talk to her a decent amount and really like her; thought she liked me. He’s been my best friend for a good few years and I’ve helped them work out a decent amount of shit. I even offered to take their homecoming photos after the deployment for no charge… I also have a boyfriend I care very much for and an ex-fiancee that I’m trying to sort out everything with who I still care for deeply. I can honestly say the very last thing I would ever want to do is screw my bromance out of the only happiness he’s had in years, while he’s on a deployment (and in general!!). Even if I understand the jealousy S.O.s have… I will never understand the logic. Been there, done that. I don’t miss the chaos of emotions… even though a lot of them haven’t left yet. :/

He decided we aren’t going to stop talking (even though I offered) and that the term “Bromance” is staying. lol I think it would have killed me if he had decided otherwise. I don’t want to lose any more of my friends to this shit.

Maybe I never should have gotten involved with the military… I don’t think it would have stopped me… I love it too much. Got an issue with pride and have a bad knack of befriending soldiers before I even know it.

Anyways, rant over.