Are all military, ex military men completely nuts

[Blueglass]

My DH is ex mil and everybody i talk to who has had a h or p in the mil has had some sort of problems.

Mine is not all there either and we are having problems now.

Just not sure how to get around this

I defy you to find a group of men and women as large as the Armed Forces in any walk of life where some members of the group haven't sufferd mental illness, stress, suicide, alcoholism etc etc.

Of course it can be a highly stressful way of life, and military service has far reaching effects on families and loved ones as well as on those serving but help is available, in most cases, and the incredible bonds forged within a regiment, company, platoon etc are probably the most powerful to be found anywhere. I know that individual cases do fall through the gaps in the care provided, and it's inexcusable when that happens but the carelessly held belief that The System couldn't care less and spits people out left right and centre is not true.

I've seen things from both sides of the wire, as it were, and it makes my blood really boil when generalisations like this are bandied around and become gospel.

I hope the OP at least reads it...

Yes fair point, littlelapin. This thread has not really been very considerate of mil men with mental health problems. And its true that there are many people not in the army with mental health problems.
Also, I have to say Ive let my pure annoyance of the family members I know affect me when I write about this. Its just that from what Ive seen its still absolutely impossible for me to shake the feeling that either 1) men with "small man syndrome" are attracted to the army or 2) being in the army drills men into a certain frame of mind and some men cant handle swapping back` when they are on civvie street.

No the're not nuts!! My DH is in the army and he's very kind, loving and a great dad!
I, however, am going slightly nuts myself having to endure yet another Iraq tour starting in May for 6 months - this wll be the 2nd tour in just 3 years of that godforsaken hell hole and I'm absolutely dreading it. Last time 2 of his mates never came home and I feel sick thinkig we've got to go through it all again so soon