Hi, my name is Lisa and I am a daughter of a Vietnam Veteran. I have spent most of my life feeling different from all the others my age. I spent most of my life not wanting to act like my father. What I mean by that is my father had some erratic behavior. He would get angry at the drop of a hat for no apparent reason. One day the rules would be one way and the next they would change. He never had alot of friends and he always thought people were against him. Things always had to be his way. He never spent alot of time with me.
Years later, we realized he had PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). He had all of the symptoms of course we never knew that. He would never talk about Vietnam, ever. His medals hung on the wall but I never knew why they were there. He was a medic and won several medals including th esilver star. I realized one day a few years ago that I had become just like him. I had secondary ptsd. It's very common for children who live with a parent who has ptsd to develop those symptoms too.
I wanted to know more about my fellow children of vets and found there was nothing written about us. A whole generation ignored. I am working on a book about children of vietnam vets and the similarities between us and the iraqi vets families.
I started this blog so there will be a place for us to talk and learn that we are not damaged or crazy. We just didn't know any better. We don't have to suffer like out parents did. My dad is getting the help he needs. I will put more info about ptsd and how vets can get help as well as their families. Also, if anyone would like to be a part of my book. I will post that info as well.
I hope this can help our generation heal a little better.
Lisa
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