F W Kirkpatrick

I have struggled with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) nearly my whole life. It started in late 1967 and I’ve had many ups and downs over the years.

Drug Abuse, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, hyper vigilance (severe anxiety, fear panic), violent behavior, rage and hate, flashbacks, nightmares, depression, anxiety attacks, paranoia (excessive or irrational suspiciousness of others), trouble sleeping (sleep apnea), feeling jumpy and easily startled, always on high alert, having trouble concentrating, relationship issues, a suicide attempt, and a ten-day commitment to a mental institution for killing animals.

This was my legacy for forty years as I suffered from something that was not defined until1980 as PTSD, a full twelve years after I left Vietnam. The term PTSD is now associated with the legacy of the Vietnam War. This is my story of my struggles with many examples of my many issues since 1968.