Emotional Response

[MRxHappyPants11B]

Does anyone else experience this overwhelming feeling of joy when cruising by yourself, tunes cranked up, doors off, and you're just f'n happy?

I have issues with PTSD and emotional control at times and I have noticed there a few things that actually overwhelm those responses.

Watching my kid play will do it. Rolling by myself in the Jeep brings me peace and a similar feeling. Same with working in the garage and hanging with my wife when we're in tune with each other.

Thought I'd write this down while I was thinking about it because I know others struggle with things, too, and if community brings that out for you, too, just know it's normal; embrace it.

We lost 43 Blackwater brothers in combat and over a 100 to illness, suicide, etc... since coming home.

Anyway, love the emotional response something like this brings you. Means you're still in there.

Blackwater is the devil. Thanks to them they got my company int9 a 48 hour firefight on Haifa Street. FK Blackwater

Sponsored

 

[chevymitchell]

Blackwater is the devil. Thanks to them they got my company int9 a 48 hour firefight on Haifa Street. FK Blackwater

Haifa St. was always a problem. For everyone. Not just you or any of the PC’s.

That was 18 years ago now or so. That’s back when they were kidnapping soldiers, cutting their heads off, and leaving the bodies at bus stops. Rough time to be deployed.

 

[jeepingib]

Blackwater is the devil. Thanks to them they got my company int9 a 48 hour firefight on Haifa Street. FK Blackwater

I had a colonel who got people killed because of a bad judgement call to change our TTPs to "Brace for impact" instead of eliminating the possible threat of a VBIED. I don't blame the Army.

War is hell.

I was in Iraq from 04-08. Haifa was a miserable place to be. I truly feel for you and what you went through.

But shitting on this guys thread isn't going to make you feel better.

 

[chevymitchell]

I had a colonel who got people killed because of a bad judgement call to change our TTPs to "Brace for impact" instead of eliminating the possible threat of a VBIED. I don't blame the Army.

War is hell.

I was in Iraq from 04-08. Haifa was a miserable place to be. I truly feel for you and what you went through.

But shitting on this guys thread isn't going to make you feel better.

It’s ok. I agree, but it’s alright. I’ve heard it all, especially around that January 2007 timeframe and Haifa St. We had a bird go down and 5 guys killed as Haifa was trying to be cleared out.

The thread was for awareness and connection to good feelings that can overwhelm the weight carried by PTSD. If a PC that was dissolved in 2009 needs shit on as a step fwd for this guy, I’m ok with that. That was his second post ever. He’ll come around as a Jeeper I hope.

 

[Heimkehr]

I have a 1290 SAR I ride and it absolutely provides that feeling. Getting out where no one else is on the bike is fantastic at producing serotonin. Lol.

I have a Gear Up I drive and it absolutely provides that feeling. Getting out where no one expects the guy in the motorcycle jacket to be able to carry everything in the cart is fantastic at producing a mental Told you so.

 

[chevymitchell]

I have a Gear UP I drive and it absolutely provides that feeling. Getting out where no one expects the guy in the motorcycle jacket to be able to carry everything in the cart is fantastic at producing a mental Told you so.

View attachment 1000023

That is f’n awesome. Haha. I was showing my wife the Ural website last night! Too funny.

Still holds more groceries than a 2 door. lol.

 

[jbcrane]

I was thinking about your thread again today while out cruising around. I didn't say it before but will now - thank you for your service. Sincerely. Those of us who haven't served - I'm sure can't imagine the things you've seen. I am glad you've made it out to Colorado - that'll help ;-).
Peace brother.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Unfortunately self-medicating and engaging in dangerous, high-risk behaviors are a commonly-used distraction from those feelings/memories, but definitely NOT a panacea for PTSD.

I found kayaking on the Myakka River to be a healing experience, years ago. It’s my go-to Zen place. Totally immersing myself in nature, with no other humans around, pulled me from the dark depths of my head, in time. When you become a part of nature, you realize that nature doesn’t give a crap about what’s going on in your head. When you become one with nature, YOU don’t give a crap what’s in your head either. It loses the importance we artificially assign to it. You are in the present, and the past truly does not exist. Neither does the future. There is only the present, and when you learn to own that, it’s a HUGE relief!

I get the same effect when I drive one of our Jeeps. It brings me into the present, where nothing else matters, where everything else is irrelevant. Even when there are asshole drivers on the road.

Carrying that feeling of “being in the present completely,” when not in my kayak, and not in my Jeep, is a slow process, but a worthwhile one for myself and my loved ones. One day, you suddenly realize that it has become a normal, natural part of you, as easy as breathing.

Use whatever healthy tools get you there, including Jeeps!

 

[JINO]

Does anyone else experience this overwhelming feeling of joy when cruising by yourself, tunes cranked up, doors off, and you're just f'n happy?

I have issues with PTSD and emotional control at times and I have noticed there a few things that actually overwhelm those responses.

Watching my kid play will do it. Rolling by myself in the Jeep brings me peace and a similar feeling. Same with working in the garage and hanging with my wife when we're in tune with each other.

Thought I'd write this down while I was thinking about it because I know others struggle with things, too, and if community brings that out for you, too, just know it's normal; embrace it.

We lost 43 Blackwater brothers in combat and over a 100 to illness, suicide, etc... since coming home.

Anyway, love the emotional response something like this brings you. Means you're still in there.

Absolutely! When its working haha.

 

[chevymitchell]

Absolutely! When its working haha.

True! This isn’t fool proof. Shit just doesn’t work sometimes. Lol

 

[USNvet]

Looks like this thread has become a coming out thread for several Veterans. I can't say that I enjoy cruising with doors off and music cranked up, as I tend to lean towards not being noticed as the guy who rattles windows in the neighborhood as I drive by, letting the world know my taste in music probably doesn't match theirs.

Thanks to all for you service! I've been told I should apply for a PTSD rating, but so far have resisted jumping through all the mental hoops needed by the VA.

When people hear of Navy Vets serving during the Vietnam War era, they think, other than pilots, it must have been a pretty safe service to be in. Some conjure up thoughts of easy days off spent working on that tan while downing a bowl of ice cream, but ask crew members of USS Forrestal, USS Oriskany, and USS Enterprise what they had to endure with shipboard fires.

I had the honor of serving with a relatively unknown part of the Navy during that era. About five years ago an association of fellow Army and Navy Veterans commissioned the production of a documentary before the history of their service was lost to time.

That documentary premiered on the flight deck of the museum ship, USS Midway last March, and made its first appearance on PBS last Memorial Day. Although important parts of the premiere video hit the cutting room floor in the PBS version, including coverage of the 1968 Tet Offense period, it is still worth a watch for anyone interested in such history. I'll post a link to the PBS video below.

In the documentary you'll learn why yesterday, June 19th, has an entirely different meaning to these guys than the celebration of some silly new holiday named Juneteenth! I went for a 7.5 mile mountain hike yesterday to the top of Suicide Rock, but no, there were no such thoughts while sitting on top of this popular hiking destination. I'd like to dedicate that hike to the 47 we lost June 19th, many years ago!

The documentary on PBS is available here, but do note that it may not load while using a VPN service, and ad block software may also stop it from working:
https://www.pbs.org/show/the-mobile-riverine-force/

 

[Pape]

Absolutely. I can't tell you how much riding with the doors and top off, good tunes, and a warm summer day clears and centers my mind. It's one of the few times that my brain isn't running 100K MPH with thoughts. I love it.

My mind slow down but does not stop but funny enough everything is optimistic, ya the jeep effect.

 

[rdfact]

Thank you to all who served.

I never did. By the time 9/11 happened I was 32 with 3 kids, and probably too out of shape to get through boot camp.

My nephew is currently deployed on what should be his final deployment before his 20 years are up. Needless to say, with all the Iran issues, I am concerned for his safe return.

 

[MRxHappyPants11B]

I had a colonel who got people killed because of a bad judgement call to change our TTPs to "Brace for impact" instead of eliminating the possible threat of a VBIED. I don't blame the Army.

War is hell.

I was in Iraq from 04-08. Haifa was a miserable place to be. I truly feel for you and what you went through.

But shitting on this guys thread isn't going to make you feel better.

Not shutting on Anything. Anyone who was there knows what Blackwater did. Anyone one who was there knows exactly how and why Blackwater got kicked out 9f country and had to chamge its name. Driving around shooting civilians and laughing about is why Blackwater got shit canned. So yeah as an Infantryman I do take offense to some jackasses driving around murdering people..and what was that Blackwater bird doing when it got dropped? Doing some cowboy shit shooting random people. No Sympathy. I'll say it again Fuck Blackwater. Triple Canopy was legit. Blackwater just high paid murderers making our jobs harder.

 

[chevymitchell]

Not shutting on Anything. Anyone who was there knows what Blackwater did. Anyone one who was there knows exactly how and why Blackwater got kicked out 9f country and had to chamge its name. Driving around shooting civilians and laughing about is why Blackwater got shit canned. So yeah as an Infantryman I do take offense to some jackasses driving around murdering people..and what was that Blackwater bird doing when it got dropped? Doing some cowboy shit shooting random people. No Sympathy. I'll say it again Fuck Blackwater. Triple Canopy was legit. Blackwater just high paid murderers making our jobs harder.

Lol. I hope you find whatever peace you need to, man.

If you need help with your Jeep, let me know. I'll help anyway I can.

Sponsored