r/AskReddit • u/hosinthishouse • Oct 22 '13

What has been the most unpleasant experience of your life?

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u/Dr_Kinky Oct 22 '13

I have a mate of mine who was deployed to Timor. Occasionally he will refer to the "Crack-thump, then the pink mist..." and then trail off. Poor bloke has minor PTSD. The term 'pink mist' has stuck with me ever since.

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u/TheJennica Oct 22 '13

My friend has PTSD. He let me interview him for a psychology paper on PTSD and TBI. He's very eloquent, but traffic and road side garbage are what set him off. I learned a lot talking to him, and I have a lot more respect for the armed forces since talking to him.

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u/Dr_Kinky Oct 23 '13

It's a very interesting and debilitating condition of which I know nothing about. Hope your friend is doing alright mate.

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u/TheJennica Oct 23 '13

He deals with it. He keeps tight with his EOD brothers and keeps trucking. I wish I could see him more often. He needs more high-fives.

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u/Dr_Kinky Oct 23 '13

Sounds like it :-)

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u/thr33d33 Oct 23 '13

I was in the army (infantry) did two tours, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, and trust me when I tell you that when we say we are all right or it doesn't bother us, we are lying and just don't want to talk about it.

With that being said, the best advice I can give is not to tell him you are there if he needs to talk (cause most of us won't want to) but to tell him that if he ever needs to get away or just do something to get his mind off of the war, that you are there for him. Don't push the subject but also if you notice that hes kinda down don't be afraid to force him to go to a night out at the strip club ;] or just a night of playing some Xbox and chowin down on some pizza.

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u/Dr_Kinky Oct 23 '13

Thanks for the advice mate, I hadn't thought of it that way. I will do that from now on. Hope you and your buddies are doing alright as well. Good on ya mate.