A Request for Simon

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A little while back, Simon mentioned that he created a program for combat veterans who were experiencing PTSD. This program involved something that Simon called “mental hardening.” I would very much like to learn more about this.

I don’t believe that I am experiencing PTSD, but then again, I am not totally clear on what PTSD is. I used to experience suicidal ideation. I have never made an attempt, and I actually think that my suicidal ideation has mostly if not totally subsided. Learning about the effects of failed suicide attempts played a role in curing me of that, but mostly, I hope, the light is prevailing against the darkness.

Several years ago, I encountered someone on social media whose wife had died very suddenly while only in her 40’s or 50’s. This man said that for about a year afterward, he was just angry all the time, and he essentially spent the year barking at those around him. At the time, I couldn’t relate to what he was saying at all, but since Robin died, I totally understand. Under normal circumstances, I have faults and flaws just like everybody else, but under normal circumstances, being angry and barking at people is not something I do. At all. But it’s kind of been a thing for me since Robin died, and I am pretty sure that I am correct in saying that it’s out of character for me. At one point, I came to distrust myself so much that I just stopped dealing with people in real life, or only dealt with them to the extent that I absolutely had to, because I didn’t trust myself.

I don’t know what, if anything, this is called. The only way I can describe it is, it’s like having a very bad sunburn. Under normal circumstances, normal things like having someone accidentally brush up against me, doesn’t bother me at all, but if I have a sunburn and somebody brushes up against me, it makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs, because it’s very painful.

It’s getting better, and just hearing the term “mental hardening” helped me a great deal. When I read that term for the first time, a light bulb went off in my mind, and I thought, yes, that is my problem, I need to become harder mentally. I would really like to learn about this in more detail; it may or may not relate to what I have experienced, but regardless, many people, including me, would benefit greatly from learning about this.

Thank you, Simon.

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Published by Judy Campbell

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16 thoughts on “A Request for Simon”

  3. Chaps is salivating over this possibly being discussed; I’m interested to hear about what works – and doesn’t. Not to mention what might be transferable to the Country Class – not just vets. Please and thank you!

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  5. Good thoughts JaC but after watching the film Sniper I would want ST to volunteer for a more protective program.
    I still haven’t come to grips with the fact they put a gun in a young man’s hands who wasn’t mentally or emotionally ready to take on that kind of responsibility.

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    1. Hollywood, again, Liz; Be skeptical of the “truthiness” of any movie memoir, Don’t be so sure of unready – one is never prepared, just sayin’.

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      1. Actually Nanda, Sniper was a true story and it was directed by Eastwood. (Hollywood hates him so I, of course, feel the opposite.)

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      2. Hollywood is Hollywood, Liz; regardless of Eastwood’s political orientation; he also has a point to make. (Immature children turned into killing machines, perhaps, not sure I buy it.) Getting cynical even about conservatism, I gotta say….

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      3. Suffered through American Sniper myself, Liz; 2.5 days to watch it – well-aware of the events. Still wary about the assumptions that underlie portrayals on film.

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