Antidepressant Use In Iraq

by: Chris LeJeune

Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 18:37:09 PM EDT


(From the diaries - promoted by Brandon Friedman)

The topic of antidepressant use in the military is beginning to come to light.  This is a very touchy and difficult subject to broach, especially for myself.  Many pundits have speculated as to why this is happening and what the solution would be.  But the basic facts are the same across the board.  More and more soldiers are being prescribed antidepressants, and the problem is even flowing into Iraqi society.  This often has unintended consequences.

I served in Baghdad from April 2003  to May 2004.  In September of 2003 I was sent for treatment at the 528th Medical Detachment, 28th Combat Support Hospital.  I met with a Major there a couple of times who put me on three different antidepressants.  For those of you who have been there, you know how difficult this is.  For one, just the PTSD and Combat Stress Control is a huge stigma that generally isn't viewed too kindly by the chain of command.  Add to this the fact that I was an NCO in charge of a combat engineer team who prided themselves in their sapper skills.

But the other difficult part is actually getting the antidepressants you were prescribed.  For us, there wasn't a pharmacy anywhere nearby, you had to go to the Green Zone.  And in order to leave the wire to go to the Green Zone, you are required to have a four truck convoy, with at least 3 people in each truck, and at least two crew-served weapons.  So, if you weren't already feeling like a total failure, you now have a dozen people in a convoy through an area occupied by people who want to kill you, just to get your prescription.  Not surprisingly, most soldiers just stay quiet about any problems they may be having.  This works until it builds to a point where it affects your performance and your chain of command has to get involved.  The next thing you know, you're on a four truck convoy with a dozen soldiers going to pick up your prescription and hoping you don't hit an IED along the way.

There has got to be a better way to handle this situation.  After returning home, I sought and received PTSD counseling at my local VA hospital.  Unlike Baghdad, where the drugs were supposed to be the solution, here they combine that with regular counseling sessions, usually about an hour long each, and regular personality tests.  And you don't have to worry about getting killed on the way to the doctor or the pharmacy.  
Chris LeJeune :: Antidepressant Use In Iraq
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What solution would be best for soldiers suffering from PTSD

More counselors near troop living quarters Greater prevalence of antidepressant drugs Redeployment Drink water

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Antidepressant Use In Iraq | 10 comments
Nice piece. But you forgot (0.00 / 0)
"Change socks" as a solution.  It's very similar to "Drink water."
CLejeune, (0.00 / 0)
Of course, I've never been in combat, but I have definitely suffered from depression before. The first time, I was very young, and it was the worst because I didn't have any idea what was wrong with me and that added to the problem. I didn't have any way of telling people what was wrong because I didn't understand it myself. I can only imagine that suffering from depression in a war zone is about as close to plunging directly into hell as anybody would ever want to get.

For anyone who's never experienced real depression, it's not just a matter of feeling sad. (Especially if you have a reason to feel sad -- if you have a reason, then, of course you are supposed to feel sad. But with depression happens whether you have a reason or not, and it can happen even when you have a reason to be happy.) The word, sadness, doesn't even come close to describing it really. It's more like having your head frozen inside a block of ice. As it progresses, it moves from being just emotionally painful to being physically painful as well -- yes, it hurts just like any other disease hurts. It doesn't let you feel awake when you need to be awake and doesn't let you sleep when you need to sleep. It takes all the order and sense out of your life to the point where just moving feels like you are encased in a suit of lead. It's horrible.

Eventually you push everyone away from you, especially the ones who care because their pain just adds to your own. Sooner or later, if it goes untreated, the sufferer will definitely seek a way to end the suffering.

William Styron wrote a great book about it called Darkness Visible. If any of you have a soldier home with you who is suffering from depression, Styron's book might help you understand what's happening to him or her:

http://www.amazon.com/Darkness...

http://www.enotes.com/darkness...

http://www.vanityfair.com/maga...

It tears my heart out to think that we are letting our soldiers suffer in this way. It wouldn't cure them, but it would certainly  give them a chance to get help if deployment lengths and time between deployments were reasonable. It just makes me sick. Normally, I wouldn't wish depression on my worst enemy, but in the case of the big wigs prosecuting this war in Iraq, I think I might. Let em have a taste of hell. They've earned it.

I sort of wish I hadn't read this article, CLejeune. It hits close to home.

In regards to wishing that you hadn't read this (4.00 / 2)
I completely understand.  I generally have trouble posting on PTSD forums and discusson groups for the same reason.  I actually wrote this a few days back, saved it, and had been trying to gather the courage to actually post it.  Immediately after I posted it, I regretted it and began worrying about the type of response and negative feedback it would bring.  I am happy to see that the response was exactly the opposite of what I was expecting.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama
[ Parent ]
Thanks for posting it! (0.00 / 0)
  I assure you that you are not the only one who's been to Iraq who has had to deal with anger, depression, feelings of hopelessness, etc. My wife will attest that I was not exactly the best guy in the world to be around for a while when I came back.

 This is a very real issue, and one that must be confronted head-on from here on out.

 I applaud your courage here, and I submit we need to continue to discuss it in the open.

 IV

[ Parent ]
It was an excellent article and something that must be discussed openly. (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
At Basic Training (4.00 / 1)
There was another female in my platoon who was taking some sort of anti-depressant, they kicked her out, saying she wasn't allowed to carry a weapon on an anti-depressant and, therefore, couldn't train.  Now we send people to war . . .

Personally I don't think it matters if you are on "meds" in a war-zone, it's better than needing meds in a war zone and not having them.  Of course, all dependent on the type of meds, how many and the dosage.

I just wanted to point out that this is just another example of how much the military has changed it's policies to meet the numbers to fight this war.

Water is available everywhere. (0.00 / 0)

Therefore I chose "Drink Water!". (There is the Army NCO coming out in me again!)

 We had some guys get booted from Iraq and the Army in 2003 that I am pretty sure would just be told to stay in country now.

But the TV says all is well in Iraq, why shouldnt I believe it?

Well, from what I understand, (4.00 / 1)
from reading a recent article about contaminated water from KBR, in Iraq you have your choice of getting your water directly from the john or having your john water bottled.
[ Parent ]
Questions for all (0.00 / 0)
We all know that nothing will change for our troops UNTIL there are changes in policy, strategy, and change of command etc...

That being said.....
What are your thoughts on counselors near troops' living quarters?
Would there be a preference for active duty military counselors?
Or would there be a preference for say, veterans who have the credentials but are beholden to the soldier client and not the military chain of command?

There is no shame in showing ones humanity in the face of a surreal, and frankly, depressing situation. In fact, it is an act of honor and bravery to express ones needs and concerns. You are all to be commended! The fact that we can all express our views in this forum is an excellent example therapeutic processing that I feel is a benefit to us all.

As I work in the mental healthcare field (with veterans as well as civilians), I know that helping individuals process their experiences with guidance, in their own way and at their own pace is the best that any therapist can do for a client.  

If the optimal time for an intervention is in vivo ~ in theater~ then we are failing our troops for not providing that intervention when they need it most.


sorry about the typing errors............ (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Antidepressant Use In Iraq | 10 comments
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