When war becomes too much to handle
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Courtesty photo Michael Oglesbee, a 38-year-old veteran has battled with PTSD since serving two tours.
In the September 26 issue of The Madill Record, mental health issues were brought up because September was Mental Health Awareness Month.
On the heels of that awareness month, another holiday that needs major recognition has also come and gone; Veteran’s Day. While Veteran’s Day is celebrated annually on November 11, it should be talked about every day of the year.
Not just to give thanks to the ones who have sacrificed everything for our freedom, but also to shed light on the ones who are still paying the price.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a real affliction. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
With more than three-million cases per year, it has become a pretty common diagnosis.
Michael Oglesbee is one of the veterans who gave all, and is still fighting to keep some shred of who he was before the military.
Oglesbee is 38 and joined the military when he was 19. Serving in the US Army and the Louisiana Army National Guard, he saw two tours – one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
In 2003, Oglesbee spent 15 months in Iraq, and 10 months in Afghanistan in 2010.
These two tours not only messed with him physically, but also wreaked havoc on him emotionally. He said it was difficult returning home after them.
“It has been a constant struggle since I first returned after my first deployment to Iraq in July 2004,” Oglesbee said. “I’ve struggled with anxiety, anger, depression, suicidal ideation, addiction, divorce, loss of custody, and inability to maintain gainful employment.”
The trauma from both tours is the main reason for his PTSD. He saw things people should not have to deal with, he said.
“During my Iraq deployment on multiple occasions, I was engaged in direct combat and witnessed death and injury,” Oglesbee said.
His Afghanistan deployment was not any better, because he was a flight medic and was “directly involved with the treatment and transportation of multiple military and civilian casualties of war.”
Unfortunately, PTSD has also affected Oglesbee’s relationships.
“Well, it caused me to end up in a bitter divorce and custody battle [and] a failed rebound relationship,” he stated.
“Then, it caused me to become homeless briefly after my first serious long-term relationship post-divorce. It also affected my relationship with my son who wouldn’t really talk to me for almost a year and a half.”
Oglesbee currently went back to school to become the first one in his family to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. He is studying Environmental Science specializing in Water Science. He said the main reason he chose that field is because of the minimal amount of human interaction involved.
According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, 53.8 percent of Oklahoma veterans committed suicide. That is 15.4 percent higher than the national average. The survey was conducted in 2014, so the numbers could be higher.
Marshall County has over 1300 listed veterans. Does that mean that over 700 suffer from PTSD?
Oglesbee said even though the light is pretty dim, there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of help.
He said originally, he did not fare well, but with the help of an organization, he is better.
“I didn’t get through it well. Medication worked for a while. Went to two different treatment programs. The second, a VA residential PTSD program was quite successful.”
For the local veterans needing assistance, there is an Oklahoma Veteran Affairs and a Veterans Center both in Ardmore on Commerce Street.
ThereisalsoaHelp for Heroes located in Oklahoma City. The organization offers Behavioral Health & PTSD Treatment for Military, Veterans & First Responders.