Josh
Josh is a Sergeant in the Army. He joined the Army at the age of 25. After getting married at the age of 19 and subsequently having two children, Josh decided that he wanted better career options for the future, and he decided that enlisting in the Army would both provide for his family and help with college. He served in Afghanistan for
two tours of duty and then in Iraq. When he returned to the U.S. in April 2010, Josh began to experience nightmares, severe flashbacks, and anxiety attacks. He had difficulty sleeping and was constantly uneasy, often feeling out of place in his own life even though he had been excited to return home to his family. He felt displaced and a profound loss of identity. Josh had been enthusiastic about pursuing a mechanical engineering career, yet when he enrolled in a state university, he dropped out before the end of his first semester. He found it difficult to concentrate in class, and was not motivated to complete his assignments. On bad days, he found himself replaying scenes from the war over and over in his head, much to the detriment of his studies.
Since Josh dropped out of school, he spends a lot of time around the house and reports feeling a lack of motivation to get a job. His wife, Kaylee, is concerned that he may be drinking during the day when he is at home alone. Josh states that the only time he feels like himself is when he is with his former army buddies because they are the only ones who understand how he feels. Despite what he shares with Kaylee, Josh feels that she will never be able to understand what he has been through and who he has become as a result. Josh feels anxious about making mortgage payments, and he would like to contribute to the household but feels like he is at a loss.
He is surprised by his feelings when he skips out on his daughter’s ballet performance because he couldn’t stand the idea of being in a room filled with people. He avoids taking his kids to the park and the playground because the screaming children and loud noises make him feel anxious. While before he was quite even-tempered, Josh now has frequent outbursts towards his daughters and his wife, and he is jumpy and irritable. He used to play in a bowling league, but states he is no longer interested. He also has declined invitations when his former teammates call him to hang out.
two tours of duty and then in Iraq. When he returned to the U.S. in April 2010, Josh began to experience nightmares, severe flashbacks, and anxiety attacks. He had difficulty sleeping and was constantly uneasy, often feeling out of place in his own life even though he had been excited to return home to his family. He felt displaced and a profound loss of identity. Josh had been enthusiastic about pursuing a mechanical engineering career, yet when he enrolled in a state university, he dropped out before the end of his first semester. He found it difficult to concentrate in class, and was not motivated to complete his assignments. On bad days, he found himself replaying scenes from the war over and over in his head, much to the detriment of his studies.
Since Josh dropped out of school, he spends a lot of time around the house and reports feeling a lack of motivation to get a job. His wife, Kaylee, is concerned that he may be drinking during the day when he is at home alone. Josh states that the only time he feels like himself is when he is with his former army buddies because they are the only ones who understand how he feels. Despite what he shares with Kaylee, Josh feels that she will never be able to understand what he has been through and who he has become as a result. Josh feels anxious about making mortgage payments, and he would like to contribute to the household but feels like he is at a loss.
He is surprised by his feelings when he skips out on his daughter’s ballet performance because he couldn’t stand the idea of being in a room filled with people. He avoids taking his kids to the park and the playground because the screaming children and loud noises make him feel anxious. While before he was quite even-tempered, Josh now has frequent outbursts towards his daughters and his wife, and he is jumpy and irritable. He used to play in a bowling league, but states he is no longer interested. He also has declined invitations when his former teammates call him to hang out.