E03: Critical Reading – Tiggs18

“Sometimes I can’t do the laundry,” Brannan explains, reclining on her couch. “And it’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m too tired to do the laundry,’ it’s like, ‘Um, I don’t understand how to turn the washing machine on.’ I am looking at a washing machine and a pile of laundry and my brain is literally overwhelmed by trying to figure out how to reconcile them.”

• seems as if she can not control her thoughts or focus on doing any one thing because of what we can imagine would be some type of stress disorder
• basic things that everyone does can not be performed

The Army has rules about that sort of thing now. Now if you’re knocked unconscious, or have double vision, or exhibit other signs of a brain injury, you have to rest for a certain period of time, but that rule didn’t go into effect in theater until 2010, after Caleb was already out of the service.

• a rule was put in finally which should have happened awhile ago
• these injuries seem like something you don’t think are bad but in reality are worse then some bigger injuries can be
• trauma is a real thing that affects people in serious ways and to keep them out there after an injury is shameful
• time finally came where they want to make sure people are alright

“I guess we’re just used to dealing with people with more severe injuries,” a VA nurse once told Brannan upon seeing Caleb.”

• this goes to show that nurses can not see the ptsd at first like they can see other injuries in which are seeable from the eye
• sometimes it seems from this as if the nurses don’t really know how to deal with trauma like this

Her schoolmate said something mean. Maybe. Katie doesn’t sound sure, or like she remembers exactly. One thing she’s positive of: “She just made me…so. MAD.” Brannan asks Katie to name some of the alternatives. “Walk away, get the teacher, yes ma’am, no ma’am,” Katie dutifully responds to the prompts. She looks disappointed in herself.

• she goes to school
• doesn’t seem to be able to understand the tone in peoples voice
• has her own emotions and not certain with others so is confused when someone doesn’t sound like herself

In cases where children themselves need treatment, these VA officials recommended that parents find psychologists themselves, though they note “this is a good time [for the VA] to make partners with the community so we can make good referrals.” Or basically: “You’re on your own,” says Brannan.

• seems as if the kids who seem to have signs are not being taken in because they are not actually on duty
• they only help active on duty people that show signs