I Basically Froze

Summary

Colonel Reedy Hopkins recounts his experience in Iraq, where he oversaw a $1.5 billion budget for equipping security forces. He vividly describes a tragic incident from 2005 that left him with haunting memories and the subsequent struggle with mental health upon his return to the Pentagon. Hopkins eventually sought Prolonged Exposure therapy, which helped him confront and reinterpret the traumatic event, reducing his anxiety and enabling him to face crowded situations. He emphasizes the importance of seeking help for mental health, challenging the stigma that soldiers should not seek assistance, and shares his story to encourage others to do the same.

Takeaways

• 🇺🇸 The speaker served in Iraq, equipping Iraqi police and army with a budget of 1.5 billion dollars, highlighting the scale of the military operation.
• 🚔 A significant event on February 18th, 2005, involved a large convoy mission under fire, where a mortar round was detonated, causing casualties.
• 🏥 The speaker experienced a moment of hesitation during combat, which has haunted him ever since, indicating the psychological impact of the event.
• 🛌 After returning to the Pentagon, the speaker struggled with daily life, showing signs of avoidance and depression, which are common symptoms of PTSD.
• 🏥 The speaker sought help from a mental health clinic, beginning a journey of recovery that included therapy.
• 🧠 Prolonged Exposure therapy was utilized, where the speaker relived the traumatic event in detail, which is a key component of confronting and processing trauma.
• 🤔 The therapy helped the speaker to rethink the incident, realizing that the perceived hesitation was likely only a split second and not a failure on his part.
• 🏢 Before therapy, the speaker avoided crowded situations, which is a common avoidance behavior in PTSD sufferers.
• 🛍 As part of the therapy, the speaker intentionally placed himself in crowded situations, such as local trade markets, to face his fears.
• 📉 The speaker's anxiety levels decreased significantly over the course of therapy, moving from extreme anxiety to a more manageable level.
• 💪 The speaker emphasizes the importance of seeking help for mental health issues, challenging the stigma that soldiers should not seek help.
• 🗣️ The speaker is open to sharing his experience to help others, especially to counteract the idea that seeking help is a sign of weakness.

Q & A

What was Colonel Reedy Hopkins' role in Iraq?

Colonel Reedy Hopkins was responsible for equipping the Iraqi police, Iraqi army, and security forces with a budget of 1.5 billion dollars.

What significant event occurred on February 18th, 2005, during the convoy mission?

On February 18th, 2005, during a large convoy mission, the enemy detonated mortar rounds that had been buried in the ground, severely damaging a heavily armored tractor trailer and causing one death and two serious injuries.

How did Colonel Hopkins initially react to the incident involving the burning truck?

Colonel Hopkins hesitated to approach the burning truck to check for a third person inside, which has haunted him ever since.

When did Colonel Hopkins realize he might need help with his mental health?

It wasn't until January or February of 2006, after returning to the Pentagon, that Colonel Hopkins considered seeking help for his mental health.

What symptoms did Colonel Hopkins experience that indicated he was struggling with mental health?

Colonel Hopkins experienced difficulty getting up and out of bed, avoiding crowds, and a lack of desire to socialize or engage in activities, which are indicative of mental health struggles.

What therapy did Colonel Hopkins undergo to address his mental health issues?

Colonel Hopkins underwent Prolonged Exposure therapy, which involved revisiting and analyzing the traumatic incident in detail.

How did Prolonged Exposure therapy help Colonel Hopkins?

The therapy helped him by allowing him to reframe his perception of the incident, realizing that his hesitation was only a split second and there was nothing he could have done differently.

What was part of the homework assigned during Colonel Hopkins' Prolonged Exposure therapy?

Part of the therapy's homework involved placing himself in crowded situations, which was initially very anxiety-inducing for him.

How did Colonel Hopkins' experience with therapy change his approach to crowded situations?

After therapy, Colonel Hopkins was able to reduce his anxiety levels significantly when in crowded situations, moving from a 100 on the anxiety scale to between 25 to 50.

What message does Colonel Hopkins want to convey to others about seeking help for mental health?

Colonel Hopkins wants to convey that seeking help for mental health issues is crucial and should not be avoided due to stigma or fear of career repercussions.

What impact does Colonel Hopkins hope to have by sharing his story?

He hopes to help others, especially those in the military, understand the importance of seeking help for PTSD or traumatic brain injuries and to challenge the notion that 'real' soldiers don't seek help.