S02E20 - Bruce Sloper (Young Veterans CQ / Yeppoon RSL) - Part 2
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This episode is part two of Andy's chat with Bruce Sloper where they discuss outside jobs to go to with structure, uniforms and discipline  They pick up the conversation about leaving the forces space and what that’s like for many ex service personnel.  Yeah,  It can be a little bit scary they agree but there is a pattern that ex military are drawn to.    Emergency services, Police, counter-terrorism.   The reason being a lot of those organizations in civilian street will be structured. They're got a uniform,  a hierarchy, and are disciplined.   That’s what we're used to and what's missing with people getting out of the services.   They get out of a disciplined, well structured organization to nothing and that’s a shock.   Bruce shared a glimpse of what that was like in his life at that low point. On the subject of PTSD he said information is better now than it was then and outside of war, a road accident, a traumatic incident, or something like that there are different reasons why people get PTSD.   

You get offered a few resettlement things on the way out of the ADF and then you become a family man, which I learned is another story of many stories.  In my case a very supportive wife  who looks after the household whether I was there or long periods away.  Learning quickly if you come home, and start making home decisions, it doesn't work like that and I soon got pulled up.   So you’ve got to adjust to your family lifestyle.   Another adjustment is lack of social interaction with similar minded people when at home.  We bought a block of land and I decided to work the land for 18 months, just mend fences and get the feel of the land but missing was the social interaction as we were out in the country.  It  was a depressing time but taught me to get out and join things and have projects.  Bruce went on to talk about specific volunteer or social groups he knows are available and things that tend to be structured.    Helping others is a way of moving past your own problems he commented.

 Andy returned to the important role Bruce’s wife played by his side the whole way.   Bruce admits she is a calming influence especially when things were really grim during his darkest days.  In hind sight, since that period,  it’s been a successful  life in a lot of different ways and in many areas.    For the future, they are planning  to sell the farm and retire  but still be involved in farming.  

So returning to the questions around suicidal thoughts.    When ideally should you seek help?  I must admit I didn't but the question is why is that?   

Contact -  Bruce SloperMember of: Young Veterans Central Queensland)Member of: Yeppoon RSL sub-branch )Help Lines Open Arms (VVCS)) | Lifeline) | RedSix app)"RESPECT, NO POLITICS, WE'RE VOLUNTEERS"Disclaimer: The accounts and stories are "Real lived experiences" of our guests some of the content may trigger Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) symptoms in some of our audience. Feedback regarding other organisations, courses and initiatives remains largely unsensored. Whether its good or bad they remain the OPINION of our guests and their experiences it is important in building an accurate statistic on what really happens. During the course of our conversations sometimes sensitive information may be accidentally mentioned, as such, Invisible Injuries respects the law and sensors any information that may breach Operational Security OPSEC

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