The thing is we are both Iraq war veterans. He somehow left with no problems and I got big problems. I'm sure of this because for one thing he is really unable to lie at all and especially to me, and I'm more sensitive to this stuff so I'd notice, and to be totally honest I've looked in his medicine cabinet.
He even served in Bosnia back then, too. So I feel like total shit because he served more than me and I have the problems.
We have talked extensively about our ordeals and from what he says we see it far differently. We came back different people. The problem is me though, not him. That's why I feel like shit.
It's not your fault the way you were affected. There's no reason to feel like shit about that. No one wants these inhibitions. As you know, different people have different kinds of reactions to what you went through and that's out of anyone's control.
I can understand why you would feel bad about ignoring him, though, and I also think that telling him would be the more considerate thing to do. Even if he doesn't really get it, at least he'll know you're not intentionally blowing him off. And even if he were extremely unsympathetic, you'd risk losing your friendship either way, so you might as well do what you can to keep it.
He even served in Bosnia back then, too. So I feel like total shit because he served more than me and I have the problems.
We have talked extensively about our ordeals and from what he says we see it far differently. We came back different people. The problem is me though, not him. That's why I feel like shit.
I can understand why you would feel bad about ignoring him, though, and I also think that telling him would be the more considerate thing to do. Even if he doesn't really get it, at least he'll know you're not intentionally blowing him off. And even if he were extremely unsympathetic, you'd risk losing your friendship either way, so you might as well do what you can to keep it.