I looked at a couple of other forums, and they were filled with civilians who were not hugged enough by their mom, or were hugged too much by their dad. That's fine. I am looking for a place where I can find answers from someone who has been where I have been. If you have not guessed, I'm new here. I'm not really looking for help. In my opinion, I'm just fine. Not a problem in the world. I just don't seem to be able to mix in with the rest of the world.

My background: USMC Infantry 22 years. Combat action in Kuwait, Somalia, and Iraq. I retired last year, right about the time my wife was offered a job in Switzerland. We sold our house and moved to Switzerland. I am not able to find a job here, but that is understandable. I don't speak the language and my job skills don't match up well with the local community.

Why am I here: I am not some whack job who wants to climb the local clock tower and start popping grapes. I do have a wife who is a little concerned about my behavior though. I consider myself as a person who prefers to get pissed off before he gets pissed on. This has lead to some problems with the local police when I considered myself to be in the right.

I will admit that I do not like going outside the house unless I have a need , and I will..........neverfreakinmind. I guess i just wonder if it is just me or if the rest of the world that is F'd up. Retirement came on me very suddenly due to my wife's job, and I never filed anything with the VA even though I could. I don't admit to most people what I was, but I am proud of everything I did. I guess I am looking for some kind of help to determine if my violent tendencies are the acts of a proud American (or maybe just someone who will not accept what the world dishes out), or someone who has a problem. My wife and others seem to see me one way, but they are people without convictions or pride by my definition.

I feel alone here. And I will be living here for another 2 years. I did see a doctor about my mental health when I got my final physical, and he did express concerns, but I could not follow up due to having to leave the country.

I don't know what I am looking for, and I don't know if anyone feels like I do.I always pictured myself as someone who would wear a red jacket and be a leader at the local VFW or Marine Corps League, but I really feel like I want to disappear and become nothing.

Your thoughts are appreciated, whether they be kind or a good swift kick in the ass, which is a good cure for most things in life.

This place is legit. There's some good guys here. We have the same background-- 22 years myself. Somalia, Haiti, Colombia (Colombia don't sound like a combat zone, but I was getting IDP, so what the hell, I'll take it....was a bit of stress, though I never got shot at there).

Though, I don't suffer from PTSD, I know many vets who do (including my best friend). My wife has also been through "the process" of getting help from the VA for several vets she cares for (paraplegics).

From my wife's experiences, my advice would be to keep pushing for the VA to get you some help (providing you're willing to accept it?)...because, yeah, I do think you got a problem (though, amateur psychologist that I am, I'm judging you from your short intro). Though, I don't know how much help you'll get in Switzerland? Hope that don't piss you off.

Anyway, feel free to contact me through a PM if you just want to talk about it. Sometimes that helps a great deal (or so I'm told).

If nothing else, we got that shared background, sh!t, we might have run into each other in Somalia.

PM me, I'll provide you an email address.....we'll talk.

Like patoloco I am here if you need to talk to some one, tho I did not serve in the Corps I did serve 21 years in the army, that said if I can help you PM me and I will send you my email address, take care of your self.

Ditto for me as well. Welcome to the site and hope to hear from you.

This might help or it might not. It can't hurt to look. Good luck.

http://www.nvf.org/?gclid=CMWAwt_4iJYCFQE0xgodRHEVFQ

Has anybody heard from jake1294?

Nope.....maybe he thinks we're a bunch of civilians who didn't get hugged enough....

I just read the story of jake1294 but I guess he's gone diving. So, I dont want to offer any advice until he comes back to the surface. Is he perhaps in jail in Switzerland, considering his police trouble?

Mastertanker we were wondering that to, not sure where he is or what has been happening with jake. We will be here for him when he returns, soon I hope.

I fear that we may have lost jake1294, what a shame, we could have helped him I believe.

I think that we have lost him and that is a real shame.