Identified patient (IP)
The family member in whom the family’s symptom has emerged or is most obvious.

This simple definition can be embellished upon. Anyone up to and including an entire country can be neurotic. A nice way of acknowledging that we are all crazy.

So when( as an example ) a dysfunctional family cannot look at themselves and accept the fact that they are all sick then they will ascribe the entire family’s illness to one individual in the family. The Identified Patient. It is simpler to use this scapegoat to blame all the family’s problems on and then they do not have to look inward to themselves.

Let’s take this to another level. When the entire country focused on the returning Vietnam veterans with hate and malice, they were finding a convenient scapegoat to lay blame upon.

Vietnam veterans were spit upon and held up as horrible human beings using the small minority of atrocities ( that occur in any war) as their excuse. These men served honorably and did not deserve this. It’s a miracle that they could go on with their lives after what they had been through. Many didn’t, the homeless veterans, the suicides and the high rate of Post-Traumatic Stress statistics. It’s happening again with the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans but at least they are being respected as veterans. Whatever the right or wrong of these wars is up to the each of us to ascertain. What is “certain” is to never hate the soldiers agian jsut hate the war. As one veteran told me, ” I didn’t want to be hated, I just wanted to come home.”

I am an Active duty Soldier, and I am a bit put off by the above message. Sears has held an incredible event for several years now, of which is the “Friends and Family” event. They make this event all about the military with special discounts, deals, promotions, and really just a HUGE thank you for the armed forces. Yes, it is only once a year, but they still acknowledge it. Lowe’s offers a 10% discount year round, but does not advertise, and it must be asked for. I dont hold anything against Sears for not offering a year round discount. And, I am very appreciative of the event that they do hold. Businesses do not “owe” a discount to the military, and when ever they do we should just be grateful. I am very sorry about the above poster.

When I was a Navy Lieutenant in the 1970s Parade Magazine had a stress quiz. They had stress items with points attached. Things like: “If you know you’re going to move in the next year add 10 points.” “If you did move in the past year, add 15 points.” “If a parent died in the last 2 years add 20 points.” “If you got divorced in the last year add 30 points.” There were about 30 such things. It said at the end that if you had a score between 60-80 you should seek counselling to deal with it. My score was 220. I never had time to go see a counsellor.

Trent: Airline pilots have an abundant amount of stress.