[DAT11]

Okay,its been 20 years since i served in combat as a tank driver.I suffer from ptsd i know,the nightmares,night sweats,compulsive behavior,anti social.I finally looked for help from the VA and got a 30 minute speed dating psych.Was that supposed to help me?I left a little angrier and a little more lost i guess.I just want some help and some answers.Is there anyone out there?

[bebop]

hi and welcome to pc. this is a good place for support.

[Troy]

DAT 11 ... sorry it took so long to get a note back to you, but i wanted to say thanks for your tank driving. I have some experience in tanks, and infantry, and otherwise, but I'm glad to meet up with you here in psych central.

I've been aware of ptsd for a few years and just last year was diagnosed - and am now certified ptsd (i call it certifiec crazy- but the experts tell me it is way more than a mental thing, that it is a physical change in our brains that make us act this way, that make us experience the ptsd symptoms)

I'm plenty aware of the "stigma" attached to admitting the ptsd. i went to VA and got evaluated, then got increased disability, and then because of certain circumstances, decided not to go forward with the therapy. it doesn't mean the thearpy is bad, just that it isn't for me at this time.

i hope we can stay in touch.
Troy

[Michah]

Dat11.....unfortunately some systems that are supposed to help us, hinder instead....are you in a position to ask for another person to speak to?

If not, it is time to get creative, and coming to PC is a good part of that creativity and empowering yourself to seek solutions.......and the start of healing thyself.

Is there anything specific that you wanted to speak of?

We are here.

Michah

[Open Eyes]

Have you told them that you feel angry and that you feel that you did not get help?

If you receive treatment and it does not help you, and you don't say anything, nothing will change. If you feel the VA did not do it's job you really need to complain. I think as with anything else there are those that abuse the system and complain of PTSD when they do not have it for the disability. So you need to think about going back and continue to get help.

As in anything else, the sqeeky wheel gets the greace but also if enough vets come forward and complain than something will be done about it. What is in place now is because both citizens and vets have been complaining. So in order for it to get better that has to continue. You are not just helping you but others like you.

I am sorry you are going through this, I do hope you push for help and keep trying.
You do deserve to get help and have some quality to your life.

I know that PTSD is very difficult to overcome, and perhaps it is always going to be there once one gets it but my hope is that by getting the right therapy it can be better mananaged.

I take clonazapam at night to help me sleep and not have issues at night. It does help. I don't know if you are on medication but if you really have trouble at night you may want to try something that will help better.

Open Eyes

[Cooter]

For all you young vets, there are actually young pyshs at the VA that think they can cure you. Maybe they can since ya'll have been diagnoised with PTSD before you ever got out of the service. Be thankful that PTSD is such an accepted sickness and you can get $ for it. Your grandfather could never admit he might have a nightmare, hell Paton assured his fate. The Nam Vet, who I am one, never heard of PTSD until the late 90's, by then the harm had been done. Over 100,000 Viet Nam Veterans have committed suicide. Maybe with some early intervention ya'lls group won't follow in our footsteps. I pray for you and Drive on Sky Soldier>

[Catherine2]

Originally Posted by DAT11

Okay,its been 20 years since i served in combat as a tank driver.I suffer from ptsd i know,the nightmares,night sweats,compulsive behavior,anti social.I finally looked for help from the VA and got a 30 minute speed dating psych.Was that supposed to help me?I left a little angrier and a little more lost i guess.I just want some help and some answers.Is there anyone out there?

It's been sometime since you posted and I hope by now you haven taken many steps towards healing.

PTSD, like most other physical and mental symptoms, shouldn't be put in a time frame. We tend to feel we shouldn't be experiencing it since the initial trauma happened years ago. My own experience has been there are days when I cope, and days when I don't.

As with my generation, you are fighting a second battle--getting shuffled around the VA. It takes nearly as much courage and determination to survive their tactics as it did getting through our wars.
In some ways it's harder. There is supposed to be help/respect...in short supply then and now.
The trick is not to give up. When--not if--the roadblocks come up then find the detour around it. Most likely you'll have several detours.
It's the way it is; prepare yourself for it as much as you can. Use every resource available to you to get further along in your dealings with the VA. The DAV has an excellent track record. They don't mince words; they know what usually works and the steps needed to be taken. Other organizations are as helpful.

There are medications to help you sleep. Being sleep deprived leaves most of us unable to think clearly. Jme on that statement.

It does get better; no cure but there is healing. Healing=understanding and accepting it's a condition we have but it is not our identity.

Thank you for your service to our country.