tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084876361608306937.post2809248274030649262..comments2024-02-26T19:17:44.872-08:00Comments on Living with PTSD and TBI: You Can't See The Forest For The TreesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084876361608306937.post-35717399738285718672011-03-29T18:26:24.209-07:002011-03-29T18:26:24.209-07:00Sadly, until administrative personnel admit that t...Sadly, until administrative personnel admit that the PTSD program currently in place no longer works many more Veterans will pass through the clinic’s halls and not receive the therapeutic benefits in which it was originally designed to provide. Admitting that the status quo is no longer working is admitting that those who have had to return time and time again, or those who have just given up and are no longer walking this earth, have been wronged. When PTSD programs were being designed, they were focused on Veterans who had been in WWII or the Vietnam Conflict. They were many years removed from the physical, earthly battleground. However, because their emotional battleground continued to rage within, the VA designed this program, and it appeared to be working. But now, a large number of Veterans in need PTSD treatment are fresh from Iraq, Afghanistan and other military conflicts. Their emotional wounds are still bleeding. Their wounds haven’t had time to even scab over yet. During the conflicts of WWII and Vietnam, it took weeks, sometimes months, for our Veterans to return home to us. This gave them some time to unwind, detox if you may, from the battle zone. But in today’s fast-paced world, our Veterans are home within a few days to a couple weeks. They haven’t had time to “re-learn” how to be civilians. They are still hypervigilent and sensitive to the smells, the temperature, the sounds, even the weather. <br />As the survivor of domestic violence, I have experienced the symptoms of PTSD: the triggers of smells, sounds, facial expressions, life events. As a mental health counselor and case manager, I have seen the effects PTSD can have on family members. As the girlfriend of a Veteran who has PTSD, I have experienced the phone call saying, “Just talk to me.” All sufferers of PTSD need help when the symptoms are evident: morning, noon or night. They don’t need to hear, “Take a pill and go see your therapist tomorrow morning.” They need to be able to address their symptoms while they’re feeling them. <br />While the fact that so many Veterans have to return to the PTSD clinic again and again should be the indicator that the program needs redesigned, it hasn’t been. While newspaper articles describe Veterans who reached out for help and didn’t get it, administrators still don’t get it. They have become so focused on what the program USED to do, that they can’t focus on what the program NEEDS to do. Again, they miss the forest for the trees. I, for one, would much rather see my tax dollars put into the re-designing of the PTSD program than to have one more Veteran leave the unit feeling like NOTHING was done to help them. If I was a Veteran, I would much rather hear administrators say, “This program isn’t working. What can we do to make it better?”Donnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084876361608306937.post-87507527690575891212011-03-29T09:54:15.899-07:002011-03-29T09:54:15.899-07:00Hi "Dust"...welcome to the blog and than...Hi "Dust"...welcome to the blog and thank you for your support, kind words and encouragement! It was nice to hear you encountered some really helpful and nice people. Yes, the VA has most definitely come a LONG way but as in everything and as you stated, always room for improvement. I bet they could really come up with some positive changes to programs that started out with good intentions, if they would only listen to the people who are running them! Thanks again! USMUncle Sam's Mistresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01179663021921239430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084876361608306937.post-81622644113684772362011-03-28T19:39:07.236-07:002011-03-28T19:39:07.236-07:00Almost thirty years ago on the advice of our marri...Almost thirty years ago on the advice of our marriage counselor I went to the VA for help with what he was sure was PTSD. I was evaluated by one of those NO CLUE types and put back out to find my own way.<br />Twenty years ago I was a cancer patient at the VA and can remember the frustrations and shabby treatment that I received from some of the employees. They were typically administration types or the shrinks who thought their job was to deny PTSD claims (I ended up getting help for PTSD outside of the VA system). However, I also remember some of the ones who were truly outstanding, over a period of nine months in the hospital I had several poor to average nurses and I had two outstanding nurses whom I will never forget. The whole radiation department from the head oncologist to the receptionist were unbelievably kind to my family. I remember a surgeon who battled the administration repeatedly on my behalf. I was away from the system for many years but now am retired and am back due to coronary issues. I do think you are absolutely correct there does seem to by 30 good guys to every rotten apple.<br /><br />I would like to give my thanks to all the good guys at the VA. <br /><br />I also want to thank you and others like you who have the honesty and courage to share your experiences. I think the VA has improved over the past 30 year but there is a lot of room for more improvement.Dustnoreply@blogger.com