Hi All, Ptsd Afghan After Injury

[daniel]

generally bipolar features are described (and treated) for behaviors associated with ptsd. many get confused because although being treated for the ptsd, bipolar is ofter discussed instead. i am one who is treated for these features.

my thought is, if ptsd untreated become hardwired to one's brain, altering the brain's chemisty, then it may stand to reason one could develop bipolar and the theory that it is solely genetic proves false.

I took lithium and prozac for a long time. It became a balancing act. Yesterday with my new medication maintenance psychiatrist, I was told to throw all my prozac away and discontinue (immediately). Prozac with lithium exacerbates the manic side of the bipolar. Increasing one over the other just puts you smack dab into an uncontrollable manic side. For some ptsd individuals the manic side which causes some very destructive behaviours, does not render them the "world's best friend," it spins them into a deadly uncontrollable rage. this holds true in my case. so it was nice for me to learn something new, shut up and listen and stop dictating to everyone just how i will receive treatment and meds. while too soon to tell, it does appear the "mind swirl" of the manic was put into check by simply stopping the antidepressant (prozac).

more for discussion if you want it . . .

 

[Need an Oasis]

It was under my understanding i was given ECT ( only 6 sessions as my memory was assessed to be too bad) for my severe depression.

Hey Lee, and welcome. My psychiatrist once told me that ECT is used for severe cases of depression. So maybe you got it for the depression accompanying the PTSD?

 

[Lee C]

Either way i dont recommend it as it has affected my memory 10 fold and wiped certain parts of it clean. It has made me worse TBH

 

[Lee C]

My pins (legs) have had numerous surgeries before and i though i had gotten rid of it. However in Super F***ing style i went to see the specialists, who were amazed at my previous recoreds(good or bad?) Any way i have xrays and Mri's on both legs withing the next 2 weeks to show what i already know BUT they are putting me through on the private, BONUS, somebody who actually knows what there are doing with a knife(Less my Afghan surgeon whos was the dogs bollox and sorted my upper body out, less nerve damage which was due to metal)

The picture above believe it or not is my good arm !!

 

[BV101]

Lee, is the arrow pointing to your new zip luck or was it done afterwards? This makes my fragmentation hole look like infants school. I am very sorry for you comrade. Thats genuine btw, there is no gag at this point.

 

[Lee C]

It doesnt matter what your wounds look like, i can handhe the physical stuff, its the invisible ones i really sturggle with.
No gag taken mate ;)

 

[Lee C]

Got my Medical Board today and they are all in agreement that " Im broken, in so many words" and the military system cant fix me. Got less than a year (Was 23 years ago) before im a Civvie again o_O

 

[Ned]

Got my Medical Board today and they are all in agreement that " Im broken, in so many words" and the military system cant fix me. Got less than a year (Was 23 years ago) before im a Civvie again o_O

Don't worry about that bit, Lee. I did 23, got out voluntarily but was still very worried about doing it. No regrets at all and I needed to get out to grow (and heal, it turned out). Any advice, insights or ideas I can offer you are welcome to ask.

 

[Jimmy1]

Lee, I had my 20 up, had only been a Warrant Officer for a year when they said 'f*ck Off' we can't heal you.
I had grand plans of changing over to the dark side and becoming a Captain. I still resent them for that and that is one of the issues I have and am dealing with. My psych reckons that is why I am so hard on myself and on others, because subconsciously I am still in.
f*ck I hate my head.

 

[Anglesachse]

...................My psych reckons that is why I am so hard on myself and on others, because subconsciously I am still in.f*ck I hate my head.

Is exactly what my Therapist said to me, got to just on the 9, and had a major falling out with the Military and had a hissy fit and signed off. 12 months later I was a civvie and lost at the world. But even today that green fluid still pumps through this body. Just can`t leave it behind.

 

[Jimmy1]

You can have both at once, however; if you didn't have bipolar prior to trauma, then chances are any diagnosis of bipolar after trauma is a misdiagnosis. Bipolar is actually a biological illness, even though classified as mental illness, it is a chemical deficiency within the brain that affects depression and mood.

Hence, after trauma and PTSD is present, PTSD causes depression and mood bursts, mimicking Bipolar. Mood up, mood down, mood up, mood down... repeat the process, that is PTSD.

When you had Bipolar before trauma, then endured trauma and got PTSD, then you have both correctly.

It is estimated to take approximately 10 years ongoing treatment by a psychiatrist to ascertain Bipolar diagnosis with any credence. If a psychologist told you you have Bipolar... I wouldn't piss on what they say, as psychiatrists are the experts when it comes to mental health diagnosis. Anything lesser, you're doing yourself an injustice.

Psychologists are not doctors, nor do they have anything close to the training of a psychiatrist when it comes to diagnostic medicine. Psychologists are the experts in therapy... psychiatrists are the experts in diagnosis, medication and therapy techniques. Most psychiatrists, due to be doctors, tend to be more labelling and fault finding oriented, than what is needed for therapy, being someone to listen and guide. Some psychiatrists do therapy well... but most don't... more than likely that doctor part of training where taught to isolate from the patient.

Psychologists are taught to get closer to the patient, hence the difference when it comes to therapy itself.

Hope this helps FUBAR