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A Little Help?

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Hi my name is William Loftin. I just found this site and looked over some of the posts. I have PTSD and I get treatment at the Dallas VA hospital. I've been going there for like 4 years or so. I went through quite a few different mess and think I am on something that works pretty well now I've been on this latest set for about a year so far.

The reason I'm writing here for advice is I am worried about telling this to the VA doctors, I'm worried they might lock me up. I have been seeing and hearing things, a lot of really f*cked up things. It started happening about 6 months ago and it's getting worse. I think most of my PTSD is from me killing this boy in Iraq. He was with a group of insurgents firing on us and I shot and killed a 12-14 year old boy.

Now I am seeing him all over the place, half of his face is destroyed and there is blood all over him but he still talks to me and screams at me. I have a 15month old daughter who I am responsible for taking care of most days and he sits by her and tells me what a f*cked up father I am and how I am failing to protect her. He tells me there isn't a child proof cap on the electrical outlet in the living room and if I don't fix it right now she is going to die. He says she should be dead like he is because her father kills children. He tells me if I forget to check before going around a corner at the Walmart, anytime I miss something he tells me I missed it and that because I missed it my daughter is going to die.

When my wife talks to me he tells me she is lying to me. Sometimes he just stands behind her chanting liar! liar! liar!sometimes he jerks like he did when I shot him and sprays blood on my wife and daughter. Sometimes I see real people with blood on them in store or walking around I'm pretty sure they're real people but the blood and injuries they have can't be real because they would be dieing.

I honestly don't know what to do anymore. I don't want to go back to the inpatient treatment in Waco or just get locked up in a mental hospital somewhere but it's getting out of control.

The old way I knew how to deal with things was to go to the bar and get super drunk so I would either fight someone or f*ck someone. It seemed to do a "reset" in my brain somehow and let me get through another week. I tried to explain this to my wife and she did have sex with me about a month ago to help me reset but she isn't always able to help me like this.

I don't know what to do, I feel like I deserve what is happening because I killed the kid. I don't want to get locked up inpatient but I don't know how long I can deal with the yelling and shit the boy says. Some mornings I don't hear my daughter waking up because the boy is so loud.
 
I go to the VA and I have been through some crazy stuff. I really didn't want to tell them about the self harm I do. I was afraid as you are that they would admit me. They have not and I now feel confident that they will not. When I told them my HR doubled and my BP skyrocketed I was so scared. Instead, they really have made themselves more available for me. I saw my psychiatrist weekly for about two months until mediation started helping. I have also seen my therapist weekly. This has helped, now I am not afraid to tell them how crazy it gets because I found the only way for it to get better is to be honest. I know it isn't the same as your experience, but I have done some major things and I get to go home every time with something to work with. I can't promise they won't admit you (no one here can) but I can say if they do it is because there is no other alternative and it is for you and your family. They don't like to waste money :) It isn't going to get better until you tell them, that I am sure of.
 
I don't think you deserve what's happening. You did the best you could in an impossible situation.

What are you getting for help from the VA? Medication? Therapy besides medication? You should probably talk too someone about this. There are several possible explanations. If you're on medication, it could even be a side effect.

I can relate to not wanting to be locked up! I've talked about that a couple times with my therapist. He said he didn't think I'd do well in captivity. LOL But, because I know he gets that, if he ever DID suggest it, I'd be more likely to listen to him. Some times it's the best choice, in the short run. But an awful lot of stuff can be handled on an outpatient basis. I'd bet you'd feel better just because you talked this through with someone. Keeping it inside and trying to handle it alone must be hard!

I hope you find help with this. Sounds like you've got a lot to live for.

Welcome to the forum.
 
I don't think you deserve what's happening. You did the best you could in an impossible situation.

Wha...
Thanks, I think I will have to talk to the VA, it's just hard to do when I don't know if they will lock me up or not. I don't do well being forced to do things, the 2 months of inpatient I did in Waco was voluntarily but the locked you in at night and I almost couldn't do it because of that. Hopefully it won't come to that.
 
I don't think you deserve what's happening. You did the best you could in an impossible situation.

Wha...
Got all kinds of Ned's and did 2 months of ctb groups in Waco a couple years ago, seeing and hearing things is new though, seriously looking at labotomy, you can actually do those at home and it's like a cure or kill fix from what I've read, 50/50 roll the bones?
 
You need to tell them so they can adjust your meds or get you therapeutic help. You don't deserve to live like this. I feel very grateful for your service. You are a hero to us, not a murderer.You were doing an ugly job that no one wants to do. Please find the courage to tell the VA what you are experiencing.
 
WELCOME, and THANK YOU for coming here for advice, and support. You are NOT ALONE with this!

PLEASE tell the ones who can help! Holding these thoughts inside only makes them bigger!

You were in a HORRIBLE position in Iraq! I am SURE you would not have chosen to kill that boy! You would NOT do it now...that is NOT who you are!

Tell them for your daughter, and your wife. Do it for LOVE! You ARE strong enough to reach out for help. You ARE!

I have not been to war, but I had a child who
was born severely brain-damaged, and I had postpartum depression so bad, that I had visual "flashes" of me, throwing her up against the wall, more than once! I could not believe that I could "see" that in my head! What kind of horrible mother was I?

I got help, got on medication, and began therapy. I got better...learned that it was actually common, when children are born with severe retardation, and handicaps.

You CAN GET BETTER! You DON'T have to feel this way forever! Your daughter, and your wife NEED YOU!!!

Keep coming here, and letting your thoughts come out in "black and white"...maybe it will
"take away" their strength!

Peace, and BLESSINGS, sent your way!
 
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I think I will have to talk to the VA, it's just hard to do when I don't know if they will lock me up or not.
I'm glad to hear that.

Stay in touch! We have a small connection. My "unofficial adopted brother" was based out of the National Guard armory in Waco. I've been there a few times to visit him. But, I have to add, one of the reasons I'm worried about you is him. He did a couple tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan, and came back with PTSD. He had trouble getting help. Partly because of the stupid, inadequate system, and partly because he was pretty stubborn and sure he should be able to handle stuff on his own. He was also worried about getting locked up and 'them' taking his guns. He's dead and I kinda wish they'd done both. :( You do what you need to do to get through this! If you're into reading, I'll recommend the book "Once a Warrior Always a Warrior". It does a good job talking about PTSD, but also about navigating the system. Has a section for families too. Let us know how things go, ok?

(BTW, when I've seen things that weren't actually there, my T says to think of it as 'an illusion'. It sounds better. :)) Take care!
 
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