Another Flare Up

[Wilderness medic]

I apologize if I seemed to shut you down in any way I didn't mean to or even realize if I did!

I have just made an appointment for therapy at nearly $200 a session starting Friday after this one. I am willing to do what it takes. But the no drugs thing is more than just the career. It's a personal opposition from my beliefs.

Of course in have t tried them all, or evey therapist. Hiwever I have tried the only thing offered by my va. They had no alternative.

 

[Wilderness medic]

I am faced with either doing this or getting my dog trained to possibly interupt. Spoke with the SD trainer. So if the therapy doesn't seem right I have to choose to either try a new one or spend the money on the dog. Idk which.

 

[Spock]

Welcome, glad you found us. Check out the media section.

 

[Jimmy1]

Go down to a veteran centre and speak to some of the old souls down there. They will tell you the good ones and the affordable ones.

I cringed when I found out my first therapist had no military background whatsoever. I questioned how they could be facilitators on a course I was on. But some of these therapists have been dedicated to those of us returning and now have over 12 years experience with veterans and PTSD. Imagine how many stories they have heard and how many successes they have had.

I hope you can get assessed by the VA soon enough mate. Therapy is as only as good as what you put into it. If you don't tell them what keeps you awake at night, how can they help.

Cheers

 

[Lee C]

Welcome mate

 

[reddevil1111]

Therapy is a tool to help you get things back in order. It comes in all types of therapy. Some guys do a group and find it helps for maintaining. But for initial treatment you need a LOT of one on one time. Years. After you talk out why your feeling so f*cked up then you get to start to work on the building blocks of how to cope and deal with it. That's the key component to figuring out how to deal.

Once the air is cleared of the past, learning how to recognize stressors, how to deal with them... how to recognize when your stress levels are getting high and figuring out how to vent and let out the stress prior to the rage/explosion. Then you can see huge improvements in your quality of life.

The real bitch of it ? Its hard work. You can lie or cheat the therapist, its not about them and what they know its about being honest with yourself as well.

PTSD destroys EVERYTHING it touches. If you want that to stop, this is how you do it. Therapy. Problem is, most guys don't want to open up about the reasons they have PTSD. You get so used to shoving it in a hole and acting like its not there...its hard work to open the sores and expose the trauma. Especially when you realize that you will be worse off for doing so. And then you find out there is no cure for the PTSD. It can be real disheartening.

I know. It took me 20 years to come to terms. I am jealous of the younger guys in here. You know the problem and with work and a few years of time you could still have a good quality of life. I feel like mine is so f*cked up it will never get right.

If I had a gun today, I have doubt I would use it. Even though I have done so much and worked so hard to get things better. The depression is like a heavy blanket keeping me from fresh air. I am so tired a lot of the time. Not sleepy, tired.

 

[Deleted member 43454]

Hang in there Red! You are valuable to us younger guys. We need your experience. :notworthy: