Honesty In Therapy With The Va Or Other Doctors

[super-dave]

I am starting therapy next week at the va. I have never really done therapy. All these years all I ever have done was see the shrink and get meds. We never really talked, only about symptoms and meds to treat them. Anyway I wanted to know if it is really safe to tell the va doctors the truth about things that you did or happened to you. I especially concerned about things that happened in the combat zone that would be considered illegal.

 

[Sarg]

Dave, EVERYTHING we did in a warzone was either illegal, immoral or fattening. If you own firearms, don't say so! Hem and haw, refuse to answer or just don't say anything at all. The VA has a thing about the 2nd amendment and you are not obligated to tell the VA anything you don't want to.

Other than that, just use common sense. If they asked you if you murdered your C.O., it probably wouldn't be the best idea to tell them.

Altho, I did have a neighbor once that used to tell everybody that he offed his butter bar in country. Guy wound up being a cop, go figure.

Sarg

 

[JarHed]

Hey Dave

If you're seeing a psychologist then you'll be talking about things as apposed to a psychiatrist which can do therapy but usually prescribe meds.

I'd say take it slow. It's a relationship that you'll be developing. In as much as it is it will take some time to get a feel about the person and to develop trust. Trust can be hard but if the therapist is a good one they'll understand that and give you the time.

It's not about any kind of 'full disclosure'. If you don't want to talk about something, don't. For me it took a while but now I can talk to my therapist about anything. I trust her, she's earned my trust. I know what I talk about stays in the room.

It's always a big step getting started but it's a step in the right direction. Best of luck Dave.

Jar

 

[super-dave]

I am concerned about this because I have been "Baker acted" twice. Once in 2000 and once in 2005. Both were against my will. This happened to me because I was honest. I am worried about getting "locked up" again. But I know I need help and therapy. I am also worried if I talk about things that happened that bother me the most that I could face legal charges. Every time I went to a shrink when when I needed the most help in my life, they "locked me up". The first time it caused me to get fired from a good paying job the second time the stress caused my wife to have a miscarriage. Its like all they want to do is lock you up.

 

[Spock]

Use your experiece from the past to get what you want, need from the session now. Take it slow is best.

 

[Sarg]

Well then don't talk about what you think might get you into trouble. Jar is right, shrinks don't do a lot of therapy. That's what the psycologists and social workers do. Dave, they don't strap you down to a table and pump you full of truth serum to force confessions (at least I don't think they do).

Dave, you had to have said or done something to get Baker Acted. So, figure what that was and don't do it anymore.

Baby steps.

Sarg

 

[Zipperhead]

I really don't know the system down there, but they can't help you if they don't know what's wrong. If posible, discribe what happened leaving out details that may be viewed as illegal.

 

[super-dave]

Pow's and also collateral damage.

 

[Ned]

Say you saw it? I would think you don't have ascribe responsibility, and don't have to specify location.

 

[Zipperhead]

Collateral damage happens. It sucks, but it certainly isn't grounds for legal action. As long as the extremists insist n hiding behind innocents we need to ask exacly who killed them. I prefer to point at the extremists.

 

[Anglesachse]

...........................If they asked you if you murdered your C.O., it probably wouldn't be the best idea to tell them.....................

I know a Funny story along those lines. cost a lewy almost his leg for being a dick, and a bunch of guys went to nick for being part of it.

I also know someone who took out an officer in the Gulf in 91.

Did I mention I smacked my 2iC for being a complete chod. Didn`t do my career anygood but f*ck it felt good, and the guys that pat you on the back and respect you afterwards is allways worth it.

Some officers realy are a liability,

 

[Ned]

:)