How Do I Explain How I Feel

[Jimmy1]

Each to their own Terry, but with regards to medication, I wish everyone would lose the stigma associated with them.
How could someone who does not understand get so close to you that they know how much medication you are on.

Guess I am a junkie then. I pushed all my family and friends away because I hated taking medication. It has taken me the last couple of years to work my way back.

Medication is only a temporary fix for some people, others are stuck with it for life. Epileptics, Asthmatics, and Diabetics just say if they are asked what they have, it's the same with PTSD, it's becoming widely acceptable. You just answer if someone asked, 'I have PTSD from my service in ............' nobody can argue with that.

I don't mean to push the issue mate, but if you can't control your anger, anxiety, or other symptoms, and they are starting to affect your relationships, then why wouldn't you consider some outside help, being mediation, or therapy????

I do whatever it takes to keep mine in check.

Just an opinion.

Jimmy

 

[terry1]

I tried therapy it don't work. Half the ppl who I get sent to never delt with wut I did. They r just some phycology doc that don't know nothin. The meds I keep on me if my anger n
anxiety r really bad. i for the most part have it under control but sometimes it slips away

 

[Jimmy1]

I tried therapy it don't work. Half the ppl who I get sent to never delt with wut I did. They r just some phycology doc that don't know nothin. The meds I keep on me if my anger n
anxiety r really bad. i for the most part have it under control but sometimes it slips away

I just posted this in another intro thread, so I will write it differently here.

How can you expect a therapist or psychologist to go where we have been? it does not make sense. They don't get trained in Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, or wherever, they are trained in trauma and how to deal with the symptoms of PTSD.
My therapist could give you a map of Baghdad and East Timor and he has not been there, and he is a new therapist for me, I have only been going to him for a year. He had to remove himself from the PTSD courses because he was starting to have nightmares himself.

Before I leave it alone, I will leave this parting shot. To really want help, you have to have hit rock bottom and then you would be prepared to do anything. If you come on here with a problem and ask for help, don't expect just the warm and fuzzies from us.
I just hate giving advice only to have excuse after excuse as to why it does not work thrown back at me, it pisses me off.

If you only want new mates and someone to jaw off with that have been where you have, then just say so, we are all brothers and sisters here who have walked the same piece of dirt.

 

[Sarg]

He had to remove himself from the PTSD courses because he was starting to have nightmares himself

That is one of the most profound statements I've heard in a while.

Sarg

 

[Jimmy1]

It's not that profound mate when you think about it.

I have heard of it before too with law enforcement. My father had a good mate that was in homicide and after three years of reading statements, reports and interrogating, he ended up topping himself.He never once went to a crime scene.

Russ, my therapist has been working with veterans for ten years now. So he has ten years of stories, if you don't have an outlet it is sure to take a toll.

And even us, if we spend too long reading post after post, it can get us worked up.

 

[Sarg]

All true. I realized one day what my therapist must go through. I told her flat out one day that I could never do her job and it surprised her and she asked why. And I told her, "one hour suicidal ideation, one hour homicidal ideation, one hour marriage counseling, one hour...". I can't shift gears that fast, much less persona.

She laughed and said she had been at it for many years. She's good, but I wonder if she could hack war wounded for long.

Sarg

 

[Sludge]

It's not that profound mate when you think about it.

I have heard of it before too with law enforcement. My father had a good mate that was in homicide and after three years of reading statements, reports and interrogating, he ended up topping himself.He never once went to a crime scene.

Russ, my therapist has been working with veterans for ten years now. So he has ten years of stories, if you don't have an outlet it is sure to take a toll.

And even us, if we spend too long reading post after post, it can get us worked up.

I can attest to that too. My symptoms really truly started after I had been out for nearly two years. It started with nightmares and night terrors, right after Iraq Mk II Mod 0 started up...and I started every morning off with battle reports- high resolution color photos and such of the applied effectiveness of the various weapon systems I was working on for that particular defense contractor. Funny thing, I walked out of that high paying job just a few months later and became a professional beach bum/stoner/drunk for a few years....

My one on one therapist attends the same support group I do, just on a different night of the week, and he isn't there running the show if you get my meaning.




As for the meds thing, it is well known I am staunchly anti-meds....for me. I know a lot of combat vets on meds and they do wonders for them. Everyone is different however and unless one plays the meds game for at least a year or more first, I feel that it is inaccurate to state the meds don't work. I was in and out of various drug treatments from numerous Docs over the years before one, and only one figured out what was really wrong with me-and that is when my life really changed. Hell, these days I almost pass for a perfectly normal, healthy toothless redneck science geek until they notice the Fasthawk affixed to my belt...:ROFLMAO:

As for the therapy thing, I used to be anti-therapy too. Until I quit going and observed myself slipping downward. That changed my perspective. It changed even more when I was "volunteered" to run the support group at my University's military services building. Now I get to "enjoy" the fun of being in therapy while supporting therapy, all the while having a therapist that is also in the same therapy program.

If the meds and the therapies "aren't working" don't quit them. Take them as you are supposed to until Doc says otherwise. Do the responsible thing and talk to your doctor. I did, and that is how we came up with an alternative regimen of treatments that does work. The only thing worse than giving up is not expressing to your doc why you are giving up.

 

[terry1]

I'm just askin to see if anyone could give me advice I'm sure the therapist have heard a lot I just lookin advice