I'm Not A Criminal.

[Crazy Ray]

I have been to Denver VA and got sick of waiting for two months to get an appointment every time I go. But I am still seeing them, I have really been able to hold a lot of the anger in, I just explode sometimes and I just don't want anyone getting hurt. So I am looking forward to the forum here, and thank you guys for all of the great advice.

 

[reddevil1111]

I happen to live far far away from any big citys. And I dont go out very often. Doctor and thats it. Im a shut in so I really dont like to go out. I dont feel safe in a small town let alone a city like denver.
And that guy that did the shooting is the biggest scumbag on the planet imo.

 

[tho9900]

hey Ray... welcome aboard! If you have trouble getting a psych appt and are on a rage call the number on this site I am gonna give you, or go to the site and do online chat... they are counselors specially trained to deal with vets... one night I was melting down about 2 months ago, my appt was a month out... I called and talked to dude for like an hour or more.. he tells me show up at the psych clinic the next morning and he would put an alert on their system to let them know I was coming.

I checked in at the front desk and within 3 minutes they psychologist comes out calling my name... It works... It is a shoot off of the suicide prevention hotline.. and sometimes I have just called when I am going down that dark hole just to talk to someone about it. Usually it gets me balanced enough to be able to wait till my next appt.

http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ is the site

1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 is the number

Good luck!!!

 

[Brokencop]

WOW! you guys gotta wait a looong time for appts. Either I'm really lucky, or just f*cked up beyond imagenation, when I call for an appt., They can get me in usually within 3-4 days. If its a urgent the mental health dept has walk-ins from 0800-1630. And if you completely melt down (like i did 3 months ago) they have an ER that has a Pdoc on call, but expect to give them your shoe laceses and stay for a bit.

I guess that's because it's the big VMAC (accually is some kind of pilot program merging the DVA and Military in one facility, it's called Federal Health Care Center FHCC).

But dam, waiting months! I'd would either be a bowel of jelly or be forced to wear one of the jackets that make you hug yourself!

 

[tho9900]

Houston VAMC is huuuuuge... but so is the population here.. and I understand totally... about 1/2 of the first floor clinics were closed down and became a huge OIF/OEF clinic for recently returned vets... kinda sobering actually...

I could probably get in faster but as a Doc I am one of those physician treat thyself people... gotta get out of that.. a lotta times I treat it with alcohol.. I can walk in but my boss is an asshole and she hit me HARD on my yearly eval for my days off due to VA appts... not gonna side track this but ya...

 

[JarHed]

I live in the Philly area and the main hospital is in town. On a scale of things it's better than it used to be. Luckily they have satellite centers outside of town. One is about 10 minutes from my house. It's where I go for most of the treatments; either medical or psychological, that I need. That center is superior in every way that I can think of. The people there actually care about helping the vets. It's a new experience for me after having fought with the va for more more than 40 years.

I'm sure there's a reason why some are better at servicing the vets' needs more than others. It's always a struggle. It's a system that you have to learn how to work with if you want to get anything done. Once you realize that they aren't going to change their ways for you and that you have to learn how to adjust; kind of like the military, it becomes a bit easier to deal with.

As much as screaming and yelling may feel good at the moment it won't help you in the long run. I understand when you need help, you NEED it NOW. It took me many years of dealing with them to come to this conclusion. You have to deal with what is, not with what you think it should be. I just try to think what I want to get out of the situation that I'm in and act accordingly. I am annoyingly persistent in working to achieve my goals.

Jar

 

[Lee C]

Welcome...........

 

[Crazy Ray]

It's gotten alot better, and I am most likely going to be buying some acreage way out in the remote areas, because I can't do the city now after last week. There were two 9 mil gunshots a block away, I called it in and a body was found in the alley.. Soo... I'm outta the city I used to love.

 

[Jimmy1]

Life is changing way too fast mate. I remember going away and you come home and there are another 100 houses built and a new shopping centre opened.

Where I used to live was reasonably quiet, now there are idiots everywhere.

Don't go too remote mate otherwise you will cut yourself of from everyone and everything. It's nice to get out though, I know we are moving to a rural area as soon as we can. And we made sure the zoning laws will not change it in the future.

 

[Anglesachse]

....................we made sure the zoning laws will not change it in the future.

What the hell is or are zoning laws Jimmy?

Can only assume it would be something along the lines of where cities and towns can expand? ie building restrictions.

 

[JarHed]

I've lived here at my present home for more than 30 years. It used to be a quiet little town outside of Philly. Now it's like Philly. Everything has changed, and as it often is not always for the better. It's the rudeness of the city that now permeates everything. People just aren't friendly or even curteous to one and other.

The sad thing is that the rate of change is continuing to increase. Things have changed more from 2000 till now than in the previous 30 years. Too much is about money and not enough about just coexisting.

If I were able I'd move to a more secluded spot myself, just can't do it, again it's about money or that lack of it.

It has taught me one thing though, you have to find peace and contentment where ever you are. Maybe that's a good lesson to learn. Still workin' on that.

 

[Crazy Ray]

Maybe that's a good lesson to learn. Still workin' on that.

Yea... same here brother, it gets easier every day but damn I want a drink. But I also know I can't have one...