Intro

[OldDoorGunner]

Welcome Tired, from an old Nam vet......

J R

 

[Lurch]

Tired, I took no offense. As you travel this road and have questions, pleased let us know. We all are here for each other in our own way.

 

[bemental]

I work in the Pentagon now so I sometimes feel like their grasp on combat injuries (physical or mental) is limited and skewed.

Leadership issues aside, this can work in your favor in regards to being diagnosed. It's seemingly getting increasingly harder to get a proper PTSD diagnosis for various reasons on your typical military installation, but if your provider sees nothing but dependents with anxiety because their spouse works long hours and you walk in with a legitimate combat trauma... you get the idea.

I had a previous PTSD diagnosis from a provider in 2012, returned to treatment in 2013 and was rediagnosed with the ole adjustment disorder. Basically had to fight my way back to a previous diagnosis. Needless to say I was livid for months.

Advice of others are extremely pertinent. Get this taken care of on active duty. PLEASE. Once you get past the stigma of being "that guy" (which you've probably already encountered because of your previous conditions), your transition will be MUCH smoother, even if you don't get boarded out.

 

[Tired of hiding]

Thanks all. This is all great advice and I will definitely do everything I can to get this taken care of on AD.
It kills me that we have to fight for a diagnosis. I understand the financial part for the VA and DOD but if the diagnosis is clear....guess it's only clear if you wake up with your hands around your wife's throat because of a nightmare or get so fixed on shit on the side of the road that you stop paying attention to where you are going and run the car off the road.

 

[bemental]

Just remember ToH, legal trumps medical, so don't go getting yourself into legal trouble to get noticed.

Fight the good fight, stay true to yourself, your experiences and your symptoms, and you'll come out alright.

 

[Tired of hiding]

No I definitely understand that. Those were examples of what had already happened before I finally got to see someone. The meds have helped a bit but man it sucks feeling like a zombie all the time.
Anyway, enough of my sob stories. Finding you guys on here has helped a lot and I really do appreciate all of the advice.

 

[Spock]

Hey brother...welcome. I retired recently as a Sr. O and was given refuge at WRNMMC from assholes in the Pentagon that were trying to kill me, that's my short version. So I completely get your struggle with DoD, the Pentagon specifically and can offer you some key advice for the DC area especially if you're at Walter Reed-Bethesda. Let me digest your story better and we can likely keep you from recreating the wheel I've already dealt with...stay safe!

 

[Tired of hiding]

Thanks Spock. That's great. I don't know if I need to go inpatient right now. At least in my head I don't want to do that...mostly for my family. BUT if that is the only way to get my leadership and docs to open their eyes I will. I am AF and as far as I know our WW program isn't up to par with the Army's. I need to figure it out though because I go back to work tomorrow after this snow storm and it's got me so wound up that I'm popping Klonipin like skittles to calm down.

Any advice is definitely appreciated.