Ptsd Counseling Question

[Passypass]

Good afternoon to anyone that reads this.

My question is, How long with the marine corps or i guess any military continue to send you to counseling for PTSD before they decide to try and seperate you from active duty?
I have been doing counseling now since march of 2011, started in pendleton with a specialist, was good counseling, pcs'd to cherry point on the east coast, different dr's so different methods, didnt work out to well. Got put on lots of meds and pretty much turned me into a zombie, could do my job but anything outside of the job i was doing wasnt important to me, that includes my family and friends. Recently the navy decided i was being over medicated so took me off everything and now im seeing a civilian dr that specializes in EMDR for PTSD patients, been there for 3 sessions, seems like it is helping but it is going to take awhile. I love my job and the marine corps, but my career is now being damaged by all my appointments, when they start messing with my fitness reports cause they arent happy about appointments, then it hits close to home. close to my family.

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

Passypass,

Post traumatic stress is a wound caused by your exposure to combat. If the Marine Corps believes it effects your ability to function it is in no way a reflection on you as a Marine, family member, friend or any thing else. IT'S A WOUND THAT NEEDS ATTENTION. NOT DEALING WITH IT, AND GIVING IT THE ATTENTION IT DEMANDS IS A HUGE MISTAKE Take it from someone who made that mistake.

There are times when dealing with the beasts and dragons is a full time job. Put it high on the priority list where it belongs.


So, welcome my Brother.

 

[reddevil1111]

I seriously doubt you will make it to 20. Its just to far off and the Corps has little patience if you know what I mean. your concerned but it is just like SD said its up to you to try to decide treatment vs the Corps. That time will be coming and you need to decide what is the best answer for YOU...not for the career or the corps.
you might be another 6 months or even less. It sounds like you have had some understanding people in command. I don't think most make it 4-6 months after being diagnosed with PTSD. They could claim at any time your unable to be trusted with firearms and that could get you drummed out faster than your head could spin.
PTSD is for life there is no cure only ways to learn to cope. Even those who have had great reactions to treatments like EMDR still have PTSD in the end. Medications are only there to support you not fix things.
It sounds like you need to sit down with the wife and have a real heart to heart about what you are going to do. By all means milk the career with the corps for all its worth maybe your command will still work with you. But I have serious doubts. Be a boy scout and prepare.

 

[Passypass]

Thank you both. I guess I have had a couple who gave me the time I needed. For the most part i think it Iis i get what I need to get done at my job then I do extra after hrs if I miss time, so im not screwing my guys over. So it keeps people off my back for the most part. Plus atm the medical out our base doesnt check records or what. But on my last post health assessment I put on there I am having problems with anxiety, anger, lack of sleep. But haven't heard from them, which is kinda disconcerting. I guess they do know I see a psychologist and a psychiatrist every week.
Since I dont have any feelings of hurting anyone or myself, I haven't been moved out of my mos or anything else.
But your right the marine corps doesn't have lots of patience. Out of sight out of mind is a common practice with this kinda stuff I have noticed.
Yeah, I'm trying to figure stuff out so I'm ready if that does happen. My eas right now is march 2014, which is extremely close and pretty frightening. I'm on limited duty right now for foot I broke last yr, so trying to heal that also. Haven't had the best luck. I can't reup while on Lim duty, but the corps could med sep me for my foot, cause it didn't heal right, sep me in fit for duty status, then I lose all medical benefits for myself and my family then I am praying my va benefits come. Sorry if im rambling, so much to think about and to deal with. No idea were to start

 

[Fargo1]

Although I understand your desire to continue in the Marines, you also have to remember that PTSD is driven by STRESS. Not saying that it is a foregone conclusion that you will be separated or that you will decide to separate yourself. But, during my therapy, I finally came to the realization that I had to separate myself from my second career (architecture) because the stress load was just too much for me to take. One of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make...

As for your benefits, I'll leave that for people who are more in the know

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

Passypass,

You have to face reality my Brother. And, the only way to do that is to be completely honest with youself. In order to spend so much of your life in the Marines you must be a man with pride, honor and a sense of responsibility.

As fine a quality as pride is, it can get in the way of judgement. I retired early from a very good job making very good money. I was respected, and felt very satisfied with my accomplishments. Problem was, the job was eating me alive because of many of the things we talk about on this site.

I now admit to myself that my PTSD wounds made that job too much of a load to bare. That doesn't make me any less of a man. It is not a sign of weakness. The problem with guys like us is we're too tough.

I'm not trying to talk you into leaving the Corps. But, if you find that your PTSD is limiting what you can do you have to act accordingly. That doesn't mean you're weak. It means you're wounded.

SD

 

[Passypass]

Yeah I know. Just like you it will be the hardest decision in my life. Good friends of mine who also are going thru the same stuff we all are have recently decided to get out, both ssgts in the corps, but they didn't want to deal with the stress. It has messed with my personal life, been divorced once almost twice. Going to talk with the dr this coming week and the career planner. Need to see my options and what I need. Throw in my adhd and what ever I got from being born in camp lejune during the chemicals in the water yrs, shit keeps staking up

 

[Fargo1]

Just keep in mind that making that decision is going to be a stress pressure cooker and is going to have you spinning like a top. Take care of yourself brother, do what you can to keep the other stresses down...

I am paying the price for my decision now. An ex-client is suing me for a project gone bad at the end — talk about adding to the stress...

 

[Passypass]

Man that's rough. Thank you. Yeah definitely going to be getting my heart rate up.

Just keep in mind that making that decision is going to be a stress pressure cooker and is going to have you spinning like a top. Take care of yourself brother, do what you can to keep the other stresses down...

I am paying the price for my decision now. An ex-client is suing me for a project gone bad at the end — talk about adding to the stress...