Va Stays And Ptsd

[BrownEyedGirl]

My boyfriend and I have been together for 1.5 years. He's an amazing guy and this last fall went under a severe amount of stress...that's when we found out he has PTSD from his combat situations that he was put under in the Navy. His way of handling things prior to all of this was avoidance...not thinking or talking about any of it. I am new to all of the military stuff and have never really had exposure to anyone who has been in war situations. He went to the VA two months ago and there haven't been visitors allowed since he has gone in. He is hoping visitors will be allowed soon! He is there for however long he takes to respond to treatment. He is making progress!!! He is learning how to cope and starting to come out of the slump he was in. I'm wondering...how long do people stay at the VA? Like...is this going to be a 3 month thing, 6 month thing? I know nobody can give exact answers...but, is there an estimate??? I believe he is in the psychiatric unit.

 

[silkleaves]

If they say however it takes for him to respond to treatment, then there really isnt a timeline to that...however long it takes. At my VA, there were a couple of people who went in for inpatient care, and the program length was 3 months. Also, our group therapy sessions were 6 months, and individual therapy was 1 year. After that, you are kind of on your own, unless you have another meltdown and then they would start the program over for you, or up your meds, or a combination of them.

But something I was told going in was that treatment is not indefinite, that there is a guideline to how long you will be in treatment for, and if that doesnt work then they would move onto a different treatment and / or focus on the meds.

 

[BrownEyedGirl]

Thank you for responding. That's what I was curious about...they pretty much just said that...that it's however long it takes. I know he's doing a program, too...and it's a lot of coping classes. There aren't any visitors right now They don't want to put him on meds because they think he can push through without them. He's making progress! Which is awesome...just trying to figure out (because of my own anxiety) if he is going to be gone for like 3-6 months or years.

 

[silkleaves]

Yeah, I can understand needing a timeline, but the truth is, it's far too individual. And it also depends on the severity, because PTSD doesnt affect all of us the same way. There are some people with it who can hold a job, maintain a relationship, friendships, and be highly functioning, and then there are those who are on disability for it because its too debilitating. Some are able to learn and use coping methods effectively, while with others, its a life-long battle.

Wish I could give you more hope than that, but the truth is...there is no time-line to how long treatment and therapy can take. It could be anywhere from a few months to the rest of his life.