Why Cant I B Treated Like Everyone Else

[Joe1]

Im ready to blow my top here. Social services who should b looking after me are sodding me off here.o They recon that im such a danger that no one will see me. So imstuck here at my lowest point and cant get to see antone from my care team.
Joe

 

[Ted Moen]

Hey Joe, anger is part of ptsd. Getting angry is normal for us. We can get angry at almost anything! Acting out our anger is a choice we make, and if we choose to act our anger out it generally leads to people "sodding" us off. Our challenge is behaving in a way that gets our needs met with all the angry feelings raging in the background. Rehearsing is good. Before you contact your support structure imagine how it is going to go. Rehearse your opening line and mannerisms. "I am in a state of crisis and need some help" said in a normal voice and non-threatening manner is a good start. Of course the initial response will be to put you off temporarily while they finish up what they were doing and decide what to do with you. It's ok to show some anxiety symptoms in a non-threatening way while you are waiting. What are you going to do while you are waiting? Read? Play a game on your cell phone? Have a plan that will work for you. Stick with stating your needs in a normal voice and non-threatening behavior and you will receive the theraputic support you need.

Ted

 

[Joe1]

Ted it wasnt me speaking, it was my wife and sfhe was real calm about it.

 

[Zipperhead]

I must admit that I haven't been the ideal patient at times. I have taken great joy at times in pointing out the short comings of the Canadian Army Healthcare System. Not long ago I sat down and wrote out each incident with a view of using the stories to justify my state of mind. Almost every incident really went bad when I said or did something. In the end I have to admit I've been a d### to allot of people. It's a good thing it's hard to charge a Senior NCO, or I would probably have ended my career in jail. Still the system feeds itself, and we are trapped on the outside looking for help. It's hard to suck up the ego and beg, but that's where I'm at now.

I would never let my wife talk for me. She can be more blunt and sarcastic than I can at times. Beleive it or not, they have no respect for the Military System and no qualms saying so. No, I keep my wife out of it and burn my own bridges. Still, if your wife was the one that blew the powder keg, I wonder how they can justify not helping you? Seems a little bit unfair to with hold treatment for the actions of others.

I have already been warned by the OSI Clinic here that the way I dealt with the Army Hospital would be unacceptable at the Clinic, and that I will have to watch my temper. Seems a rough start for a place I've only been to once, but all things considered maybe a fair assessment.

 

[K-9 Al]

I think, and please take my opinion with a grain of salt because I am no expert, however, dealing with the anger is a great first step in learning to cope with PTSD. I was really angry for a long time. I still get episodes where I am just angry or if something small happens I will lash out but those are not as frequent. My anger and my wanting to seclude myself from everyone that loved me got so bad that i started really taking it out on everyone. I had lashed out at work at my superiors. Im not talking about just merly talking back. i am talking about all out cursing and yelling. It got to the point where I was lashign out at my wife calling her all sorts of names in the book, even lead to headbutting her. I am not proud of this by any means. When i got arrested for the assault that is when i realized i had to start changing. Society wasnt going to tolerate my "behavior" no matter what the reason was. So i tackled the anger first. I went to anger management. No one forced me. I wasnt ordered by a judge or my commander. I took it upon myself to go and get help for it. I learned some great coping mechanisms for anger.

I am real happy that your trying to get help. I can only imagine the frustration you are feeling. If you have to put on a face, then do it. It will only help you later. I do not wish my expereince on anyone. It almost ruined my marriage, family and life. It is easier to put on a face then to let it get so out of control that you end up where I was. It can get better. Once the anger is manageable. Then youc an focus solely on the PTSD.

Again, it is just my experience and i am no expert so i could be wrong. just showing what works for me. I hope it helps. Stay strong man! We are here if you need anything at all.