Question:
Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). I am still having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek professional help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will be going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA.
Response:
Steve510 wrote: > Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). I am still > having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek professional > help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will be > going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA.
Hello Steve, I’m not a vet, also I have just acknowledged that I suffer PTSD. Also I’m a new member too. I’m sure other members can help you, and will get back to you. The reason I’m posting now is that it is 2.17am in Australia and I’m feeling rather lonely and panicky. I’ll probably crash soon. cheers Bevan
Response:
> Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). I am still > having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek professional > help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will be > going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA.
Hello, Steve Finding a good therapist is your best bet to recovery….and there is healing! For me, I’ve had days where it was 2 steps back and 1 step forward….so it became important to me to remember to keep going forward….to keep getting up even when I just wanted to stop and say the heck with it. My faith has kept hope alive. Welcome to this newsgroup. Donna
Response:
Hi Steve! Welcome. First of all you are not alone. That’s important to remember. Second, there is help. That’s also important to remember. You have asked for help and are seeking therapy. This is good, Steve. It’s never too late to start in my opinion. There is no one way to recover, just the same way that there isn’t one event or series of events that causes PTSD. There is helpful literature (one book I’ve always liked is I Can’t Get over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors, by A. Matsakis), there are doctors, there are medications (I’ve taken many different combinations over the years), EMDR works for some(it helped me), and there are ways — some alternative — to learning how to live one day at a time with PTSD. Remember also that there are doctors who absolutely DO NOT have a clue. Took me 20 years to find the right doctors, get the right diagnosis (PTSD and DID), get the right meds, etc., etc. That’s why I wrote that it’s never too late. Finding balance is still an issue for me. Probably will be forever…and that’s OK. Funny what helps (full spectrum lighting, Monty Python, pets, sleep, good nutrition, yoga, etc.) Welcome Steve, and good luck. There’s lots of wisdom to be found here at times. You are not alone. Anne on the prairie still surviving and loving the spring
Response:
Hi Steve! > Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86).
Welcome home. You do know, don’t you, that you do not have to have been in a combat zone to get PTSD? And, you do know, that generally the most knowledgeable PTSD care in the U.S.A. is at your local VA center? For example: I was never in a combat zone when I was on active duty. However, when I went to the VA ER for some medications for something else, the MD quickly triaged me into a PTSD evaluation, and I started getting help that afternoon, about 25 years after I ETS. At the time, I did not realize I was showing PTSD symptoms. I still am a little clueless about why the ER MD sent me for a mental health eval, but, perhaps something in his experience with vets made him wonder. The cost for service-connected visits is zero-nada-free. If they later decide that your condition is not service connected, they will bill your health insurance provider and you pay the standard co-pay (that’s the way it was explained to me, anyway). > I am still > having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek professional > help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will be > going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA.
I am clueless on this one. I had been seen by Kaiser MDs locally for about 10 years, and not one ever sent me for a mental health eval. Maybe they are more knowledgeable in CA. Good luck in your search for mental health! Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
"Steve510" <redleg…@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1113407635.525257.71190@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com… > Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). I am still > having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek professional > help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will be > going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA.
Hi Steve, I saw scads of therapists before I found someone who really helped for my PTSD. I may be able to save you some time. It’s my belief that trauma therapy requires a specific set of skills that I don’t think everybody with a Ph.D. in psychology posesses. I saw several good therapists who were helpful for other stuff before I saw my PTSD therapist, but they did not help me with the PTSD. My advice is to find someone who is specifically trained in treating PTSD, and who specializes in it. I was suicidal from childhood until I worked with the PTSD therapist, and now I have been pretty stable since then (13 years now). By stable I mean I can be pretty moody, but I have had absolutely no thoughts of harming myself, and I have been able to work and to be a good wife and mother. These are interesting links. http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/fellows.htm http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/COCA/about.html http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/certification.htm This is my former psychologist’s web site http://www.aas.duke.edu/directories/deans/roth.html When you go for the initial visit at Kaiser, tell the psychologist that you want to see someone who is trained in treating PTSD, preferably someone who specializes in it. If you don’t click with that person, move on until you find somebody who feels right, who is also a trauma therapist. Let us know what happens. Good luck! –Patti
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -p fogg wrote: > "Steve510" <redleg…@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:1113407635.525257.71190@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com… > > Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from > > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). I am still > > having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek professional > > help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will be > > going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA. > Hi Steve, > I saw scads of therapists before I found someone who really helped for my > PTSD. I may be able to save you some time. It’s my belief that trauma > therapy requires a specific set of skills that I don’t think everybody with > a Ph.D. in psychology posesses. I saw several good therapists who were > helpful for other stuff before I saw my PTSD therapist, but they did not > help me with the PTSD. My advice is to find someone who is specifically > trained in treating PTSD, and who specializes in it. I was suicidal from > childhood until I worked with the PTSD therapist, and now I have been pretty > stable since then (13 years now). By stable I mean I can be pretty moody, > but I have had absolutely no thoughts of harming myself, and I have been > able to work and to be a good wife and mother. > These are interesting links. > http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/fellows.htm > http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/COCA/about.html > http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/certification.htm > This is my former psychologist’s web site > http://www.aas.duke.edu/directories/deans/roth.html > When you go for the initial visit at Kaiser, tell the psychologist that you > want to see someone who is trained in treating PTSD, preferably someone who > specializes in it. If you don’t click with that person, move on until you > find somebody who feels right, who is also a trauma therapist. > Let us know what happens. Good luck! > –Patti
I talked to a screener, and they are already avoiding my PTSD. They want to focus on anger. I told them I sense you will waste my time.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Nancy wrote: > Hi Steve! > > Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from > > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). > Welcome home. You do know, don’t you, that you do not have to have been > in a combat zone to get PTSD? And, you do know, that generally the most > knowledgeable PTSD care in the U.S.A. is at your local VA center? > For example: I was never in a combat zone when I was on active duty. > However, when I went to the VA ER for some medications for something > else, the MD quickly triaged me into a PTSD evaluation, and I started > getting help that afternoon, about 25 years after I ETS.
What are are the PTSD traits? I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal for a job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me I do this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army can ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a moment of great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. They both make sense.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -bckwrds wrote: > > What are are the PTSD traits? > > I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that > > creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal for a > > job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me I do > > this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in > > reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army can > > ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a moment of > > great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. > > They both make sense. > How old were you in ‘85? Is that "part" of you stuck at that age > and so you’re reliving it over and over again? For me, self talk > helped a lot. I had to let that part of me who was there and experience > the trauma first hand know that it was my turn to handle it. > Intellectually, I know it was me that the trauma happened to. But > it was like I was literally "stuck" in the time frame of my life when > it happened and so whenever I had those flashbacks, I was there > all over again and that same age. Until I brought that event to "today" > I kept reliving it over and over again…..and THEN I could deal > with it and heal. > Hope this makes sense. The mind is one amazing organ. > Donna
I was in my mid-20’s. I’m 45 now. I lost my track of time in the Army. During the Cold War overseas, we trained constantly and i spent 70% of my time in the field. When we had Alert Rollouts, you packed and armed for a war. You never know if its the real thing. You draw weapons, jump in a vehicle, and begin the road march to your battle positions. Its repeated every month.
Response:
> I was in my mid-20’s. I’m 45 now. I lost my track of time in the Army. > During the Cold War overseas, we trained constantly and i spent 70% of > my time in the field. When we had Alert Rollouts, you packed and armed > for a war. You never know if its the real thing. You draw weapons, > jump in a vehicle, and begin the road march to your battle positions. > Its repeated every month.
VA is your best bet as Nancy suggested. I have no doubt that they’ll take good care of you. Donna
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Steve510 wrote: > bckwrds wrote: >>>What are are the PTSD traits? >>>I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that >>>creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal > for a >>>job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me > I do >>>this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in >>>reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army > can >>>ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a > moment of >>>great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. >>>They both make sense. >>How old were you in ‘85? Is that "part" of you stuck at that age >>and so you’re reliving it over and over again? For me, self talk >>helped a lot. I had to let that part of me who was there and > experience >>the trauma first hand know that it was my turn to handle it. >>Intellectually, I know it was me that the trauma happened to. But >>it was like I was literally "stuck" in the time frame of my life when >>it happened and so whenever I had those flashbacks, I was there >>all over again and that same age. Until I brought that event to > "today" >>I kept reliving it over and over again…..and THEN I could deal >>with it and heal. >>Hope this makes sense. The mind is one amazing organ. >>Donna > I was in my mid-20’s. I’m 45 now. I lost my track of time in the Army. > During the Cold War overseas, we trained constantly and i spent 70% of > my time in the field. When we had Alert Rollouts, you packed and armed > for a war. You never know if its the real thing. You draw weapons, > jump in a vehicle, and begin the road march to your battle positions. > Its repeated every month.
Being constantly in readiness like that would have taken its toll on you. I guess ifs a bit like police & fire fighters. Bevan
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Bevan wrote: > Steve510 wrote: > > bckwrds wrote: > >>>What are are the PTSD traits? > >>>I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that > >>>creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal > > for a > >>>job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me > > I do > >>>this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in > >>>reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army > > can > >>>ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a > > moment of > >>>great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. > >>>They both make sense. > >>How old were you in ‘85? Is that "part" of you stuck at that age > >>and so you’re reliving it over and over again? For me, self talk > >>helped a lot. I had to let that part of me who was there and > > experience > >>the trauma first hand know that it was my turn to handle it. > >>Intellectually, I know it was me that the trauma happened to. But > >>it was like I was literally "stuck" in the time frame of my life when > >>it happened and so whenever I had those flashbacks, I was there > >>all over again and that same age. Until I brought that event to > > "today" > >>I kept reliving it over and over again…..and THEN I could deal > >>with it and heal. > >>Hope this makes sense. The mind is one amazing organ. > >>Donna > > I was in my mid-20’s. I’m 45 now. I lost my track of time in the Army. > > During the Cold War overseas, we trained constantly and i spent 70% of > > my time in the field. When we had Alert Rollouts, you packed and armed > > for a war. You never know if its the real thing. You draw weapons, > > jump in a vehicle, and begin the road march to your battle positions. > > Its repeated every month. > Being constantly in readiness like that would have taken its toll on you. > I guess ifs a bit like police & fire fighters. > Bevan
Ready for this? I interviewed for the job of Nuclear Duty Officer. The last guy committed suicide. They lock you in an underground steel vault, and run radio wires to 2 guys who relay fire commands to a battery of nuclear missiles. If the Russians attack, and the NATO couldn’t stop them, the Commander can OK a volley of nuclear missiles. The pressure on the two men inside that vault was intense. This was back in 1985.
Response:
"Steve510" <redleg…@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1113784173.422318.223670@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Ron wrote: > > > > I talked to a screener, and they are already avoiding my PTSD. > They > > > > want to focus on anger. I told them I sense you will waste my > time. > > > Typical. They always go straight for dismantling your coping > mechanisms > > > without treating the underlying problem. Then you are left worse > off than > > > before, because you can no longer cope. > > Hello Steve…..My experience with the VA also, they were more > concerned > > about substance "abuse" than with PTSD….and i did have the anger > > management problems addressed before PTSD…..i say, "you wanna know > why i > > am angry, why i self medicate…then help me deal with night sweats, > > reoccurring nightmares, daily flashbacks, isolation, and maybe we > wont need > > to address the issues you think are underlying my symptoms….." > > I’m a Vietnam vet, ‘67-68 in Northern I Corps….wounded during the > raid > > that overran our position…one of a few survivors…but, the VA will > not > > even talk about PTSD until you have undergone every other treatment > modality > > first. > > Thus far, I found my greatest help through "rap" groups with other > combat > > vets….there are no war stories allowed in the group, we merely > speak about > > how we are coping….I don’t know where you live, but look for a Vet > > Center…that’s what they are called here in Minnesota..and through > them, I > > have been referred to a trauma recovery program at the VA Medical > Center… > > It is damn frustrating, and a big contributor to our lack of coping > skill to > > have to jump through the AA Cult mentality….in my opinion, stay > away from > > them! They have tried, and failed, to steal my soul, the part of me > that i > > cherish and believe in the most…Welcome home Brother….you can > contact me > > off list if you wish……Ron > > ——– > So, you say stay away from therapy thru Kaiser Medical? I sense that > ppl won’t understand. I’m afraid to talk about it. You know, an Army > Vet with anger problems? I didn’t serve in combat, I was in Reforger > 85 in a really bad situation. I believe if it was real war, the whole > battalion would of been destroyed.
Too bad your vets group won’t let you talk about your experiences. The trauma therapy I had was all about my traumatic experiences. My therapist’s whole goal seemed to be to hear and understand what happened to me. I was also in a support group of other women who had been assaulted, and we each in turn told our stories in detail. It was very healing to hear the other women talk about their experiences because it was easy to see that they did not deserve what happened to them, so I was able to see the same was true for me. Between the therapy and the support group, I was able to change my traumatic experiences from a central focus of my life to isolated incidents in the remote past that no longer had any significant control over me. FWIW, I had done CBT with a therapist years earlier, and I had read "Feeling Good." It was helpful in general, but it didn’t touch my PTSD, although I understand it works for some. –Patti
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -lemond wrote: > Hi Steve, > I’ve done lots of therapy for PTSD. I think that what has been most > beneficial for me is what is called ‘cognitive behavior therapy" or CBT. > It’s a way of challenging your thinking style and trying to come up with > ways that you can take control and counter those thoughts that recur. It > shouldn’t (and hasn’t for me) been insensitive to what has happened and > shouldn’t place blame on you for not having the "right" thoughts. If you > don’t want to do emotionally intensive work, dredging up all the trauma, > this is a good type of therapy to choose. I just finished an intensive > outpatient program at the local mental health hospital and that was the > method of program they used. It was a good way to challenge my thinking in > general. That kind of therapy is based on a book called "Feeling Good" by > David Burns. It’s a popular book and should be available at your library or > local bookstore. It’s pretty cheap if you like writing in books like I do. > I’ve also had some bad experiences with some therapists who have been > insensitive to where I am what I’ve endured. I don’t want to scare you away > from trying because it is worth trying to find the right person to work > with. Just know that if the first person you see isn’t a good match, you can > keep looking for someone you can trust and work with. > I’m not sure if this helps. I hope so. Good luck. > Lemond601
Thank you. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I’m about to waste my time with this treatment. Maybe a book is a better idea. I read Dianetics about 15 yrs ago.
Response:
> > I talked to a screener, and they are already avoiding my PTSD. They > > want to focus on anger. I told them I sense you will waste my time. > Typical. They always go straight for dismantling your coping mechanisms > without treating the underlying problem. Then you are left worse off than > before, because you can no longer cope.
Hello Steve…..My experience with the VA also, they were more concerned about substance "abuse" than with PTSD….and i did have the anger management problems addressed before PTSD…..i say, "you wanna know why i am angry, why i self medicate…then help me deal with night sweats, reoccurring nightmares, daily flashbacks, isolation, and maybe we wont need to address the issues you think are underlying my symptoms….." I’m a Vietnam vet, ‘67-68 in Northern I Corps….wounded during the raid that overran our position…one of a few survivors…but, the VA will not even talk about PTSD until you have undergone every other treatment modality first. Thus far, I found my greatest help through "rap" groups with other combat vets….there are no war stories allowed in the group, we merely speak about how we are coping….I don’t know where you live, but look for a Vet Center…that’s what they are called here in Minnesota..and through them, I have been referred to a trauma recovery program at the VA Medical Center… It is damn frustrating, and a big contributor to our lack of coping skill to have to jump through the AA Cult mentality….in my opinion, stay away from them! They have tried, and failed, to steal my soul, the part of me that i cherish and believe in the most…Welcome home Brother….you can contact me off list if you wish……Ron ——– "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of it’s victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busy-bodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."– C.S. Lewis
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Ron wrote: > > > I talked to a screener, and they are already avoiding my PTSD. They > > > want to focus on anger. I told them I sense you will waste my time. > > Typical. They always go straight for dismantling your coping mechanisms > > without treating the underlying problem. Then you are left worse off than > > before, because you can no longer cope. > Hello Steve…..My experience with the VA also, they were more concerned > about substance "abuse" than with PTSD….and i did have the anger > management problems addressed before PTSD…..i say, "you wanna know why i > am angry, why i self medicate…then help me deal with night sweats, > reoccurring nightmares, daily flashbacks, isolation, and maybe we wont need > to address the issues you think are underlying my symptoms….." > I’m a Vietnam vet, ‘67-68 in Northern I Corps….wounded during the raid > that overran our position…one of a few survivors…but, the VA will not > even talk about PTSD until you have undergone every other treatment modality > first. > Thus far, I found my greatest help through "rap" groups with other combat > vets….there are no war stories allowed in the group, we merely speak about > how we are coping….I don’t know where you live, but look for a Vet > Center…that’s what they are called here in Minnesota..and through them, I > have been referred to a trauma recovery program at the VA Medical Center… > It is damn frustrating, and a big contributor to our lack of coping skill to > have to jump through the AA Cult mentality….in my opinion, stay away from > them! They have tried, and failed, to steal my soul, the part of me that i > cherish and believe in the most…Welcome home Brother….you can contact me > off list if you wish……Ron > ——–
So, you say stay away from therapy thru Kaiser Medical? I sense that ppl won’t understand. I’m afraid to talk about it. You know, an Army Vet with anger problems? I didn’t serve in combat, I was in Reforger 85 in a really bad situation. I believe if it was real war, the whole battalion would of been destroyed.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Nancy wrote: > Hi Steve! > > I talked to a screener, and they are already avoiding my PTSD. They > > want to focus on anger. I told them I sense you will waste my time. > Mostly, with screeners in civilian or military mental health units, it is > important to ’share’ myself. IME, it has always been best to show them > ‘who I am’ rather than try to give them a diagnosis. > Unfortunately, PTSD is very ‘trendy’ right now. The term is being thrown > around on TV shows inappropriately (less than 6 months after a trauma, > someone can have PTSD according to Law & Order Special Victims Unit). > And, there are a lot of rumors about ‘making money’ with the diagnosis. > Social Security and the VA both regard PTSD as a disability with the > possibility of ‘free’ money. > YMMV > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
I actually think my Army experience made me a better person. I was a shy kid when I was 19. The Army gave me confidence, strength, and leadership skills. The problems I have probably come from my lack of social skills. The Army’s warrior culture doesn’t blend well with non-vets. I dunno….sometimes I think I’m lucky the way things turned out.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Steve510 wrote: > Bevan wrote: >>Steve510 wrote: >>>bckwrds wrote: >>>>>What are are the PTSD traits? >>>>>I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that >>>>>creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal >>>for a >>>>>job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me >>>I do >>>>>this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in >>>>>reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army >>>can >>>>>ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a >>>moment of >>>>>great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. >>>>>They both make sense. >>>>How old were you in ‘85? Is that "part" of you stuck at that age >>>>and so you’re reliving it over and over again? For me, self talk >>>>helped a lot. I had to let that part of me who was there and >>>experience >>>>the trauma first hand know that it was my turn to handle it. >>>>Intellectually, I know it was me that the trauma happened to. But >>>>it was like I was literally "stuck" in the time frame of my life > when >>>>it happened and so whenever I had those flashbacks, I was there >>>>all over again and that same age. Until I brought that event to >>>"today" >>>>I kept reliving it over and over again…..and THEN I could deal >>>>with it and heal. >>>>Hope this makes sense. The mind is one amazing organ. >>>>Donna >>>I was in my mid-20’s. I’m 45 now. I lost my track of time in the > Army. >>>During the Cold War overseas, we trained constantly and i spent 70% > of >>>my time in the field. When we had Alert Rollouts, you packed and > armed >>>for a war. You never know if its the real thing. You draw weapons, >>>jump in a vehicle, and begin the road march to your battle > positions. >>>Its repeated every month. >>Being constantly in readiness like that would have taken its toll on > you. >>I guess ifs a bit like police & fire fighters. >>Bevan > Ready for this? I interviewed for the job of Nuclear Duty Officer. The > last guy committed suicide. They lock you in an underground steel > vault, and run radio wires to 2 guys who relay fire commands to a > battery of nuclear missiles. If the Russians attack, and the NATO > couldn’t stop them, the Commander can OK a volley of nuclear missiles. > The pressure on the two men inside that vault was intense. This was > back in 1985.
Hell, its a job nothing like I can imagine doing—excuse my ignorance. Bevan
Response:
Hi Steve! > I actually think my Army experience made me a better person. I was a > shy kid when I was 19. The Army gave me confidence, strength, and > leadership skills. The problems I have probably come from my lack of > social skills. The Army’s warrior culture doesn’t blend well with > non-vets. I dunno….sometimes I think I’m lucky the way things turned > out.
Agreed. However, my loyalty does not extend to destroying the remainder of my life, given that those who spend a lot of time with us can help me to have a better life as a civilian. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Hi Steve, I’ve done lots of therapy for PTSD. I think that what has been most beneficial for me is what is called ‘cognitive behavior therapy" or CBT. It’s a way of challenging your thinking style and trying to come up with ways that you can take control and counter those thoughts that recur. It shouldn’t (and hasn’t for me) been insensitive to what has happened and shouldn’t place blame on you for not having the "right" thoughts. If you don’t want to do emotionally intensive work, dredging up all the trauma, this is a good type of therapy to choose. I just finished an intensive outpatient program at the local mental health hospital and that was the method of program they used. It was a good way to challenge my thinking in general. That kind of therapy is based on a book called "Feeling Good" by David Burns. It’s a popular book and should be available at your library or local bookstore. It’s pretty cheap if you like writing in books like I do. I’ve also had some bad experiences with some therapists who have been insensitive to where I am what I’ve endured. I don’t want to scare you away from trying because it is worth trying to find the right person to work with. Just know that if the first person you see isn’t a good match, you can keep looking for someone you can trust and work with. I’m not sure if this helps. I hope so. Good luck. Lemond601 "Steve510" <redleg…@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1113407635.525257.71190@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD from > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). I am still > having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek professional > help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will be > going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA.
Response:
"Steve510" <redleg…@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1113549290.097045.310560@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> p fogg wrote: > > "Steve510" <redleg…@comcast.net> wrote in message > > news:1113407635.525257.71190@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com… > > > Hello, I just found your group last night. I believe I have PTSD > from > > > my days in the US Army during the Cold War ( Germany 84-86). I am > still > > > having problems at my job, and I am just now ready to seek > professional > > > help. I am wondering what can I expect as a way of therapy? I will > be > > > going thru my healthcare provider, Kaiser-CA. > > Hi Steve, > > I saw scads of therapists before I found someone who really helped > for my > > PTSD. I may be able to save you some time. It’s my belief that > trauma > > therapy requires a specific set of skills that I don’t think > everybody with > > a Ph.D. in psychology posesses. I saw several good therapists who > were > > helpful for other stuff before I saw my PTSD therapist, but they did > not > > help me with the PTSD. My advice is to find someone who is > specifically > > trained in treating PTSD, and who specializes in it. I was suicidal > from > > childhood until I worked with the PTSD therapist, and now I have been > pretty > > stable since then (13 years now). By stable I mean I can be pretty > moody, > > but I have had absolutely no thoughts of harming myself, and I have > been > > able to work and to be a good wife and mother. > > These are interesting links. > > http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/fellows.htm > > http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/COCA/about.html > > http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/certification.htm > > This is my former psychologist’s web site > > http://www.aas.duke.edu/directories/deans/roth.html > > When you go for the initial visit at Kaiser, tell the psychologist > that you > > want to see someone who is trained in treating PTSD, preferably > someone who > > specializes in it. If you don’t click with that person, move on > until you > > find somebody who feels right, who is also a trauma therapist. > > Let us know what happens. Good luck! > > –Patti > I talked to a screener, and they are already avoiding my PTSD. They > want to focus on anger. I told them I sense you will waste my time.
Typical. They always go straight for dismantling your coping mechanisms without treating the underlying problem. Then you are left worse off than before, because you can no longer cope.
Response:
Hi Steve! > What are are the PTSD traits?
Go to http://www.astpfaq.bravepages.com/index.html and read some of the links. The PTSD symptoms are listed in DSM IV. But, beware, diagnosis must be by a trained and experienced professional; I, at least, cannot ’see’ the traits in myself without someone outside me helping me to understand that ‘what I consider a normal reaction’ is not the usual human reaction. > I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that > creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal for a > job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me I do > this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in > reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army can > ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a moment of > great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. > They both make sense.
Were these analyses made by someone with military experience? or experience with a lot of military folk? If not, then I doubt whether either is correct. Unwanted, intrusive flashbacks are one symptom. :/ Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Hi Steve! > I talked to a screener, and they are already avoiding my PTSD. They > want to focus on anger. I told them I sense you will waste my time.
Mostly, with screeners in civilian or military mental health units, it is important to ’share’ myself. IME, it has always been best to show them ‘who I am’ rather than try to give them a diagnosis. Unfortunately, PTSD is very ‘trendy’ right now. The term is being thrown around on TV shows inappropriately (less than 6 months after a trauma, someone can have PTSD according to Law & Order Special Victims Unit). And, there are a lot of rumors about ‘making money’ with the diagnosis. Social Security and the VA both regard PTSD as a disability with the possibility of ‘free’ money. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
> What are are the PTSD traits? > I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that > creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal for a > job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me I do > this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in > reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army can > ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a moment of > great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. > They both make sense.
How old were you in ‘85? Is that "part" of you stuck at that age and so you’re reliving it over and over again? For me, self talk helped a lot. I had to let that part of me who was there and experience the trauma first hand know that it was my turn to handle it. Intellectually, I know it was me that the trauma happened to. But it was like I was literally "stuck" in the time frame of my life when it happened and so whenever I had those flashbacks, I was there all over again and that same age. Until I brought that event to "today" I kept reliving it over and over again…..and THEN I could deal with it and heal. Hope this makes sense. The mind is one amazing organ. Donna
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Nancy wrote: > Hi Steve! > > What are are the PTSD traits? > Go to > http://www.astpfaq.bravepages.com/index.html > and read some of the links. The PTSD symptoms are listed in DSM IV. > But, beware, diagnosis must be by a trained and experienced professional; > I, at least, cannot ’see’ the traits in myself without someone outside me > helping me to understand that ‘what I consider a normal reaction’ is not > the usual human reaction. > > I had a series of stressful incidents in the Army. The one that > > creates flashbacks is REFORGER 1985. I was decorated with a medal for a > > job well done, but I keep reliving the moment. A therapist told me I do > > this because I keep thinking I let my fellow troops down, but in > > reality I did the best I could with what I had. Thats all the Army can > > ask. Another therapist said I relive the moment because its a moment of > > great achievement, and I enjoyed the honor and recognition. > > They both make sense. > Were these analyses made by someone with military experience? or > experience with a lot of military folk? If not, then I doubt whether > either is correct. > Unwanted, intrusive flashbacks are one symptom. :/ > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
Yes, they were both folks with army experience.
Response:
Posted in PTSD Symptoms | 
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>> Once he’s gone, the smelly bastard, it wont stink here anymore. 
It took me a really long time to learn that doctors don’t like to hear more than the symptoms from a patient. Apparently, diagnoses from patients gets in the way of any God-like personal opinion of themselves. I always try to present symptoms, and lots of them. With PTSD, the tendancy is to tell the MDs what is wrong and hide the symptoms. Works much better to just give them all the gory details for them to arrive at the same conclusion that I have. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy 
> — > Peter Lucas > Brisbane > Australia > Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention > of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, > but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, > totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming… > "WOW! What a ride!" 
~ 