Trauma – PTSD

Question:

I went and saw the therapist this week and told them there were 5 people that i trust in the vA and they weren’t one of them.  After that i spent the next 30 minutes repeating to them I may be close to the edge but I’m not suicidal and I’m not going inpatient, so forget it .I agreed to return for outpaient therapy on the 26 of the month,but reserved the to back out if necessary. The therapist seems to want to put in inpatient for around 2 weeks and I can’t give up the little bit of control I do have over things in my life. I let it be known that if i find out the md’s and social workers decide I need to go inpatient and try to push the issue I was going to " casper " and I wouldn’t be back. i don’t know how they expect to work with veterans when the ":therapists " that are starting to be in the largest numbers in the VA lately are just social work students who are there for a short time and then gone. It takes time to build the trust to be able to talk and work on things and when its a new therapist every 6-8 weeks it doesn’t happen very often or very easily. tim

Response:

Hi Tim! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I went and saw the therapist this week and told them there were 5 people > that i trust in the vA and they weren’t one of them.  After that i spent > the next 30 minutes repeating to them I may be close to the edge but I’m > not suicidal and I’m not going inpatient, so forget it .I agreed to > return for outpaient therapy on the 26 of the month,but reserved the to > back out if necessary. The therapist seems to want to put in inpatient > for around 2 weeks and I can’t give up the little bit of control I do > have over things in my life. I let it be known that if i find out the > md’s and social workers decide I need to go inpatient and try to push > the issue I was going to " casper " and I wouldn’t be back. > i don’t know how they expect to work with veterans when the ":therapists > " that are starting to be in the largest numbers in the VA lately are > just social work students who are there for a short time and then gone. > It takes time to build the trust to be able to talk and work on things > and when its a new therapist every 6-8 weeks it doesn’t happen very > often or very easily.

You are correct with your insights!  (in case you wondered Keep on sharing your symptoms!  See your Patient Rep and voice the same concerns.  See your Service Rep and voice the same stuff!  If you are seeing a psychiatrist, talk about it to her/him! Inpatient is for those folks who are a danger to themselves or others.  So long as you don’t qualify for that criteria, inpatient is really bad, at least for me.  I’ve not been there, but I’ve been told by those who have about being trapped on a locked VA ward; I was trapped and abandoned on a civilian locked ward in the 1970’s … not good for me.  As this just makes my PTSD symptoms worse, I doubt that it will help you either with your PTSD symptoms. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

Hey Tim, I know nothing about the VA, treatments, etc.  Just wanted to say I read your post though, and I agree.  How in the world COULD you learn to trust someone if you keep getting someone different every 6-8 weeks???.  No way! It takes a LONG time to establish the trust in the relationship.  I’d be really frustrated too.  : (  And angry. kat "timujinn" <timuj…@provide.net> wrote in message

news:3B51BE99.E1FB5B86@provide.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I went and saw the therapist this week and told them there were 5 people > that i trust in the vA and they weren’t one of them.  After that i spent > the next 30 minutes repeating to them I may be close to the edge but I’m > not suicidal and I’m not going inpatient, so forget it .I agreed to > return for outpaient therapy on the 26 of the month,but reserved the to > back out if necessary. The therapist seems to want to put in inpatient > for around 2 weeks and I can’t give up the little bit of control I do > have over things in my life. I let it be known that if i find out the > md’s and social workers decide I need to go inpatient and try to push > the issue I was going to " casper " and I wouldn’t be back. > i don’t know how they expect to work with veterans when the ":therapists > " that are starting to be in the largest numbers in the VA lately are > just social work students who are there for a short time and then gone. > It takes time to build the trust to be able to talk and work on things > and when its a new therapist every 6-8 weeks it doesn’t happen very > often or very easily. > tim

Response:

Tim, I know how you feel. The PTSD programs at VA Hospitals have been going through a bad time lately. Don’t have a clue why (I have some ideas but then I trust our Gov about as far as I can toss the White House). Inpatient isn’t the worst that can happen, if you go voluntarily. You can leave at any time (unless you say your suicidal), the only draw back is a note in your file that says "left without doctors permission" which can hurt you in getting some benefits (maybe). Inpatient is a good way for the real Pdocs (there are some there) to determine what meds might work best for you. I say this from experience since I’ve spent almost a year (five hospitalizations) in VA psych wards. I feel for you and hope you find a little bit of peace. Take care. Larry L. 5/7 1st Cav ‘68

Response:

Hi Tim, Sorry to here about your frustration with health providers that must have been really trigger point nightmarish feelings, you can’t even rely on consistent psych/treatment from a specialist. I wish you’re here in my area ’cause I’ve been through cognitive-behavioral therapy from professionals that treats mostly the Veterans and as myself, a victim of domestic abuse I’ve been recognized experiences of PTSD symptoms similar, sort of my case was as if I came from combat trauma exposure. Lucky for me that I qualified for federal funding…my abuser was an ex-Army who has an angry management problem, also has problems with substance abuse. Take care <*>precious~0~ ’cause you’re worth it~+~best, leah y.

Response:

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