Question:
LuanneP wrote > I guess what I am trying to say is when somebody who is not as > deeply affected from PTSD gives me the above advice, it just sorta triggers me. > Now, when I see someone post who seems to KNOW where I am at, I mean folks > such as Bill, Scott, Chris, Emma, etc…, I get a lot out of their stuff. The > problem is, and as Bill once put it….the folks who are more ‘lightly > affected’ seem to be the ones who take it upon themselves to be the > advice-givers of the group.
Lu, this seems to be a real delimma. The people who are capable of offering support, do, but it isn’t what you need to hear at the time. The people who you do find understand your position are not in a place to help you as often as you might like, or in the ways that you might like. You’ve done a great job here of expressing your thoughts and frustrations about this situation, and I find myself wondering….. When you are honest with yourself, what would help you the most? > What I post comes out as pure abrasiveness, > although I don’t always mean for it to sound that way.
I am coming to understand that this is true – that you don’t always mean it to sound that way. take care, Renee When the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat everything like a nail.
Response:
Hi Luanne! > As for Nancy’s advice about going to the VA….I’d rather shoot myself in the > head before I go there again. Nancy, remember the doctor there who told me > that there was a ‘positive’ side to a woman being gang-raped??? His theory was > that meant she did not ‘look’ like a monster. Would you want to go back there > if a shrink at the VA told you that?
No, I didn’t … about 25 years ago. Since Tailhook things have been better in the VA system around here. When I was abused by a woman doctor in February, I was encouraged to stand up for myself and I wrote a protest letter about my treatment to the local Director. Imagine my surprise when my complaint was validated and I was offered a supervised apology! You might consider to do the same. I personally don’t care how or where you get some positive strokes and recovery, Lu. I just wish you could find some … soon! Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
>I was abused by a woman doctor in February, I >was encouraged to stand up for myself and I wrote a protest letter about my >treatment to the local Director. Imagine my surprise when my complaint was >validated and I was offered a supervised apology!
I have done this, but nothing was ever done. What I have gone through with the local VA in San Diego is toooooo long to go into here, but it has been a living nightmare. Luanne
Response:
Hi Chris! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve got a major bone to pick with the VA in San Diego. Wow…Have I > ever got a bone to pick with them. Danged straight it is a nightmare. > I used to work there. > [Insert Profanity] Can I tell you stories??!!!?? > Sportsfans, Lu doesn’t DARE complain about the administration at the VA > in San Diego. They’ll toast her. I can PROVE that vets who complain > about the VA in San Diego, in particular homeless vets…in particular > homeless vets that are in the right…get toasted, threatened with > getting their healthcare cut off and generally…. > The VA San Diego is a malignancy on the federal VA system that is > supposed to be supporting vets. Now there are some GREAT people who > work there. > But hey, hey, hey… > Email me privately. > You can also call Clark Brooks at the San Diego Union Tribune who is > working on a story about the veterans who have been abused in San > Diego. His email address is Clark.Bro…@uniontrib.com and he is a > Vietnam Vet. He’s working on a "VA mistreats vets" story but when I > talked to him last…but I don’t think he’s even beginning to have a > clue about the whole thing. He keeps talking about how he can’t quite > get a grip on it. Hell, he hasn’t a clue about the magnitude and he is > NOT going to get anyone to talk as long as the fear remains as rampant > as it is in that place. Takes EMPLOYEES to know where the bodies are > buried, employees who aren’t afraid. And they damned sure have a heck > of a lot to be afraid of. > Hey, hey, hey…Luanne. Hang tough. You are NOT paranoid. And don’t > even think of reporting anyone for their abuse unless you’d like to have > yet another battle to wage.
So … who has written his or her Congressperson? Who has gone to the various service reps? What does it take for the vets themselves to make a stink? How do we fight this one? NOW! I am really tired of some of these stories. The male vets who come from Texas etc to the Brecksville CSR PTSD 12 week in-house program are sometimes so traumatized by their previous VA experiences by time they get to OH that it is _very_ difficult for them to accept help here. To whom do these posts need to be forwarded? Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
>I wrote to my congressperson as well as a variety of members on the >House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, reported the abuse to the >Inspector General and filed grievances. I got fired for my efforts. >Also fired for efforts to support Homeless Vets are David …ahhh just >went blank. >There are others who are being harrassed for reporting medication errors >as well as veteran deaths from medication errors. The VA here plays >dirty. Crushes anyone who questions management.
Chris, I DO give a flying fuck. Please write to me privately. I have some pretty good stories myself, and refuse to go to the VA Hospital here in San Diego. The only medical personnel I see are my shrink, who is at the VA, and my therapist at the Vet Center. I go elsewhere for my other medical/dental stuff. I HAVE written letters to no avail. Please write to me privately and tell me of your experiences. Where are you at in San Diego? My addy is: Luan…@aol.com Sincerely, Luanne
Response:
I have been told by my therapist that I clearly don’t want to get better. That I don’t take enough risks. Well just let him live one day in my shoes. I have found that nothing helps much.
Response:
>Yet all I have read recently is squawking >about nonsense. Can’t we just leave something alone without beating it >to death.
You are ABSOLUTELY right Bill! I wish you’d post more because I agree with most of what you say. Perhaps because I feel that we are on the same wavelength of sorts as far as PTSD goes. Thanks for your wonderful insight, and I will shut up and back off. Luanne aka Busty
Response:
>Thank you Bill, for yet another dose of sanity. I’m afraid I’ve >contributed somewhat to the ‘nonsense’ myself.
Yes, and so have I contributed to most of it. Now I am in trouble because I told someone that I ‘thought’ this ng was for folks with PTSD, but wasn’t sure! <sigh> In a nutshell, this is the way I see things. Let’s say I am having a bad day… a really shitty one. I post to this newsgroup about it. I get some folks who will tell me to: 1. Breathe, breathe 2. Read this ’self-help’ book. It worked for me. 3. Try Kava-Kava or St. John’s Wart. 4. Smoke some pot 5. Do a 4th Step Now, all of the above will not work for me. I can’t read, can’t smoke pot, do herbs, etc…, I guess what I am trying to say is when somebody who is not as deeply affected from PTSD gives me the above advice, it just sorta triggers me. Now, when I see someone post who seems to KNOW where I am at, I mean folks such as Bill, Scott, Chris, Emma, etc…, I get a lot out of their stuff. The problem is, and as Bill once put it….the folks who are more ‘lightly affected’ seem to be the ones who take it upon themselves to be the advice-givers of the group. The ones who are severely affected seem to be at home banging their heads against the wall and can’t post. What I post comes out as pure abrasiveness, although I don’t always mean for it to sound that way. As for Nancy’s advice about going to the VA….I’d rather shoot myself in the head before I go there again. Nancy, remember the doctor there who told me that there was a ‘positive’ side to a woman being gang-raped??? His theory was that meant she did not ‘look’ like a monster. Would you want to go back there if a shrink at the VA told you that? Luanne
Response:
There has been volumes written and URL’s quoted with the latest studies and information about Post Trauma, here, on this Newsgroup in recent months. Most of you know that PTSD can be seen on an MRI, CAT scan, and EEG. What shows is inflammation of the synapse and neuropathways. A recent Harvard bulletin and information from Dartmouth show that the inflammation is a prevailing CAUSE of aberrant behaviors. When people go long enough without hostility and fights, the inflammation tends to lessen along with symptoms. Yet all I have read recently is squawking about nonsense. Can’t we just leave something alone without beating it to death. Are we aware that by this behavior we guarantee that our Trauma will continue to get worst? I am learning to walk away and let the world and all in it fuck themselves and they do it well without my commentary. I am also beginning to have a little more control. Medication deals with SOME symptoms a little, but nobody on earth will tell you that any drug addresses the part of the brain damaged by Trauma. I have decided that it isn’t my business what anybody else does. I used to get in a fight like I’ve seen recently. It’s all bullshit and self maintaining as far as keeping your trauma alive. Just a thought to consider. Bill
Response:
KEEP CONSIDERING BILL, I’M TAKING THE WALK AWAY OPTION. BYE FOLKS. GLENN. "BABYMASH – EAT YOUR MASH 70 Minute CD" IS BACK IN THE MAKING AFTER SMALL DELAY – MUSIC VIDEO FINISHED AS WELL.INFO-This e-mail. SEND-PSTG PAID-$15 TO: 152-156 THE SQUARE,PALMERSTON NORTH,NZ. Net-Tamer V 1.10 Beta - Test Drive
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.