ptsd Triggers - Should I Seek Help?

[SeekingAdvice247]

Well, I have been reading this forum now for about a week while I have been doing research into why I act more agressively than normal and sometimes feel quite depressed and disconnected from the world. When I had talked to a Chaplain he had said that I might have something called PTSD and should talk to him about it more. So I started to do research.

Overall, I have had childhood trauma (Beatings, Some things I cant remember, and 9/11 Happening when I was younger and loosing a friend and his father to this).

I have also had military trauma (I believe) due to my job. Some trauma I cant talk about but I go in and out of combat areas, bring wounded and sadly deceased soldiers back home and have nightmares about it constantly. I dream of talking to the soldiers I have hauled, and also people loosing their lives while we are on the way back to a base hospital or even coming back from the dead and talking to me and no one notices aside from myself. Some of the triggers to this are seeing the events of 9/11 on the TV or media, and also seeing videos or videogames of ground war.

My main concern is that if I seek help through the appropriate agencies in my branch of service, I will be simply dis-regarded since none of this is real combat related trauma. I have seen people talk of battles where they have lost friends, and co-workers. And even had people die in their arms, but none of this has happened to me and I cant understand why I feel the way I do. But I dont want to seek help, then simply be forgotten since I cant do my job and get no help once I get out since it might be a "Personality Disorder" or something from before I was in the military.

[carlie]

I have also had military trauma (I believe) due to my job. Some trauma I cant talk about but I go in and out of combat areas, bring wounded and sadly deceased soldiers back home and have nightmares about it constantly. I dream of talking to the soldiers I have hauled, and also people loosing their lives while we are on the way back to a base hospital or even coming back from the dead and talking to me and no one notices aside from myself. Some of the triggers to this are seeing the events of 9/11 on the TV or media, and also seeing videos or videogames of ground war.

My main concern is that if I seek help through the appropriate agencies in my branch of service, I will be simply dis-regarded since none of this is real combat related trauma. I have seen people talk of battles where they have lost friends, and co-workers. And even had people die in their arms, but none of this has happened to me and I cant understand why I feel the way I do. But I dont want to seek help, then simply be forgotten since I cant do my job and get no help once I get out since it might be a "Personality Disorder" or something from before I was in the military.

If as you post,

"I go in and out of combat areas, bring wounded and sadly deceased soldiers back home"

this is qualified as real combat related trauma !

Seek help, diagnosis and begin treatment while you are still on active duty.

Get copies of all your records and send them home to someone for safekeeping.

JMHO

[SeekingAdvice247]

If as you post,

"I go in and out of combat areas, bring wounded and sadly deceased soldiers back home"

this is qualified as real combat related trauma !

Seek help, diagnosis and begin treatment while you are still on active duty.

Get copies of all your records and send them home to someone for safekeeping.

JMHO

Thanks Carlie, I do appreciate the insight. This somewhat helps my decision to go seek help for this and I will talk to my chaplain again once my appointment comes up.

[john999]

When you are in an organization where brutality is considered a virtue and where hatred of authority is also considered a virtue you might be describing a maximum prison or a combat unit in Vietnam. That can get you a PD DX before you readjust to a normal world.

[Berta]

I am confused here:

You stated"My main concern is that if I seek help through the appropriate agencies in my branch of service, I will be simply dis-regarded since none of this is real combat related trauma. I have seen people talk of battles where they have lost friends, and co-workers. And even had people die in their arms, but none of this has happened to me and I cant understand why I feel the way I do. But I dont want to seek help, then simply be forgotten since I cant ....."

How is this qualified as 'real combat related ' trauma?

I worked in a vet center- with the combat PTSD group- and I dont get this at all

since the vet said he didnt experience

" real combat related trauma"

[carlie]

I am confused here:

You stated"My main concern is that if I seek help through the appropriate agencies in my branch of service, I will be simply dis-regarded since none of this is real combat related trauma. I have seen people talk of battles where they have lost friends, and co-workers. And even had people die in their arms, but none of this has happened to me and I cant understand why I feel the way I do. But I dont want to seek help, then simply be forgotten since I cant ....."

How is this qualified as 'real combat related ' trauma?

I worked in a vet center- with the combat PTSD group- and I dont get this at all

since the vet said he didnt experience

" real combat related trauma"

Berta,

You probably missed this part - but the OP also posted:

"I have also had military trauma (I believe) due to my job.

Some trauma I cant talk about but I go in and out of combat areas, bring wounded and sadly deceased soldiers back home and have nightmares about it constantly.

I dream of talking to the soldiers I have hauled, and also people loosing their lives while we are on the way back to a base hospital or even coming back from the dead and talking to me and no one notices aside from myself.

Some of the triggers to this are seeing the events of 9/11 on the TV or media, and also seeing videos or videogames of ground war."

[Berta]

I am stuck on something else here that I dont get--and probably am reading Seekingadvice's post all wrong.

Seekingadvice,

If your MOS is consistent with the new PTSD criteria and if you receive a PTSD diagnosis from a VA MH Provider, then you would potentially be awarded compensation for PTSD.

Carlie is right, to seek help now.

I hope the Chaplain is documenting that he/she has spoken to you.

However, even if not- the new PTSD regulations will help you:

“The Veteran’s stressor testimony must be in conjunction with several other elements: 1) the Veteran must be diagnosed with PTSD, 2) a VA psychiatrist must confirm that the claimed stressor is adequate to support the diagnosis, 3) the Veteran’s symptoms are related to the claimed stressor, and 4) the claimed stressor is consistent with the “places types, and circumstances of the Veteran’s service and the record provides no clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.”

The new regulations also allow for PTSD claims to be processed where the Veteran’s stated stressor is not directly related to combat or POW service. The stressor need only be related to a “fear of hostile military or terrorist activity . . . consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of the Veteran’s service.” VA adjudicators determine whether or not the claimed stressor is consistent with the Veteran’s service.”

Source:

http://cbaclelegalconnection.com/2010/08/new-ptsd-regulations-expedite-benefits-to-more-veterans/

Edited April 5, 2012 by Berta