Riddle me a Psychiatrist...

[PFDR]

"What did the combat vet say to the Psychiatrist?"...

Answer - I don't know, I'm having a heck of a time finding one...

So here is my request for help from you all who live in Texas - Houston to be exact.

Can anyone recommend a Psychiatrist who has experience with Vets (combat vets a plus)?

I'm having a hard time picking up the phone to make an appt with a Psychiatrist who may not understand a Vet.

I know I can make an appt with a Psychiatrist at the VA but at this point I'd feel more comfortable not going that route if I can....

Thank you for reading my post and recommendations.

 

 

[Buck52]

The only thing I dislike about my VAMC MH Dept is that they should have had the Veteran that shot & killed U.S. Navy Seal Kris Kyle on watched status!

  This MH Dept in my opinion should have had that veteran in the hospital and Not let him run free.

But I suppose a veteran can say the things the MH Therapist/psychiatrist  want to hear and think in their minds the veteran is a safe risk,  in this case it proved to be a devastating decision.

Edited October 14, 2016 by Buck52

[PFDR]

On 10/14/2016 at 7:13 AM, Berta said:

This are the 2010 PTSD regs....believe me many commented on them,some of us from hadit, but they held to the new diagnosis criteria.

http://www.va.gov/ORPM/docs/20100713_AN32_StressorDeterminationsforPosttraumatic.pdf

These regs helped OEF vets but not other war vets,unless their DD 214s revealed PH, CAR, or CIB on their DD 214s and their stressors could be easily verified.

There has been much discussion here on the new 2010 criteria.

If you are claiming PTSD and are not an incountry OEF veteran, you surely will need to prove your stressor,if you don't have any of those awards on your DD 214.VA will probably try to verify the award  anyhow, even if you do have one of them.

If you feel your DD 214 does not reflect all of the awards or citations you may have received, you can apply for a DD 215 with a DD 149 form, available here under a search.

Just put 'Not applicable' to the 'Injustice" part and make copy, sign and mail it to where they direct you to on the back of the form.. and get a Proof of Mailing..

Do you have a copy of your SMRs and military personnel file?

 

 

 

Thank you Berta,

Yes, I have my SMR's & CIB on the DD-214 for OJC Panama &  ODS/S.

Since I have decent insurance I'll be running in parallel a private Psychiatrist and will also be working through my VA PC for a VA HM Psychiatrist.

Sadly, I feel that you have to, for lack of a better word, "practice" to be prepared for your C&P exam. So I am assuming that discussing my PTSD symptoms with both will make me better prepared for the C&P gauntlet...

I could be wrong but that is the sense I get from reading through the hadit forum.  

 

Edited October 15, 2016 by PFDR

[PFDR]

On 10/14/2016 at 7:35 AM, Buck52 said:

My PCP referred me to MH & a LCSW did my  evaluation and then had me see a MH Phyistrist, I think I seen two or three the day of my evaluation.

 They will probably ask you if you want to start treatment and see a  therapist counselor..its a good Ideal to take them up on it, but if you have private insurance  it maybe good to see them.

but as Ms berta mention you need a DSM 5 PTSD Diagnose from the VA MH Dept  for compensation purposes.

I opt for the one on one therapy counseling  vs the group therapy..I just prefer to be alone with one person...but  you may like the group counseling better...its your choice.  

I would recommend do all your MH with the VA...They have an excellent MH PSTD Program or Program's

HI Buck,

Thanks for the reply. I'm similar to you, I'd be very anxious/unresponsive in a group setting. At this initial phase I'd only engage in a one-one type environment. Maybe over time I could explore the group setting. 

[Gastone]

Regarding VA MH Group Therapy, don't be so quick to think you couldn't handle it.

Back in ?10 I started in a VA PTSD Group, about 12 - 15 Nam Vets. In the beginning, a few of the Vets were exceptionally withdrawn and didn't have an easy time participating. After about 6 mos, they had loosened up quite a bit.

A number of the Vets in the Group were seeing VA psychiatrist/ Psychologists on a regular basis in conjugation with the Group sessions.

To a man, at the end of the 21/2 yrs of group (1 Vet was removed early on, for a violent outburst), all the Vets agreed the Group Therapy had helped them in understanding and coping with their respective PTSD issues.

As I recall, there was only (1) Nam Vet that remained non SC for PTSD.

Use ALL the VA MH tools available to you. Don't underestimate your abilities to cope.

Semper Fi

[jamescripps2]

Go to a local vet center and ask for help. Ask them for help, that is what they are for. They are not the VA per se and the VA don't even have access to their records unless you permit it. They don't work for or with the VBA  or the VAMC. They are psychologist and cannot diagnose the PTSD but their opinion will weigh in heavily with the VA  psychiatrist in making a diagnosis. If it is mental help that you are seeking, they are the pros with vets and have the experience to understand your pain. They are free and they will even see/help your family. What you got to loose?

If you don't like it, don't ever go back, no one will ever know that you even went there.