VA mental health is mostly smoke and mirrors

[daroosta]

Curious if anyone else has awakened to this. Over the years with VA mental health groups and providers and inpatient stays. Same tune. Different providers. Doesn’t matter. It’s all about minimizing, down playing, and attempts at rediagnosing conditions and symptoms. Just read your notes afterwards. It’s all the same subtle attempt. Funny how obvious it has become. It’s all smoke and mirrors. It’s not about treatment as much as it is about invalidating symptoms and conditions. It’s their sneaky way of trying to contribute to the hopeful possibility of losing your service connection benefits if you are ever reviewed. They are trained to do this. I looked in my notes a few years ago in regard to an inpatient stay. It amazes me what they wrote. They even dug up old entries from prior providers in regard to comments I made in regard to situations I was in while on active duty from like 8 years back in time!!  And quoted those comments in their notes!!  They try to pretend your getting treatment by implementing ridiculous arts and crafts groups...and yoga group, and a few CBT type classes held by some unenthusiastic social workers. Then the psychiatrist and her team of minions come and spend an hour with their cold stares, basically interrogating you. Just read the notes. It’s all there. Treatment my azz. The entire mental health VA system is collectively trained to and out to do one thing:  find out if the supposedly suicidal veteran in front of them is a fake and feigning symptoms. Period. Then write it in the notes!   Lmao. It’s a huge joke. Trusting these people is as smart jumping in a lake full or piranhas. Best to seek out civilian mental heath care if possible. They won’t be conducting a witch-hunt like the VA does. Be forewarned.  I’m sure some vets receive genuine treatment.  If you are service-connected for mental conditions. Be wary. Read your notes. That’s all I’m saying. Seek out civilian care instead. Plus mental health groups at the VA are mostly handouts and homework. Ran by overpaid PHD’s, who are strictly textbook, and about as zealous as a carrot stick. And again...it’s all smoke and mirrors. Be wary. May not apply to all, I’m just pointing out my own experience over the years.  

[Buck52]

I don't have a problem  with what they put in my progress notes anymore.

we can go back and read what they put in those and if they say something in those notes that are not true  next time you see this health provider  or therapist  call them ut on it.

.I have only did this to two VA Providers  one was my PCP and the other was my LCSW..THERAPIST ..

I MADE COPIES of these notes and took them with me on my next appointment with these same providers..and I open up the notes and said  why did you say all this in these notes as you and I both know nothing was said at all as what you put in these notes....this really gets their attention   well Humm let me see...''oh that  yeah I need to make an Amendment to all this I must have been confused with another veteran'' ect,,,ect,,,  I said yes make it correct these are my medical records and I will not allow something like this to happen  so please do make an Addendum to rectify this mistake.

Now do realize they can't take out what they mention earlier but they can make an amends to it  and make it correct.

All you need to do is make copies and take with you when you see this same health care provider  Dr  or Therapist or specialist.

Do not let them put things in your medical records that are not ture or was not talked about or mention to you.   its your word agianst there's  so make copies to back up what you are saying.  please be pleasant when you ask them to do this     if you yell at them they can call security and have you thrown out  and escorted off the VA Property