(((((((((((Teacake)))))))))))))))),

You "are" very smart, I did notice that about you. I am wondering if you were a smart child whose parents were inadequate. Also Teacake, not only are you intelligent, but you have read a lot about PTSD, it has been your main focus, it had to be because having PTSD is so crippling and there is a desire to try to solve it and do better. Well, you have PTSD so you are already ahead of these people because you experience it first hand, while they are learning about it from the outside and as you have noticed in a simple program that doesn't require a great amount of intelligence, you are way ahead of them, you are way out in stratosphere compared to these people, I get that.

Yes, I am sorry, but you are going to be disappointed in this government run program. You need to remember that the system is broken and has been for a while, our government cannot fix that overnight, even over a few years. Actually, you would probably be happier teaching these people, unfortunately they are not smart enough where they would take kindly to that, which you already know and it is aggravating you.

The kind of help you want Teacake is very expensive, if you are rich you can get it, but if you are financially challenged, well sorry.

I understand your anger too, I have a hard time because now that I understand PTSD and have had decent therapy and read more then just the symptoms one can look up online, it is very hard for me to see how badly I was treated when I reached out for help. I have my records and I expressed all the "clear" red flags that should have sent a loud and definite message I was a trauma patient in crisis. Yet I was misdiagnosed and not helped at all but instead only further traumatized.

My therapist told me that psych wards (not all but a lot) are really just a place to stabilize and move on to outpatient care. It is not like the old days where there were places that took more time and gave more care. He did say that an effort is being made to teach the staff at these places how to identify a trauma patient. He said our system is broken and what I needed, is too expensive to provide now. The staff just goes through the motions and is often not engaging or all that knowledgeable as you are describing. Your empathy was place correctly, it really isn't the fault of these people, they really don't know any better, they have good hearts, they want to help, but they are only getting the minimum, it is too expensive to get the kind of staff you want. I know how sad it is on the one hand but is very aggravating and frustrating because you know first hand the severity of the need for good and qualified and true professional help.

You are the kind of person who needs to be with someone smarter than you where you can learn something new. And you "do" read the latest from the brightest that will probably never be in the place you are describing. Unfortunately, the place you are describing will just run on a simple program, there will not be "real meat and potatoes" to it.

Everyone talks about all this health care stuff taking place where people will be insured and can gain access to healthcare and not go without. Well, that doesn't mean what these people get will be truly adequate or good professionals. I know someone who worked in a clinic for those who struggle to afford healthcare, she had to leave and said it was awful. Affordable, well there is a lot more to it then just the patient being able to afford, because Affordable also means keeping someplace afloat, which means cheaper, and often staffed with people who are just adequate or young and learning. There are not enough Patch Adams out there either.

It's very frustrating and disappointing, but whatever you do, don't kill yourself over it. You have to understand, something is better than nothing, and yes, we have quite a way to go to fix our broken system. I understand the frustration, but whatever you do, do your best to contain it, don't scare these poor people, you have figured out they just wont get it. No, they are not going to look back at you and realize "why" you are so frustrated, yeah, I know, that is a big let down too.

Ah, just another thing to grieve right? I am sure it is triggering too, not much better then how most people "just don't get it".

(((Hugs)))
OE