This reply is meant for Trace14:

If you are falling asleep it could mean two things. The first is that sometimes sleepiness is a way of ignoring getting close to what is in our heart and mind. Secondly, you are too tired to be meditating! Instead, sleep! Or get up and move around and try again.

In a Boston program they found meditation did not help veterans with deep trauma, and meditation could actually make it worse, for reasons you stated.

If the trauma is coming up as soon as you start to meditate...it is indicating that the trauma wants "to be heard."

Have you looked into an informal vets group? Or...maybe starting one on meetup? We have one in my town...for vets alone...a support group...that meets at the library.

So please hang in there until you find some help. Although DBT skills can't hurt, your therapist should be addressing the trauma issues with you, as well.

You could also try "walking meditation" which is just incorporating movement while letting thoughts come up and then letting them"be" - and then letting them fall away. Sometimes walking is a really good way to meditate...and for you...because of sleepiness...it would definitely be advised.