[DAT11]

ive dealt with the damages done to my mind from being exposed to combat for twenty years.through my own "medication" and a nurturing wife.But over time and the piling of other stressors i feel as though i am on the edge of a breakdown.i sought help for the first time from the VA and was directed to a psych.He gave me 30 minutes to dump 20 years of issues but i still feel on the edge.The first meds they gave me then upped (citalopram) didnt work and eventually led to erratic behavior that might cost me my job.Now i am on Zoloft and really cant tell if i feel better or not.Can someone give me some answers?

[angel700]

you need to talk to a counselor asap! your meds are going to take time to become fully effective; in the meantime you need someone to talk to who understands combat ptsd. even though my meds take the edge off the anxiety, I've found that the 'talk' therapy is a vital part of my recovery and 20 minutes doesn't cut it. Any possibility you've got insurance or VA benefits that would pay for a private counselor? you should also use the support that this online forum can provide. Sometimes, just writing down what you're feeling can provide alot of positives. I'll be checking back to see how you're doing.

[Open Eyes]

Ok, it sounds like you were doing ok for 20 years and something has triggered you.
And it takes time for any antidepressant to work. Is citaopram a relaxer like zanex or clonazapam?

Check your coffee intake too. Sometimes as you get older you can't handle it as well, if you drink a lot of it back off slowly. Try to get out and take some walks and take in the air and sun.

But definitely try to get more counceling as angel suggests. Come to PC if you get wound up and we will try to help you relax.

Open Eyes

[DAT11]

i have another appt with a psych in a week,alas its only going to be another 30 minute session,it seems the way the VA handles it.I am hanging on,but it feels like by my finger nails.with combat ptsd you feel as though noone will fully understand you and what you are going through.Hell i dont even understand and im living it.Its always been there since i retuned,and im guessing it always will be.And yes there have been other more recent traumas to help my slide backwards,it really all started coming back a couple of years ago with a bomb blast at work,and since then just progressively worse.I tried to tell the psych to some degree what i am going through but he was more interested in my mother...lol Again i just dont know what to do am i expecting a miricle,no just some clarity

[angel700]

Originally Posted by DAT11

i have another appt with a psych in a week,alas its only going to be another 30 minute session,it seems the way the VA handles it.I am hanging on,but it feels like by my finger nails.with combat ptsd you feel as though noone will fully understand you and what you are going through.Hell i dont even understand and im living it.Its always been there since i retuned,and im guessing it always will be.And yes there have been other more recent traumas to help my slide backwards,it really all started coming back a couple of years ago with a bomb blast at work,and since then just progressively worse.I tried to tell the psych to some degree what i am going through but he was more interested in my mother...lol Again i just dont know what to do am i expecting a miricle,no just some clarity

Have you checked out the subgroup for combat PSTD? You will definitely find someone who's been there on that board and it's really important that you get feedback from those who are going through that very specific kind of trauma. Do not give up; not all therapists are good matches. Find out if you can change to someone else. The VA counselors are so overwhelmed by the number of vets needing help and it sounds like yours is burned out. You need to be assertive and that may mean telling the counselor that you need him to give you some relevant feedback. In the meantime, get lots of fresh air and exercise; that will help to burn off some of that excess adrenaline. And check out the combat boards.

[Can't Stop Crying]

First - thank you for serving! I don't know much about combat PTSD, but I have PTSD from other trauma. I think it's common for any type of PTSD to feel like no one understands, but some people really do. That might be the PTSD talking. Keep holding on, recovery is possible, it's a long painful journey, but provides peace in the end (I'm told) I agree - your pdoc is not giving you what you need. Any chance there's a support group in your area for vets? Might be another option if private counseling is not. Keep hanging in there - you survived it once, now you just need to find away to cope with the aftermath. Tough, I know, but possible!