[vital]

I'm watching the testimony of Susan Selke, the mother of Iraq/Afghanistan War Marine veteran Clay Hunt who recently committed suicide.

"Clay was constantly voicing concern about the treatment he was receiving, both in terms of scheduling appointments and in the treatment he was receiving for PTS which consisted primarily of medication."

"He received counceling consisting only of brief discussions as to whether the medication was working or not. If it was not, he would be given a new medication."

"Clay used to say 'I'm a guinea pig for drugs. They'll put me on one thing, I'll have side effects and then they'll put me on something else.'"

"It wasn't until March 15'th that Clay was able to see a Psychiatrist at the Houston VA medical center. But after the appointment, Clay called me on his way home and said: 'Mom, I can't go back there'"

Two weeks after that appointment, Clay took his own life.

This is what CRAPPY medical care looks like in a system organized to make drug company profits instead of helping patients.

The Rachel Maddow Show on msnbc

- vital

[kaliope]

thanks for sharing this relevant information

[Open Eyes]

Thanks for sharing that vital, people need to understand that the suicide rate with PTSD is high. I have gone through that stage myself and it is a challenge that I never dreamed of experiencing. I struggled that way for several months and luckily I found a therapist to help me get past it.

It is crucial that when someone is struggling like this that that person get help, it really is a huge challenge in this stage of PTSD. I don't know what takes place in the brain during this stage, but every day for me was such a battle. I don't think I would have made it through had I not met a vet on this site that explained it to me, told me to hang on and notice it comes and goes. I did notice that and every day I fought through it and because of my bad experience at the psych ward I had gone to when I had a pts breakdown, I can definitely relate to why that vet did not want to go back to that kind of place. It took me about 6 to 8 months to get past that stage, I could not have done it without help. It "does" ease up with time and therapy so it really "is" crucial a person struggling gets help and especially support so they hear how that challenge does ease up.

It's sad that it had to be due to anyone not making it through this stage and ending their life in order to for this to finally come to light like this.

[vital]

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

Thanks for sharing that vital, people need to understand that the suicide rate with PTSD is high. I have gone through that stage myself and it is a challenge that I never dreamed of experiencing. I struggled that way for several months and luckily I found a therapist to help me get past it.

It is crucial that when someone is struggling like this that that person get help, it really is a huge challenge in this stage of PTSD. I don't know what takes place in the brain during this stage, but every day for me was such a battle. I don't think I would have made it through had I not met a vet on this site that explained it to me, told me to hang on and notice it comes and goes. I did notice that and every day I fought through it and because of my bad experience at the psych ward I had gone to when I had a pts breakdown, I can definitely relate to why that vet did not want to go back to that kind of place. It took me about 6 to 8 months to get past that stage, I could not have done it without help. It "does" ease up with time and therapy so it really "is" crucial a person struggling gets help and especially support so they hear how that challenge does ease up.

It's sad that it had to be due to anyone not making it through this stage and ending their life in order to for this to finally come to light like this.

Thanks Open Eyes,

That story upset me. He was so young and energetic and such a great person.



- vital

[Sinking Feeling]

I agree but another over looked problem is money and staff. Most of these treatment centers and offices are under staffed and over booked, and you know big pharm knows that and milks it!

Seems we all agree there is a problem but some just don't like the solutions or proposals for it. Which is why nothing ever changes and when it does it does in small increments.

[Open Eyes]

It upsets me too, having gone through that challenge myself and slowly making gains on it, I know he deserved so much better. At the time it feels like it wont get better, that is why it is so important to have support from others to be there for someone helping them slowly get past it. I have heard it takes five years to readjust back to civilian life and manage the symptoms better.

I met a woman who works at a small store I often buy clothes from at Christmas, her son has/had it bad as well and she had been taking care of him. She has seen the small gains, and agreed with me that it takes time/patience/support. These vets deserve the help/support/treatment and security to slowly working on their gradual recovery.

[Open Eyes]

The average person, even professionals that are not specializing in "trauma work" and "ptsd" doesn't understand how hard it is to struggle with PTSD. The symptoms can be very confusing to someone who is struggling. I have experienced all kinds of triggers, even trying to return to what I did in an environment where a trauma that affected me took place. I have felt like someone suddenly put a jacket full of wet cement on me, even though I was not even thinking about reacting.

I spent a lot of time here at PC and just worked on trying to get my conscentration levels more under control. I would type things out and have to edit everything I wrote constantly and I often left out words or repeated thoughts not realizing it. I had to review everything I had posted the previous day, what did I say, where were my thoughts? I thought to myself, "I am on my own with this because no one is going to understand how much I am challenged". And that was the "truth", a lot of people don't understand how much work it really is.

A person often has to repeat and slowly learn "that is not now" and the person has to really sort through their emotions and be prepared for a sudden emotion to come forward that takes them by surprise. It is so important that when that happens the person is not picked on for it too. Instead, it is better to be supportive, allow the person to just express their emotions so they can recognize it themselves too. The reason people isolate is because they don't feel they have control of their emotions. It is extremely helpful if they are given permission to just "vent" whatever they need to vent, because often it is backwards where the person is not deciding to be sad/angry, it is instead something that takes them by surprise too. If a person is given a sense of safety and freedom so that when this happens they can see it and track it and work through it, it really helps them slowly work through it and actually gain on it verses fear and stress about it all the time.

This is why they have recognized how people do better when they are interacting with others that have PTSD. It is especially helpful when someone is struggling and is supported by someone else that has made gains on it so that they get the comfort and understanding and permission to keep trying, it's ok, they are told, just let it come out so you can work through it.

When a person struggles they feel very disconnected, it is very important that person be around others where they can connect.

[Wish I was a cat]

Good info. I am a vet and use the VA health care system for mental health and it is so hard to get regular apps due to understaffing. My husband had PTSD from 2 tours in Iraq. All his doc did was change his meds or increase them. As most know, a side effect of anti depressants is suicidal ideations. Unfortunately this bill is a year too late as he took his own life a year ago.
I hope this helps other vets to get the help they need. The statistics are overwhelming.

[vital]

Originally Posted by Wish I was a cat

Good info. I am a vet and use the VA health care system for mental health and it is so hard to get regular apps due to understaffing. My husband had PTSD from 2 tours in Iraq. All his doc did was change his meds or increase them. As most know, a side effect of anti depressants is suicidal ideations. Unfortunately this bill is a year too late as he took his own life a year ago.
I hope this helps other vets to get the help they need. The statistics are overwhelming.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I am really ashamed at how my country treated your husband. Thank you for letting us know what happened.



- vital