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Member Since Jul 2020
Location: Texas
Posts: 221
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#1
So I get my mental health care from the VA. I have PTSD & MDD. I denied a need for mental health care for 20 years, was in a very firm state of denial, and only a few years ago reached out for help because I had a sort of 'omgcan'tcopeImfreakingout' episode of several months duration. Since then, I've seen several therapists, each of whom passed me off to another therapist for a different kind of therapy after a few months. Last therapist before this one announced that the VA had tried everything, and as far as she was concerned, I was done with therapy, I had all the tools I needed, and other veterans need help too, so tah-dah no more therapy for me. I cried, and begged, (embarrassing!!) and said - I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this, I need help to figure this stuff out.
She said I'd be fine, the end. After chewing on it a few weeks, I called a different branch of the VA and they put me on a 6+ month waiting list for EMDR, and in the meantime, passed me off to another therapist. Well, I've seen that therapist 8 times, and he told me today that I have a 'good foundation' and the VA doesn't like people to be in therapy more than 12 weeks. During the conversation, I told him that when I blank my mind and emotions that's the only way I can stop crying. He told me maybe I should stop thinking about myself so much, then. I told him I feel that I have no value outside of what I can do for people. He said that's 'shame', and everyone feels that same way. So, fellow people in need of support - is that true? is the way I feel the way EVERYONE feels, but they just handle it better? If so, that is the most tragic thing I've ever heard in my entire life. If that's true, I just need to firm up my backbone and stop being a wuss and asking for more therapy isn't going to help anything. But I really need to know if it's true. I hate continually having to ask for help. I hated asking for help the first time, but going back with my stupid hand out asking for "More, Please" only to get told I'm being selfish and greedy is not something I can handle much longer. If I do need therapy, I need to find a way to express that need so that they don't keep brushing me off. If everyone really feels the exact same crushing weight of despair and emptiness and black-hole-soul I do, then God Help us all. |
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ArtieTheSequal, NP_Complete, RoxanneToto, SlumberKitty, Taylor27
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#2
I'm sorry the T told you that. I don't think everyone goes around with such a heavy load of shame. If you are experiencing despair and emptiness that means the MDD and PTSD isn't better. Are you on any medications? That might help. Some people don't like meds. For me, they are a lifesaver. Literally. What about getting help outside of the VA? I saw former T for 10 years. I have seen current T 2.5 years. I have to pay for their services of course but I don't feel like I am being selfish or greedy. I have a crap ton of stuff to sort out and I need help. I hypothesize that you do too. And you deserve that help. HUGS Kit
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RoxanneToto, Toughcooki
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RoxanneToto, Waterbear
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healing from trauma
Member Since Dec 2017
Location: Alberta
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#3
I can only speak for myself and tell you to not give up. I have had therapists tell me the same thing and I have had a very horrible childhood and tons of suffering all to be told that short term therapy was all they could do for me. I did not give up and finally I got a therapist 2 years ago who im still with and im making progress finally after 18 years in the system. Maybe try a different therapy clinic that might not be with VA but offer help for you with trained therapist. I am very sorry you are not getting the help you truly deserve. I can also tell you that it's not selfish in getting help it's brave of you. Please know we are here for you. Hugs
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Toughcooki
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RoxanneToto
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Member Since Aug 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 346
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#4
I am a veteran too and using the VA system. In the past had no difficulty getting therapy. However I thought it was my clinic that had the therapy problems for going to short term therapy styles and pushing groups instead of individual therapy the past few years. Now I am wondering if it's the whole VA system that's screwed up. Not everyone does well with short term therapy. Once again, are they trying to make a "one size fits everybody" mentality???? I have been really angry at my clinic over this therapy limitation stuff.
Now I may be very angry at the VA system. Other than this, and for the past approximately 4 years I have had excellent care from the VA. I don't know what to advise you. Maybe push for VA paid therapy outside of the VA? I forget what program that is called. |
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Toughcooki
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Member Since Jul 2020
Location: Texas
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#5
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Thank you, I am on medication, and it has helped, as I am not as depressed as I was. I was pretty bad before. Like really really bad. lol. I'm willing to go outside the VA if I need to - I just don't know if I really need to. I mean - I feel like I need help, but I also don't want to be one of those people who wants everyone to do everything for them. I read and try to figure things out on my own, but I get sort of sucked into the whirlwind if I don't have someone outside myself to ask about things. I also feel like I have a crap ton of stuff, lol. From childhood mess through mess in the military, and then all the mess from trying to stuff all that for my whole life. My coping mechanisms are 'run away' and 'deny everything' I've spent the last few years forcing myself to face this mess to try and fix it, but bouncing around from T to T isn't helping. Thank you for your response, I really appreciate it. |
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Member
Member Since Aug 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 346
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#6
I just remembered, if you are a combat veteran or military sexualvtrauma victim and there is a Vet Center near you; you can oftentimes get better therapy there. Plus their therapy notes don't go into the regular VA computer system.
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Member
Member Since Jul 2020
Location: Texas
Posts: 221
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#7
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Taylor27
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Member
Member Since Jul 2020
Location: Texas
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#8
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I think I'll just have to go with outside therapy. Thank you for your response, I'm sorry to see other veterans are dealing with this as well -but also kind of not sorry because now I see that I'm not the only one dealing with this, if that makes any sense. I mentioned it to my senator's office after the last T dropped me at the 12 week mark, and they said they have nothing to do with mental health policies. I'd think that they'd be more worried about it, but no. |
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Magnate
Member Since May 2017
Location: Earth
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#9
I felt depressed on and off for twenty years. I didn't have a good childhood, but it wasn't horrible either. I have seen my current therapist for literally hundreds of sessions. I was well over a year into seeing her before I started to see small amounts of actual change in my way of dealing with the world and in how I feel about myself. Now I still have down days and small bouts of depression, but it's nothing like it used to be. I sometimes feel self conscious about how much therapy I've had, but I clearly benefit from it. My T says that it took thirty years to get to where I am, so it's not all going to change overnight. I think the stability of my relationship with her is a big part of the healing, so in some ways, maybe you've barely even gotten started since you haven't been able to stay with one therapist. I don't think you're asking for too much, and I absolutely think you should try somebody outside the VA who does longer-term work, if that's an option for you. Not everyone feels the crushing weight of despair all the time, and I suspect you won't feel it either if you can get access to more comprehensive, compassionate treatment.
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Toughcooki
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RoxanneToto, Toughcooki
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Grand Magnate
Member Since Feb 2017
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#10
If you need more therapy, there's absolutely no shame in that. The shame is on the VA for trying to one-size-fits-all mental health. Twelve sessions wouldn't even be enough for me to even trust the therapist or scratch the surface let alone be done with therapy. If you have a way to access therapy outside the VA, that's probably the way to go although not ideal. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. You deserve all the help that you need to heal, not breadcrumbs.
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Toughcooki
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MobiusPsyche, RoxanneToto, Taylor27, Toughcooki, Waterbear
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Magnate
Member Since Sep 2013
Posts: 2,014
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#11
No, everyone doesn't feel the same way nor are you a wuss who needs to just get on with it.
Those therapists are pretty uninformed if all one needed to do was to grow a backbone and get on with it. Their conclusions are rather laughable. This is not how life... or therapy works. It just seems that those therapists available through the VA don't want to do long-term therapy. They're just like MDs or car mechanics: as long as the body/vehicle is on the road, who cares how well the engine runs. Very simplistic and uncaring attitude, to say the least. |
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Toughcooki
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RoxanneToto, Toughcooki, Waterbear
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Member
Member Since Aug 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 346
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#12
Rive, I don't necessarily believe that the therapists all actually believe that short term therapy is what is needed but that the people in charge of the mental health guidelines for the VA are heavily requiring it and the therapists are required to follow and promote those guidelines.
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Toughcooki
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Rive., Toughcooki
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Member
Member Since Jul 2020
Location: Texas
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#13
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Member
Member Since Jul 2020
Location: Texas
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#14
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ElectricManatee, RoxanneToto
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Location: Texas
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#15
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RoxanneToto
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Shotokan
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Location: Texas
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#16
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Rive.
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Member
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Location: Texas
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#17
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Member
Member Since Jan 2020
Location: In The Dojo
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#18
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If you are able to travel, there is a clinic in Hawaii and a VA center there that does TMS. They have even advanced the TMS method too. |
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Member
Member Since Jul 2020
Location: Texas
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#19
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I've reported mental health doctors at the clinic before, but nothing happens. (One laughed at me when I was crying and made fun of me to a trainee as I was walking by because I kept crying.) I think he's just trying to convince me I'm good enough to get on with, and get me out the door. I've changed my mind about 50 times now about my next appointment with him at the end of the month. I want to cancel. Part of me says, no, you shouldn't cancel, you should tell him how you feel about what he said. Problem with that is, there's nothing he could say that would resolve this situation, so it'd just be stressful for nothing. I have tried the 'confront people who are hurting you' thing and it just doesn't seem to make me feel any better, or solve anything. It makes more sense to me to just let them be who they are, and stay away from them. |
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Quietmind 2
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Magnate
Member Since Sep 2013
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#20
One doctor laughed at you and made fun of you?? Despicable.
Some people need to be called out on their callous behaviours. This is no way to treat a human being. |
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Toughcooki
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Quietmind 2, RoxanneToto, Toughcooki
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