Tanker123 said:

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What needs to be invented is a comprehensive healing program from start to finish. That is what is sorely missing. What I have seen is a rather random approach.

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I think it's a little complicated with the military. The long term solution is probably more prevention than attempting to treat later. Building resilience and having appropriately time interventions. But, like healthcare in this country, the general approach is "fix it later." Preventative maintenance/medicine is limited.

The thing with the military, and really every organization/company, is that you need healthy fighters/employees, but you also need them to do their job. When individuals start spending more and more time doing personal things (doctor's appointments, family time, the gym, partying, vacations, etc) their mental health will probably be great, but their training and productivity will decrease. When a small percentage of the organization does this, no big deal. But as more and more do it, the organization suffers, but also the people not doing it suffer as they have to take on a greater work load.

Society in general has moved towards people wanting more of a work life balance, and I think the military needs to figure out how to do that as well. Not only to recruit better, more resilient, and higher quality individuals, but to retain them.

bigtruckguy3500 said:

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Tanker123 said:

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What needs to be invented is a comprehensive healing program from start to finish. That is what is sorely missing. What I have seen is a rather random approach.

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I think it's a little complicated with the military. The long term solution is probably more prevention than attempting to treat later. Building resilience and having appropriately time interventions. But, like healthcare in this country, the general approach is "fix it later." Preventative maintenance/medicine is limited.

The thing with the military, and really every organization/company, is that you need healthy fighters/employees, but you also need them to do their job. When individuals start spending more and more time doing personal things (doctor's appointments, family time, the gym, partying, vacations, etc) their mental health will probably be great, but their training and productivity will decrease. When a small percentage of the organization does this, no big deal. But as more and more do it, the organization suffers, but also the people not doing it suffer as they have to take on a greater work load.

Society in general has moved towards people wanting more of a work life balance, and I think the military needs to figure out how to do that as well. Not only to recruit better, more resilient, and higher quality individuals, but to retain them.

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You are correct. Some people need the work hours to maximize their income. There are other reasons why folks don't ask for help.

I can only give an Army perspective. There are definitely a lot of improvements that could be made to help soldiers with PTSD. The current process is disjointed.

Many of the young adults lived sedentary lives as teenagers. The couch, internet, and phones have replaced real world experiences. Some of these people have a definition of self that is not commiserate with the real world which may cause some soul searching.

Aggie Therapist said:

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Yeah. Trust me I get it.

As clinical inpatient therapists, I have heard it all. Combat related PTSD, non combat related PTSD and civilians that struggle with PTSD because of HORRIBLE things that has happened to them as children or at some point in their life.

I show everyone the same unconditional love and support and positive regard.

If a Veteran doesn't feel like opening up because "MY PTSD IS WORSE THAN YOURS" or "Bro, that's nothing compared to what I went through" then that's going to be on them. Hopefully they can find someone who understand them.

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I wasn't implying them feeling like "MY PTSD IS WORSE THAN YOURS." IMO, It's different and that's definetly their opinion. They can't really relate to the person who has PTSD from a bad childhood etc. They don't want to be in a group setting with that; I wouldn't either.

I remember having a VA employee briefing us on benefits. He was an Air Force mechanic, never deployed, never got hurt, but was bragging how he got to 80-100% (I don't don't remember the exact %). It seemed like most was not really because of being in the military and he had just worked the system.

I don't recall how long you've been doing VA work, or where, but have you run across anyone who was just BS'ing about having PTSD, or the degree to which they had it? I know it happens, but am just curious to how prevalent it is. Anecdotally, I've heard of counselors / therapists coaching people what to say to get the rating. Youtube is full of guys explaining how to cheat the system to get ratings for numerous complaints, with PTSD and MST being the easiest 50+%.

And then the other end of the spectrum... I personally knew a guy who finally convinced his dad to get a rating. This was about 10 years ago. His dad came in and got rated for the leg he lost in the Korean War!

A significant variable that is often lost in obscurity is a good percentage of people who have PTSD also have a chemical addiction which is an impediment to healing. It is easier to fight one war instead of two simultaneously.

Many of us have been through a lot of rough times since leaving the military. I went straight to college in '07 after leaving the Army in 06. Although I was four years older than most of my classmates, a lot of people seemed to wonder how someone like me could have been a soldier and gone to war at 18 and gave me even less respect. I graduated from A&M when I was 26 and then moved to Wyoming for my first professional job. That only lasted two and a half years. Then two years of crap jobs before I got duped into taking a job in Montana. Lived there for almost three years, 2015-2018. Then they axed 3 of us at the company so I moved to Denver. Finally things kinda worked out for me. Got my current job in 2019, underemployed but secure. Made it through the Covid and bought a condo in 2020. Out of a 10 year toxic relationship in 2022 and back out there with dating. Now I'm 40 years old and wonder why my life only worked out the way it did.

bigtruckguy3500 said:

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InfantryAg said:

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I don't recall how long you've been doing VA work, or where, but have you run across anyone who was just BS'ing about having PTSD, or the degree to which they had it? I know it happens, but am just curious to how prevalent it is. Anecdotally, I've heard of counselors / therapists coaching people what to say to get the rating. Youtube is full of guys explaining how to cheat the system to get ratings for numerous complaints, with PTSD and MST being the easiest 50+%.

And then the other end of the spectrum... I personally knew a guy who finally convinced his dad to get a rating. This was about 10 years ago. His dad came in and got rated for the leg he lost in the Korean War!

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This bugs the snot out of me. I used to see lance corporals that come with pages of things they wanted to document on their separation physical. Like the stupidest crap. But someone told them they need to do all this to get that VA claim. And specifically how to boost their ratings. I've seen non-combat arms lance corporals with 2 pages of complaints they wanted documented, and I've seen infantry E7s and above with far less. Although as times have gone on, even those crunchy old enlisted are learning the tricks of the trade.

I'm all about getting fairly compensated for issues related to service. But it really ticks me off when people try and game the system, especially at the detriment of others that truly need the help.

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This IMO is the single biggest issue facing the VA, every Tom, Dick and Harry wants compensation, and most of them get it. And if you sit in a VA waiting room every dang Vietnam vet sitting there was 11B and did most of their "work" across the border with SOG. I've never met a clerk who served over there.

bigtruckguy3500 said:

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InfantryAg said:

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I don't recall how long you've been doing VA work, or where, but have you run across anyone who was just BS'ing about having PTSD, or the degree to which they had it? I know it happens, but am just curious to how prevalent it is. Anecdotally, I've heard of counselors / therapists coaching people what to say to get the rating. Youtube is full of guys explaining how to cheat the system to get ratings for numerous complaints, with PTSD and MST being the easiest 50+%.

And then the other end of the spectrum... I personally knew a guy who finally convinced his dad to get a rating. This was about 10 years ago. His dad came in and got rated for the leg he lost in the Korean War!

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This bugs the snot out of me. I used to see lance corporals that come with pages of things they wanted to document on their separation physical. Like the stupidest crap. But someone told them they need to do all this to get that VA claim. And specifically how to boost their ratings. I've seen non-combat arms lance corporals with 2 pages of complaints they wanted documented, and I've seen infantry E7s and above with far less. Although as times have gone on, even those crunchy old enlisted are learning the tricks of the trade.

I'm all about getting fairly compensated for issues related to service. But it really ticks me off when people try and game the system, especially at the detriment of others that truly need the help.

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Like these two jackasses? 'Paralyzed' veteran given free home caught walking - YouTube

I understand there are many people who game the system. The flipside is the way VA determines disability percentages with their quirky system. The VA will assign an 80% rating if a veteran has two disabilities rated at 50% each. The so what is a 100% rating and 80% yield monthly entitlements of $3,946 and $2,161 respectively.

There are further perks for veterans with 100% ratings like education benefits for dependents, life insurance, and free dental care.

Podcast is a must listen. Guy is a vet that ha been on before. Makes a lot of good points about this issue and GWOT in general.

Lol'ed when he starts taking about how it's perfectly normal that everywhere in the ME goes crazy on Thursdays.

Cant count the number of times the conversation went like,

"WTF was that?!

Wait, what day is it?

Oh, it's Thursday, never mind."

Hilarious. Forgotten all that.

In any event worth a listen.

Irony is I have helped many people with PTSD. However, my wife has PTSD but can't mitigate her trauma. I wish I could crack the code. I feel so bad for her and would gladly take her pain if I could. I don't know if any mother can accept losing a child.

It's not mentioned much that being a caregiver for someone with severe PTSD is an arduous process with little respite. I tell people who are in a similar predicament to have a meeting of the minds to ensure the relationship and marriage does not blow up.

Tanker123 said:

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Irony is I have helped many people with PTSD. However, my wife has PTSD but can't mitigate her trauma. I wish I could crack the code. I feel so bad for her and would gladly take her pain if I could. I don't know if any mother can accept losing a child.

It's not mentioned much that being a caregiver for someone with severe PTSD is an arduous process with little respite. I tell people who are in a similar predicament to have a meeting of the minds to ensure the relationship and marriage does not blow up.

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Has she seen a mental health provider? Sometimes it's best not to try and treat family yourself.

bigtruckguy3500 said:

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Tanker123 said:

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Irony is I have helped many people with PTSD. However, my wife has PTSD but can't mitigate her trauma. I wish I could crack the code. I feel so bad for her and would gladly take her pain if I could. I don't know if any mother can accept losing a child.

It's not mentioned much that being a caregiver for someone with severe PTSD is an arduous process with little respite. I tell people who are in a similar predicament to have a meeting of the minds to ensure the relationship and marriage does not blow up.

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Has she seen a mental health provider? Sometimes it's best not to try and treat family yourself.

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Yes, on a weekly basis for a few years. I am quite sad for her because she can't rid herself of the trauma of losing a child. I do all the shopping, cleaning, yard work, and cooking but wish I could do more for her. As her caregiver I have to deal with my ups and downs in regard to depression but try to be upbeat for her. Such is life, and the show must go on.

InfantryAg said:

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Aggie Therapist said:

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Yeah. Trust me I get it.

As clinical inpatient therapists, I have heard it all. Combat related PTSD, non combat related PTSD and civilians that struggle with PTSD because of HORRIBLE things that has happened to them as children or at some point in their life.

I show everyone the same unconditional love and support and positive regard.

If a Veteran doesn't feel like opening up because "MY PTSD IS WORSE THAN YOURS" or "Bro, that's nothing compared to what I went through" then that's going to be on them. Hopefully they can find someone who understand them.

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I wasn't implying them feeling like "MY PTSD IS WORSE THAN YOURS." IMO, It's different and that's definetly their opinion. They can't really relate to the person who has PTSD from a bad childhood etc. They don't want to be in a group setting with that; I wouldn't either.

I remember having a VA employee briefing us on benefits. He was an Air Force mechanic, never deployed, never got hurt, but was bragging how he got to 80-100% (I don't don't remember the exact %). It seemed like most was not really because of being in the military and he had just worked the system.

I don't recall how long you've been doing VA work, or where, but have you run across anyone who was just BS'ing about having PTSD, or the degree to which they had it? I know it happens, but am just curious to how prevalent it is. Anecdotally, I've heard of counselors / therapists coaching people what to say to get the rating. Youtube is full of guys explaining how to cheat the system to get ratings for numerous complaints, with PTSD and MST being the easiest 50+%.

And then the other end of the spectrum... I personally knew a guy who finally convinced his dad to get a rating. This was about 10 years ago. His dad came in and got rated for the leg he lost in the Korean War!

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Sorry for the delay, got spun up on Army orders haha

After my clinical internship and one year of onboarding, due to a hiring freeze, I start working at the VA next week. Working in HUD-VASH. I'll work with recently housed homeless Veterans. Tons of people suffering from addiction who hit rock bottom and looking to be a part of society again.

Thankfully, I don't work with Vets trying to game the system that much. That definitely pisses me off when I hear about that stuff, much less brag about VA ratings and claims. There are certain stuff you keep to yourself instead of wearing it like a badge of honor.

I've heard of people coaching people what to say as well or even paying someone to try and get every nickel and dime they can.