Page 67 - A Soldiers Exposition

The soldier most likely did not seek, nor was he encouraged to seek, help from a mental health provider
while on active duty. This was often complicated by the lack of having a mental health counselor in the
unit.

And, the chain of command made it distressingly clear that “only the weak” seek such care. “Suck it in
soldier!” was the standing order.

A soldier will try anything, everything to channel their minds away from what they experienced or did or
are doing. The shrinks call it coping. We call it like it is: Surviving.

What is it like to watch others being wounded or killed? And, by others, I include our soldiers wounded or
killed while training or on so-called peacekeeping missions and humanitarian assistance missions.

I witnessed numerous atrocities. Can someone just turn off my brain?

PTSD is majorly misunderstood and miscalculated by the public, family and all too often medical staff.

I suffer from major PTSD.

I have experienced the ignorance, indifference, triviality, and unfamiliarity of medical personnel, on a first-
hand basis, many times.

It is problematic to be in a non-military or non-VA hospital for example for major surgery that is unrelated
to my military service and have to explain to the nursing staff and most physicians that I suffer from
PTSD.

I must inform them that I experience horrendous nightly nightmares and daytime flashbacks. After
informing, I most likely will need to educate the staff about PTSD and the flashbacks and nightmares. In
general, most medical staff are not trained to recognize or treat PTSD.

They need to know because they are about to experience life on the other side. When I begin a blood-
curdling scream in the middle of the night, they need to know what is happening.

The question they need to answer is simple:

Is he in pain from his surgery or is this his PTSD that I can do nothing about?

My treatment and care for service-related medical issues including PTSD have been exceptional. I credit
my VA doctors and nursing staff for saving my life several times over and for helping me endure my pain
and suffering daily.

I am most fortunate in that my psychiatrist is interested in the “whole person” and works tirelessly to
ensure my counseling is “on-point” and that the medications are as non-addicting as possible.

This has proven to be a difficult task, but Dr. L. has never failed me. Problem: He retired a few months
ago – now what? It will be “the luck of the draw” for his replacement and for me.

My comments about the VA treatment for PTSD should be taken as being constructive in nature. View
my comments as an educational experience, not as a particular reflection on the VA.

Treatment for PTSD at VA medical facilities is basically two-fold:

- Prescription drugs

- Therapy: Individual, and Group.