Am I being fucked over?

[AttitudeEra]

According to my mental health PCM, I was originally being boarded for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Insomnia. (I'm USAF by the way)

My NARSUM states that I only have Major Depressive Disorder, Severe, Recurrent (unfitting/severe), Social Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks (unfitting/moderate), Insomnia (fitting), and ruled out PMDD, which he stated I have hallucinations due to sleep deprivation (which is bullshit). What do you think my ratings will be?

I don't mind him saying I don't have PTSD. That's fine. I'm to exhausted to care about that anymore. But me going insane, damn near becoming a new person, erratic sleep cycles where I don't go to sleep at all or sleep for 18 hours a day, having extreme mood changes, and multiple suicide attempts during my menstrual cycle is more than just fucking depression and social anxiety. From the multiple psychiatrists I've seen so far, they've all seemed hesitant to officially diagnose me with PMDD because it's rarely diagnosed in the military and they don't seem to know much about it, so they go the lazy route and just call it depression. My main psychiatrist thinks it may be Biploar that worsens around my period, which is still a better diagnosis than just depression.

Also, saying that my social anxiety is "moderate" is the understatement of the century. How is me barely even eating because I'm too afraid to go out in public to go grocery shopping, "moderate"? I don't even go to family functions because it's so bad. lol My EPR was the first bad one I've received, the 7.5 years I've been in, because I don't volunteer or go to school because of my inability to be around people I don't know or in big crowds of people without having anxiety attacks. My social anxiety is embarrassingly bad lol

He also didn't take into account that I have anxiety in general over the most mundane tasks. Just taking a shower or making a phone call takes me almost 30 minutes of self-talk to be able complete.

Once my MEB reaches the point of being able to get an impartial opinion from an unbiased doctor, that's probably what I'll do, if I make it to that point soon enough.

This has been the worst year of my military career and I'm sick of talking myself off of ledges every other day and being treated as if I'm mentally retarded instead of mentally ill by my squadron and my "leadership" (i use the term loosely). Since I'm not being properly diagnosed, I'm not being properly treated so I'm drained from trying to manage crippling symptoms at all times of the day. Anti-seizure medication is literally the only thing I've been prescribed for 8 months and I've told my doc multiple times that they're not doing anything for me. I'm at the point where I'm going to start throwing away a bunch of shit, cleaning my house out, getting my car detailed, and re-writing my will so that if I decide to finally pull the plug, it will be a smooth transition for my family to receive their inheritance with as much ease as possible. Suicide may not be my only option, but it's starting to look like the best option for all parties involved. My unit won't have to be burdened with my mental/emotional instability anymore, I won't have to deal with their disdain toward me, it will be one less case for IDES and the VA to have to work, and my family will be set for life. My family is already used to not seeing me and I wouldn't do anything too violent (like shooting myself in the head or jumping in front of a train) so that they wouldn't be too traumatized afterwards. And I'm writing in my will that I don't want a funeral because I don't wanna drag out their grieving. I'll also make it easy for the authorities to find my body so I won't be too decomposed and further traumatize my family.

I'm honestly sick of this shit and all I want is peace of mind. I've been dealing with mental health issues for years and I'm running on empty. I would go inpatient if I haven't been inpatient twice at 2 different facilities already. Inpatient is basically prison with prescription medication and no mental stimulation 24 hours a day. I also feel like going to another psych ward would make this MEB take a year longer and there's no way I can take being in my hellhole of a unit any longer than I already have to be there. I would literally rather die.

 

[jp166901]

Well I am sorry to hear all of that as it seems you are dealing with a lot. First off I must say, suicide is not an option it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I know you have heard that said many times but seriously it is probably the most selfish thing to ever do. Think about who you would e hurting and multiply that by 100 cause you probably don't think anyone would care but I am hear to tell you they would regardless of your situation.

On another note, you are not the only one dealing with these issues and feeling as if you are being misdiagnosed, I think we all or the majority of us can attest to that. I believe the reason they say depression is mainly because it is one of the easiest things they can say the military didn't cause in a person, especially if it is in your family history. If they were to diagnose you with bi polar they would have to run so many test and figure out when and why it started and see if they would consider that service connected. Also with PMDD, the requirements for them to diagnosis you with that are relatively the same as the ones for depressive disorders too so really I would say its a complete misdiagnoses, maybe hey just don't know how to really tell the difference and to me you would have to go to a Dr that specializes in that to know. This seems to be the case with many other symptoms and diagnosis within the military as well because it takes a referral to go see them, which is dumb.

If I were you, first take a deep breath cause regardless its going to be a looonnnngggg ride. If you really feel they have misdiagnosed you or over looked something request a second opinion, which is within your legal right, and go from there. But injuring yourself or killing yourself is def not the answer to anything other than making your problems go to a family member on top of a thousand more.

My family is already used to not seeing me and I wouldn't do anything too violent (like shooting myself in the head or jumping in front of a train) so that they wouldn't be too traumatized afterwards. And I'm writing in my will that I don't want a funeral because I don't wanna drag out their grieving. I'll also make it easy for the authorities to find my body so I won't be too decomposed and further traumatize my family.

So as stated above you don't want to traumatize them as much, well you throwing all your problems on them along with you killing yourself leaving them grieving and thinking what they could of done differently for the rest of their lives sounds like pretty traumatizing stuff to do to someone if you ask me.

 

[AttitudeEra]

There are times where I'm incapable of feeling anything at all. As in no anger, sadness, happiness, no loving feelings toward anyone or anything. It's like I'm pretty much dead but alive. When I come out of that state of being, it hits me hard and I go through a long, depressive episode that takes weeks to get some kind mental/emotional balance. So to me, I think it's selfish to pressure someone into staying alive against their wishes, rotting away just to give other people peace of mind, especially when every single person alive today is going to die regardless of how we look at it. No matter how we try to fight it or how we choose to find hobbies to distract ourselves to fill the void, it all ends the same. Who's to say I wouldn't have died some other way? Ya know? At least me taking my own life, I get to choose how, when, and where it happens. It would be more traumatizing for my family if I were murdered, in an accident, had an aneurysm, or some other painful, violent way. That's why I would at least give them closure, outlining everything about why I did it so they would know that it isn't their fault and there's nothing they could have done to prevent it.

And when you really think about it, every service member has at least a little bit of a suicidal mentality. It may be an indirect form of suicidal ideation, but it's definitely there for all of us. Why else would any of us sign a contract stating that we agree to die for something that we know next to nothing about just because we're told to? I'm serious. Look up "indirect suicide". We're all a little suicidal to some extent, but we risk our lives under the guise of being brave, when it's actually a little codependent. A 1st Lt. social worker told me that I had a martyr mentality a while back for sacrificing my own happiness for other people. I told her that every service member does if that's the case and she changed the subject cuz it's true.

One of my friends from my first duty station shot himself in the head, and at first I was a tad traumatized and felt guilt until I started to understand his logic behind it. I get it now.

But I'm just spitballin here. I'm not in the best of moods right now, and this where my mind goes when I'm not feeling too well. As you can see, I've put a lot of thought into it. One part of me cares, but a bigger part of me doesn't. The whole concept of living does nothing for me anymore and I'm tired of trying to force it to. No amount of psych ward visits is going to change that for me. It's all up to me now. I'm all existential and agnostic now lol. Whatever happens, happens I guess.

Thanks for your response.

 

[AttitudeEra]

As you can see, these stupid ass pills don't work lol

 

[tony292]

Bipolar is its own unique animal and what you describe fits it. I am being worked up for bipolar now. I've been tried in nearly every SSRI and some benzodiazepines and they only made it worse. Now I'm on depakote a bipolar med and it has worked wonderfully although I still have some issues they are Much less now

 

[AttitudeEra]

Bipolar is its own unique animal and what you describe fits it. I am being worked up for bipolar now. I've been tried in nearly every SSRI and some benzodiazepines and they only made it worse. Now I'm on depakote a bipolar med and it has worked wonderfully although I still have some issues they are Much less now

Hey tony! I just read your response to a random post about 5 minutes ago, and you're one of the most unintentionally funny people on this forum. Just thought I'd say lol

How have your experiences been with depakote? I don't wanna take it if it makes me feel worse than I already do. Did you feel a noticeable change when you first took it?

Also, what do you think my ratings will be? And will going inpatient make this process take way longer a little longer?
I'm willing to try it one more time if it doesn't drag out the process too much longer. (even though military psych wards are empty gestures pretending to give a fuck about mental health to look good in the public eye)

 

[AttitudeEra]

Well I am sorry to hear all of that as it seems you are dealing with a lot. First off I must say, suicide is not an option it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I know you have heard that said many times but seriously it is probably the most selfish thing to ever do. Think about who you would e hurting and multiply that by 100 cause you probably don't think anyone would care but I am hear to tell you they would regardless of your situation.

On another note, you are not the only one dealing with these issues and feeling as if you are being misdiagnosed, I think we all or the majority of us can attest to that. I believe the reason they say depression is mainly because it is one of the easiest things they can say the military didn't cause in a person, especially if it is in your family history. If they were to diagnose you with bi polar they would have to run so many test and figure out when and why it started and see if they would consider that service connected. Also with PMDD, the requirements for them to diagnosis you with that are relatively the same as the ones for depressive disorders too so really I would say its a complete misdiagnoses, maybe hey just don't know how to really tell the difference and to me you would have to go to a Dr that specializes in that to know. This seems to be the case with many other symptoms and diagnosis within the military as well because it takes a referral to go see them, which is dumb.

If I were you, first take a deep breath cause regardless its going to be a looonnnngggg ride. If you really feel they have misdiagnosed you or over looked something request a second opinion, which is within your legal right, and go from there. But injuring yourself or killing yourself is def not the answer to anything other than making your problems go to a family member on top of a thousand more.




So as stated above you don't want to traumatize them as much, well you throwing all your problems on them along with you killing yourself leaving them grieving and thinking what they could of done differently for the rest of their lives sounds like pretty traumatizing stuff to do to someone if you ask me.

I'm a fucking idiot. I should have hit reply instead of making a new post.

There are times where I'm incapable of feeling anything at all. As in no anger, sadness, happiness, no loving feelings toward anyone or anything. It's like I'm pretty much dead but alive. When I come out of that state of being, it hits me hard and I go through a long, depressive episode that takes weeks to get some kind mental/emotional balance. So to me, I think it's selfish to pressure someone into staying alive against their wishes, rotting away just to give other people peace of mind, especially when every single person alive today is going to die regardless of how we look at it. No matter how we try to fight it or how we choose to find hobbies to distract ourselves to fill the void, it all ends the same. Who's to say I wouldn't have died some other way? Ya know? At least me taking my own life, I get to choose how, when, and where it happens. It would be more traumatizing for my family if I were murdered, in an accident, had an aneurysm, or some other painful, violent way. That's why I would at least give them closure, outlining everything about why I did it so they would know that it isn't their fault and there's nothing they could have done to prevent it.

And when you really think about it, every service member has at least a little bit of a suicidal mentality. It may be an indirect form of suicidal ideation, but it's definitely there for all of us. Why else would any of us sign a contract stating that we agree to die for something that we know next to nothing about just because we're told to? I'm serious. Look up "indirect suicide". We're all a little suicidal to some extent, but we risk our lives under the guise of being brave, when it's actually a little codependent. A 1st Lt. social worker told me that I had a martyr mentality a while back for sacrificing my own happiness for other people. I told her that every service member does if that's the case and she changed the subject cuz it's true.

One of my friends from my first duty station shot himself in the head, and at first I was a tad traumatized and felt guilt until I started to understand his logic behind it. I get it now.

But I'm just spitballin here. I'm not in the best of moods right now, and this where my mind goes when I'm not feeling too well. As you can see, I've put a lot of thought into it. One part of me cares, but a bigger part of me doesn't. The whole concept of living does nothing for me anymore and I'm tired of trying to force it to. No amount of psych ward visits is going to change that for me. It's all up to me now. I'm all existential and agnostic now lol. Whatever happens, happens I guess.

Thanks for your response.

 

[tony292]

I have not been formally diagnosed with bipolar yet but it is something the docs are leaning towards. I have severe cycles deep depression and high anxiety where I am constantly agitated and irritated by everything and go on 2 hours of sleep a night despite Strong sleep meds for months sometimes before crashing again. Depakote has been around 50-75 percent effective at 1000 MG per day. The SSRIs only made things worse a lot worse in some instances. I feel as though I am slowly turning a corner now and can finally see some light. I was having some pretty serious obsessional dark thoughts such as burning my house down while
I was inside. I knew if I didn't go inpatient and demand good meds I would end up going into the darkness and never coming out again.

 

[AttitudeEra]

I have not been formally diagnosed with bipolar yet but it is something the docs are leaning towards. I have severe cycles deep depression and high anxiety where I am constantly agitated and irritated by everything and go on 2 hours of sleep a night despite. Strong sleep meds for months sometimes before crashing again. Depakote has been around 50-75 percent effective at 1000 MG per day. The SSRIs only made things worse a lot worse in some instances. I feel as though I am slowly turning a corner now and can finally see some light. I was having some pretty serious obsessional dark thoughts such as burning my house down while
I was inside. I knew if I didn't go inpatient and demand good meds I would end up going into the darkness and never coming out again.

I think inpatient will probably have more of an effect when I'm off active duty and not in my toxic ass unit.

I'll bring Depakote up to my doc to see what he says, cuz this weak ass lamotrigine is not working.

Since my docs refuse to try new meds for me anytime soon, I've been watching documentaries about famous people who killed themselves cuz it makes me feel like I'm committing suicide vicariously through them in a weird way, if that makes sense. It chills me out. Whatever works, works I guess. lol

If you don't mind me asking, what was your reason for wanting to kys?

 

[Kaily]

Hang in there girl

According to my mental health PCM, I was originally being boarded for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Insomnia. (I'm USAF by the way)

My NARSUM states that I only have Major Depressive Disorder, Severe, Recurrent (unfitting/severe), Social Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks (unfitting/moderate), Insomnia (fitting), and ruled out PMDD, which he stated I have hallucinations due to sleep deprivation (which is bullshit). What do you think my ratings will be?

I don't mind him saying I don't have PTSD. That's fine. I'm to exhausted to care about that anymore. But me going insane, damn near becoming a new person, erratic sleep cycles where I don't go to sleep at all or sleep for 18 hours a day, having extreme mood changes, and multiple suicide attempts during my menstrual cycle is more than just fucking depression and social anxiety. From the multiple psychiatrists I've seen so far, they've all seemed hesitant to officially diagnose me with PMDD because it's rarely diagnosed in the military and they don't seem to know much about it, so they go the lazy route and just call it depression. My main psychiatrist thinks it may be Biploar that worsens around my period, which is still a better diagnosis than just depression.

Also, saying that my social anxiety is "moderate" is the understatement of the century. How is me barely even eating because I'm too afraid to go out in public to go grocery shopping, "moderate"? I don't even go to family functions because it's so bad. lol My EPR was the first bad one I've received, the 7.5 years I've been in, because I don't volunteer or go to school because of my inability to be around people I don't know or in big crowds of people without having anxiety attacks. My social anxiety is embarrassingly bad lol

He also didn't take into account that I have anxiety in general over the most mundane tasks. Just taking a shower or making a phone call takes me almost 30 minutes of self-talk to be able complete.

Once my MEB reaches the point of being able to get an impartial opinion from an unbiased doctor, that's probably what I'll do, if I make it to that point soon enough.

This has been the worst year of my military career and I'm sick of talking myself off of ledges every other day and being treated as if I'm mentally retarded instead of mentally ill by my squadron and my "leadership" (i use the term loosely). Since I'm not being properly diagnosed, I'm not being properly treated so I'm drained from trying to manage crippling symptoms at all times of the day. Anti-seizure medication is literally the only thing I've been prescribed for 8 months and I've told my doc multiple times that they're not doing anything for me. I'm at the point where I'm going to start throwing away a bunch of shit, cleaning my house out, getting my car detailed, and re-writing my will so that if I decide to finally pull the plug, it will be a smooth transition for my family to receive their inheritance with as much ease as possible. Suicide may not be my only option, but it's starting to look like the best option for all parties involved. My unit won't have to be burdened with my mental/emotional instability anymore, I won't have to deal with their disdain toward me, it will be one less case for IDES and the VA to have to work, and my family will be set for life. My family is already used to not seeing me and I wouldn't do anything too violent (like shooting myself in the head or jumping in front of a train) so that they wouldn't be too traumatized afterwards. And I'm writing in my will that I don't want a funeral because I don't wanna drag out their grieving. I'll also make it easy for the authorities to find my body so I won't be too decomposed and further traumatize my family.

I'm honestly sick of this shit and all I want is peace of mind. I've been dealing with mental health issues for years and I'm running on empty. I would go inpatient if I haven't been inpatient twice at 2 different facilities already. Inpatient is basically prison with prescription medication and no mental stimulation 24 hours a day. I also feel like going to another psych ward would make this MEB take a year longer and there's no way I can take being in my hellhole of a unit any longer than I already have to be there. I would literally rather die.

,

According to my mental health PCM, I was originally being boarded for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Insomnia. (I'm USAF by the way)

My NARSUM states that I only have Major Depressive Disorder, Severe, Recurrent (unfitting/severe), Social Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks (unfitting/moderate), Insomnia (fitting), and ruled out PMDD, which he stated I have hallucinations due to sleep deprivation (which is bullshit). What do you think my ratings will be?

I don't mind him saying I don't have PTSD. That's fine. I'm to exhausted to care about that anymore. But me going insane, damn near becoming a new person, erratic sleep cycles where I don't go to sleep at all or sleep for 18 hours a day, having extreme mood changes, and multiple suicide attempts during my menstrual cycle is more than just fucking depression and social anxiety. From the multiple psychiatrists I've seen so far, they've all seemed hesitant to officially diagnose me with PMDD because it's rarely diagnosed in the military and they don't seem to know much about it, so they go the lazy route and just call it depression. My main psychiatrist thinks it may be Biploar that worsens around my period, which is still a better diagnosis than just depression.

Also, saying that my social anxiety is "moderate" is the understatement of the century. How is me barely even eating because I'm too afraid to go out in public to go grocery shopping, "moderate"? I don't even go to family functions because it's so bad. lol My EPR was the first bad one I've received, the 7.5 years I've been in, because I don't volunteer or go to school because of my inability to be around people I don't know or in big crowds of people without having anxiety attacks. My social anxiety is embarrassingly bad lol

He also didn't take into account that I have anxiety in general over the most mundane tasks. Just taking a shower or making a phone call takes me almost 30 minutes of self-talk to be able complete.

Once my MEB reaches the point of being able to get an impartial opinion from an unbiased doctor, that's probably what I'll do, if I make it to that point soon enough.

This has been the worst year of my military career and I'm sick of talking myself off of ledges every other day and being treated as if I'm mentally retarded instead of mentally ill by my squadron and my "leadership" (i use the term loosely). Since I'm not being properly diagnosed, I'm not being properly treated so I'm drained from trying to manage crippling symptoms at all times of the day. Anti-seizure medication is literally the only thing I've been prescribed for 8 months and I've told my doc multiple times that they're not doing anything for me. I'm at the point where I'm going to start throwing away a bunch of shit, cleaning my house out, getting my car detailed, and re-writing my will so that if I decide to finally pull the plug, it will be a smooth transition for my family to receive their inheritance with as much ease as possible. Suicide may not be my only option, but it's starting to look like the best option for all parties involved. My unit won't have to be burdened with my mental/emotional instability anymore, I won't have to deal with their disdain toward me, it will be one less case for IDES and the VA to have to work, and my family will be set for life. My family is already used to not seeing me and I wouldn't do anything too violent (like shooting myself in the head or jumping in front of a train) so that they wouldn't be too traumatized afterwards. And I'm writing in my will that I don't want a funeral because I don't wanna drag out their grieving. I'll also make it easy for the authorities to find my body so I won't be too decomposed and further traumatize my family.

I'm honestly sick of this shit and all I want is peace of mind. I've been dealing with mental health issues for years and I'm running on empty. I would go inpatient if I haven't been inpatient twice at 2 different facilities already. Inpatient is basically prison with prescription medication and no mental stimulation 24 hours a day. I also feel like going to another psych ward would make this MEB take a year longer and there's no way I can take being in my hellhole of a unit any longer than I already have to be there. I would literally rather die.

 

[Kaily]

According to my mental health PCM, I was originally being boarded for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Insomnia. (I'm USAF by the way)

My NARSUM states that I only have Major Depressive Disorder, Severe, Recurrent (unfitting/severe), Social Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks (unfitting/moderate), Insomnia (fitting), and ruled out PMDD, which he stated I have hallucinations due to sleep deprivation (which is bullshit). What do you think my ratings will be?

I don't mind him saying I don't have PTSD. That's fine. I'm to exhausted to care about that anymore. But me going insane, damn near becoming a new person, erratic sleep cycles where I don't go to sleep at all or sleep for 18 hours a day, having extreme mood changes, and multiple suicide attempts during my menstrual cycle is more than just fucking depression and social anxiety. From the multiple psychiatrists I've seen so far, they've all seemed hesitant to officially diagnose me with PMDD because it's rarely diagnosed in the military and they don't seem to know much about it, so they go the lazy route and just call it depression. My main psychiatrist thinks it may be Biploar that worsens around my period, which is still a better diagnosis than just depression.

Also, saying that my social anxiety is "moderate" is the understatement of the century. How is me barely even eating because I'm too afraid to go out in public to go grocery shopping, "moderate"? I don't even go to family functions because it's so bad. lol My EPR was the first bad one I've received, the 7.5 years I've been in, because I don't volunteer or go to school because of my inability to be around people I don't know or in big crowds of people without having anxiety attacks. My social anxiety is embarrassingly bad lol

He also didn't take into account that I have anxiety in general over the most mundane tasks. Just taking a shower or making a phone call takes me almost 30 minutes of self-talk to be able complete.

Once my MEB reaches the point of being able to get an impartial opinion from an unbiased doctor, that's probably what I'll do, if I make it to that point soon enough.

This has been the worst year of my military career and I'm sick of talking myself off of ledges every other day and being treated as if I'm mentally retarded instead of mentally ill by my squadron and my "leadership" (i use the term loosely). Since I'm not being properly diagnosed, I'm not being properly treated so I'm drained from trying to manage crippling symptoms at all times of the day. Anti-seizure medication is literally the only thing I've been prescribed for 8 months and I've told my doc multiple times that they're not doing anything for me. I'm at the point where I'm going to start throwing away a bunch of shit, cleaning my house out, getting my car detailed, and re-writing my will so that if I decide to finally pull the plug, it will be a smooth transition for my family to receive their inheritance with as much ease as possible. Suicide may not be my only option, but it's starting to look like the best option for all parties involved. My unit won't have to be burdened with my mental/emotional instability anymore, I won't have to deal with their disdain toward me, it will be one less case for IDES and the VA to have to work, and my family will be set for life. My family is already used to not seeing me and I wouldn't do anything too violent (like shooting myself in the head or jumping in front of a train) so that they wouldn't be too traumatized afterwards. And I'm writing in my will that I don't want a funeral because I don't wanna drag out their grieving. I'll also make it easy for the authorities to find my body so I won't be too decomposed and further traumatize my family.

I'm honestly sick of this shit and all I want is peace of mind. I've been dealing with mental health issues for years and I'm running on empty. I would go inpatient if I haven't been inpatient twice at 2 different facilities already. Inpatient is basically prison with prescription medication and no mental stimulation 24 hours a day. I also feel like going to another psych ward would make this MEB take a year longer and there's no way I can take being in my hellhole of a unit any longer than I already have to be there. I would literally rather die.

I was just telling Almost separated how I received my findings yesterday and I can tell you that you will receive a good rating my friend, so please don't pull the plug. You topped me on more levels but your case sounds so similar to my issues, I just can't talk about them as freely as you did, so I give you props for that. I received 50% from DoD, and 90% from the VA. I expect you should receive 70% from everything you have said, if the VA receives your record and you be proactive to make sure your PEBLO is giving them the all of your records, not only that most of the time they will give you a copy for when you go to your appointments it's not to sensitive for your to read. My psych doctors were okay with me reading their notes. Keep in mind that DoD and the VA are separate but go hand in hand.

 

[AttitudeEra]

I was just telling Almost separated how I received my findings yesterday and I can tell you that you will receive a good rating my friend, so please don't pull the plug. You topped me on more levels but your case sounds so similar to my issues, I just can't talk about them as freely as you did, so I give you props for that. I received 50% from DoD, and 90% from the VA. I expect you should receive 70% from everything you have said, if the VA receives your record and you be proactive to make sure your PEBLO is giving them the all of your records, not only that most of the time they will give you a copy for when you go to your appointments it's not to sensitive for your to read. My psych doctors were okay with me reading their notes. Keep in mind that DoD and the VA are separate but go hand in hand.

Thank you for answering my question. My post escalated quickly lol

I'm trying not to, but will going inpatient during my MEB put the process on hold?

 

[chaplaincharlie]

All your mental health rating will likely be rolled up into one rating by the VA. Since one of your conditions is severe I think you will be rated very high. The severity level in the NARSUM means almost nothing. The C&P exam language will carry the day.​

 

[AttitudeEra]

All your mental health rating will likely be rolled up into one rating by the VA. Since one of your conditions is severe I think you will be rated very high. The severity level in the NARSUM means almost nothing. The C&P exam language will carry the day.​

Hey charlie! What do you mean by C&P exam language?

Also, would going inpatient during my MEB hold up the process? The longest I've ever been inpatient is 2 weeks, but I don't want to go if it's gonna drastically extend my med board time.

 

[FARMSGT08]

I went inpatient twice while I was in the IDES process and it didn't hinder anything. I should add that my MEB paperwork had already been sent to the PEB.

 

[FatHawkDown]

Documentation of inpatient treatment to include types of therapies will help not only your case but help you determine what therapies may work in a protected environment, free from your unit and home life- if for a little while.

I was hospitalized four separate MH facilities to try to treat my PTSD and I learned that sometimes you need to get help managing your symptoms with psychotropic medications under a Doctors care daily. Inpatient is self-voluntary and while on active-duty, you risk nothing.

 

[AttitudeEra]

I went inpatient twice while I was in the IDES process and it didn't hinder anything. I should add that my MEB paperwork had already been sent to the PEB.

Thank you for responding.. Thank goodness because I feel like I'm holding on by a thread.

 

[AttitudeEra]

Documentation of inpatient treatment to include types of therapies will help not only your case but help you determine what therapies may work in a protected environment, free from your unit and home life- if for a little while.

I was hospitalized four separate MH facilities to try to treat my PTSD and I learned that sometimes you need to get help managing your symptoms with psychotropic medications under a Doctors care daily. Inpatient is self-voluntary and while on active-duty, you risk nothing.

Thank you for this useful information.

I'm not even sure if my admission would be considered voluntary at this point because I am legitimately losing it right now. I haven't been eating or sleeping too well and when I'm sitting at work, my hands start trembling and my heart beats out of my chest from the stress I feel at work. I don't want to be put in a safe environment (inpatient) just to be put back in a toxic environment (my unit). It's been a vicious cycle being in a healthy mental state, just to be back in my unit and lose all the progress I make. My leadership have told me to my face that I'm useless for not being experienced at my rank and skill level and for being mental ill, that they don't want to deal with their troops' "mental problems", and that everyone knows about my mental illnesses (gossiping about me). My commander and my then-supervisor also laughed at me and called me crazy when I told them a tiny bit of information concerning my depression. So you have to understand why I feel a bit ostracized and unwanted there. lol

Is there an Air Force place like the Army's WTU or something similar that I can be assigned to so I can finish out my active duty time in a somewhat healthy environment?

 

[gsfowler]

Hey charlie! What do you mean by C&P exam language?

Also, would going inpatient during my MEB hold up the process? The longest I've ever been inpatient is 2 weeks, but I don't want to go if it's gonna drastically extend my med board time.

The language is what is written on the disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ) by the provider. There is one for mental disorders (non-PTSD) http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0960P-2-ARE.pdf and a review for PTSD http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0960P-3-ARE.pdf

On both forms (section 3 non PTSD and section 4 PTSD), the provider checks a box which they feel best represents your occupational and social impairment.

Whatever they check will match up with the VASRD and determine the ratings percentage.


General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders:

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name ....... 100%

Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships ....... 70%

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships ................ 50%

Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events..................................... 30%

Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication .................................................................................. 10%

A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.................................................. 0%

 

[AttitudeEra]

The language is what is written on the disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ) by the provider. There is one for mental disorders (non-PTSD) http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0960P-2-ARE.pdf and a review for PTSD http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0960P-3-ARE.pdf

On both forms (section 3 non PTSD and section 4 PTSD), the provider checks a box which they feel best represents your occupational and social impairment.

Whatever they check will match up with the VASRD and determine the ratings percentage.


General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders:

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name ....... 100%

Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships ....... 70%

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships ................ 50%

Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events..................................... 30%

Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication .................................................................................. 10%

A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.................................................. 0%

This is very helpful. Thank you!

Is there an Air Force place like the Army's WTU or something similar that I can be assigned to so I can finish out my active duty time in a somewhat healthy environment?