PTSD

[bmp408]

I have been in the Navy for 7.5 years now and have just been diagnosed with PTSD (3 months ago). I was aircrew and because of the reason I got PTSD they decided I was no longer fit to fly in the Navy. I have since then cross rated to another job. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder because at the time they thought I would still be able to fly so they chose the lesser of the two. Now that I am in my new job I am getting much worse with the nightmares and am doing horribly at my job as I can't deal with anything stressful (like at all). That's very embarrassing to say as I did combat tours in Iraq with zero problems, even after returning. I have started prolonged exposure therapy, which seems to be just like EMDR. Talk, Talk, Talk with no help. I'm also taking pozosin and remeron. Alright, that's the background.
1. Has anyone gotten anything out of this therapy (Prolonged exposure)?
2. I'm starting to feel very overwhelmed with my command and I'm not sure what to do. I'm currently LIMDU and in a shore command. Any advice?
3. After over 2 years with this, I think the Navy is making this worse. How do I approach my psychologist or psychiatrist with this with only 3 months of therapy from them (I've been receiving other therapy for 2 years from other places).
4. Has anyone ever been completely cured of PTSD? (It seems like an uphill battle)
Thank you so much in advance for your response.

 

[Jason Perry]

bmp408,

Welcome aboard the PEB Forum!!! (Navy specific welcome here)!

I have been in the Navy for 7.5 years now and have just been diagnosed with PTSD (3 months ago). I was aircrew and because of the reason I got PTSD they decided I was no longer fit to fly in the Navy. I have since then cross rated to another job.

When were you cross rated? Just trying to understand your timeline.

2 years ago I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder because at the time they thought I would still be able to fly so they chose the lesser of the two. Now that I am in my new job I am getting much worse with the nightmares and am doing horribly at my job as I can't deal with anything stressful (like at all). That's very embarrassing to say as I did combat tours in Iraq with zero problems, even after returning. I have started prolonged exposure therapy, which seems to be just like EMDR. Talk, Talk, Talk with no help. I'm also taking pozosin and remeron. Alright, that's the background.

1. Has anyone gotten anything out of this therapy (Prolonged exposure)?

I don't have any personal experience with this, so I will defer to others who may. Though, I would point out, it does not matter much if it helped others. The real question is if it helps you!

2. I'm starting to feel very overwhelmed with my command and I'm not sure what to do. I'm currently LIMDU and in a shore command. Any advice?

When you say you are feeling overwhelmed, do you mean you have had duty related problems? Have you talked with your supervisor(s)? Have you shared this with your medical providers?

3. After over 2 years with this, I think the Navy is making this worse. How do I approach my psychologist or psychiatrist with this with only 3 months of therapy from them (I've been receiving other therapy for 2 years from other places).

Not sure that there is any "right" answer here. I think you should just likely just be frank with them and explain what is going on. Do you have a good "rapport" or confidence in your relationship with them?

4. Has anyone ever been completely cured of PTSD? (It seems like an uphill battle)

Interesting question. I am not a psychiatrist, so my take on this is likely more "definitional." I would say, yes, based on the fact that PTSD has certain criteria for the diagnosis and some folks, whether through treatment, time, luck, providence, or something else eventually do not have all of the symptoms. This is just me talking (rather writing) here, but, i can say that I know that people "get better." They have lesser symptoms, they do not feel as bad as they did at their worst point.

Hope some or all of this helped. Post any questions you have. I hope all goes well for you.

 

[bmp408]

When were you cross rated? Just trying to understand your timeline.

I was finally cross rated about a year ago. I then went through A-school and have been doing the new job for about 6 months.

When you say you are feeling overwhelmed, do you mean you have had duty related problems? Have you talked with your supervisor(s)? Have you shared this with your medical providers?

I have had serious Duty related problems. I recently had a panic attack during my eval debrief. This is crazy to me because it's your superiors saying good things about you. Whether they mean it or not. I literally break down at any stress. This Has gone on for a while but has recently been seen by others. That's when it became a problem to me.

Not sure that there is any "right" answer here. I think you should just likely just be frank with them and explain what is going on. Do you have a good "rapport" or confidence in your relationship with them?

I think that I have a pretty good relationship with them. I've been reading allot and there are allot of stories of people scamming the system. I'm just afraid that if I say something about this that I will look like one of them.

Thank you for your reply. The information on this site is priceless.

 

[pittpan2005]

I think that I have a pretty good relationship with them. I've been reading allot and there are allot of stories of people scamming the system. I'm just afraid that if I say something about this that I will look like one of them.
Thank you for your reply. The information on this site is priceless.

1.) You have a good relationship with them. This should make communicating easier and hopefully prevent any stigma or fear of stigma from being an issue.
2.) There will always be stories and rumors. Remember this is your health and your life. Don't let the fate or stories of others prevent you from pursuing treatment or any other form of help you need.

 

[Warrior644]

I think that I have a pretty good relationship with them. I've been reading allot and there are allot of stories of people scamming the system. I'm just afraid that if I say something about this that I will look like one of them.
Thank you for your reply. The information on this site is priceless.

1.) You have a good relationship with them. This should make communicating easier and hopefully prevent any stigma or fear of stigma from being an issue.
2.) There will always be stories and rumors. Remember this is your health and your life. Don't let the fate or stories of others prevent you from pursuing treatment or any other form of help you need.

Indeed, I concur 100%; an excellent point-of-view in my opinion!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!

 

[grizz13]

1.) You have a good relationship with them. This should make communicating easier and hopefully prevent any stigma or fear of stigma from being an issue.
2.) There will always be stories and rumors. Remember this is your health and your life. Don't let the fate or stories of others prevent you from pursuing treatment or any other form of help you need.

Agreed, to add to this, while talking with them tell them the effects to your military career and your home life, what you used to do before and what you do now. They do take account for home life as part of the decision for MEB.

Now that I am in my new job I am getting much worse with the nightmares and am doing horribly at my job as I can't deal with anything stressful (like at all).

The way it sounds that you seem to be getting worse while on your current meds, makes me think a change to a different type would be helpful. (I am in no way a doctor, just some of the process I had to go through to find the right type.)

4. Has anyone ever been completely cured of PTSD? (It seems like an uphill battle)

Is is possible, yes, depending on the severity. Being cured doesn't seem to be the right word to me anymore from the information I am getting from these classes I am in, it is more like being repaired or rebuilt in a sense.

I am currently in a PTSD class at the VA, one of our main discussions last week was a person asked if they will ever be healed and loose their benefits. The way the doc explained it was like this: "The point of these classes are to not heal or cure you, PTSD may or may not go away depending on the severity. The point of these classes are to make it manageable so you can live a life. Living holed up in your house away from family, friends, the sun, the rain, the store and so on is not living, it is surviving. Do you want to just survive or would you like to live? We want you to be able to enjoy life again." It was quite to the point and very upfront and honest.

1. Has anyone gotten anything out of this therapy (Prolonged exposure)?
I don't have any personal experience with this, so I will defer to others who may. Though, I would point out, it does not matter much if it helped others. The real question is if it helps you!

This is very well stated, it will help for some but not all. Like myself it will not work, and I have no need for it. This is mainly due to my thought processes and how I perceive things.

 

[bmp408]

Thank you all so much for the responses. This has brought on some more questions though. If I do express my feelings that getting out is probably the best bet and an MEB is started. Will I still get to continue receiving therapy from the same psychologist? I want to continue this exposure therapy and with the person I am seeing now. Also, grizz13 thank you for such a detailed response. I have switched meds so many times. All the SSRI's make me sick all the time. The ones that I am currently on are not all that bad as far as side effects. I'm just not sure how well they are working. Do you have any experience with klonopin. I have allot of that to take as needed and up to three times a day. It seems to work but I don't take it till I'm about to have a panic attack. It takes the edge off, but is very temporary. Do you know of something that doesn't make you so sleepy when you take them? seems like all these pills just make you want to go to sleep. About being fully cured of this. I figured that would be the outcome to all of this therapy. Wouldn't it be cool if they just made a pill that took your PTSD away (permanently). Maybe one day. anyway, do you actually feel better about things after your PTSD class? Is it considered group therapy? I think that would help me allot. I love being able to talk to other people that can relate to what your dealing with.

 

[grizz13]

Thank you all so much for the responses. This has brought on some more questions though. If I do express my feelings that getting out is probably the best bet and an MEB is started. Will I still get to continue receiving therapy from the same psychologist? Only while you are in the service, once you separate you will have to attend therapy with the VA or contracted docs. I want to continue this exposure therapy and with the person I am seeing now. Understandable that they know your case and the severity of your case, as stated above you'll have a new person. Also, grizz13 thank you for such a detailed response. I have switched meds so many times. All the SSRI's make me sick all the time. The ones that I am currently on are not all that bad as far as side effects. I'm just not sure how well they are working. Do you have any experience with klonopin. I have allot of that to take as needed and up to three times a day. It seems to work but I don't take it till I'm about to have a panic attack. It takes the edge off, but is very temporary. Do you know of something that doesn't make you so sleepy when you take them? seems like all these pills just make you want to go to sleep. I know nothing about the drugs or system of how they work, I know a decent anti-anxiety pill that I take is Celexa have you tried that one? About being fully cured of this. I figured that would be the outcome to all of this therapy. Wouldn't it be cool if they just made a pill that took your PTSD away (permanently). Maybe one day. More of a sci-fi fantasy in my opinion. anyway, do you actually feel better about things after your PTSD class? It helped with some of the behaviors that I have come to realize were a side effect of the PTSD and helped me to stop some of them, others I am working on. Is it considered group therapy? It is not, it is a class setting and you do not talk about any personal trauma. They give you information to apply to your daily life. I think that would help me allot. I love being able to talk to other people that can relate to what your dealing with. They do offer multiple classes for different groups, though it is not recommended by me and a few others in my class to take AA and the PTSD class. They work on attacking the problems in different ways and confuse people. (I do not take AA, but know the steps and info which counter some of the recommendations.

Answers highlighted in red.

 

[Warrior644]

Thank you all so much for the responses. This has brought on some more questions though. If I do express my feelings that getting out is probably the best bet and an MEB is started...About being fully cured of this. I figured that would be the outcome to all of this therapy. Wouldn't it be cool if they just made a pill that took your PTSD away (permanently). Maybe one day. anyway...I love being able to talk to other people that can relate to what your dealing with.

Indeed albeit I believe not much effort will be put into this theory because a lot of medicine providers would lose too much revenue unfortunately.

On the other hand, the DoVA would definitely like the successful invention of a quick medicine cure since they would potentially deem PTSD a non-compensatable condition at the extreme COA while potentially lowering the schedule of rating percentages at the least COA; a definite money saver with either COA implementation unfortunately in my opinion.

To that extent, it’s just my particular theory on the aforementioned matter without any significant meaning whatsoever!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!

 

[bmp408]

Thank you for your great advise. I've stuck with the prolonged exposure therapy and I'm just not sure where that has gotten me. My psychologist has indicated that it is be PTSD along with panic disorder and possibly other psychological disorders. So we are going it one session at a time now. I'm taking klonopin and just can't seem to go to an appt without it. My psychologist wants me to be off the benzos next time I come to an appt. This seems like an inevitable panic attack waiting to happen if you ask me. But i get them all the time anyway just not right out in front of someone. I was recently reduced to 4 hour days at work and just had my TS clearance revoked. Seeing as I am an IT in the navy this is a problem. I have to turn in my badge on Monday and can no longer return to the workplace that I was at. They are trying to get me TAD to the chapel for the time I'm on LIMDU. I'm saying this all this as I can't vent in person to anyone and I need some advise.
What would you do in my situation?
I have a family of 4 and must provide for them, I can't work, as I can't be around people for very long at all. I'm forced to do this on a regular basis even though I show obvious signs of nervousness and panic. What can I do? Can I ask to limit my time beyond 4 hours a day?
I was told today to not show up to work until further notice because of the clearance issue. Has anyone had this happen to them? If so, What can I do? I feel like I have no way to represent myself if I can't be in the facility to do so.
I want to stay in the Navy even though I know the best course of action would be to get out. After my last flight I was given an opportunity to get out. How do you deal with this? The military is all some of us know in our adult lives. I'm not sure I can make it out.
Thank you in advance for your responses. I take them very seriously and pretty much live by some. I just feel so lost right now as I'm not doing my job and I'm also not going through an MEB. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jason Perry]

They are trying to get me TAD to the chapel for the time I'm on LIMDU. I'm saying this all this as I can't vent in person to anyone and I need some advise.
What would you do in my situation?

What do you want to have happen? It sounds like you are not fit. So, given that fact, I would focus on both getting treatment you need, but also preparing for life after the Navy (whether that means preparing yourself mentally, planning for the future, or otherwise).

I have a family of 4 and must provide for them, I can't work, as I can't be around people for very long at all. I'm forced to do this on a regular basis even though I show obvious signs of nervousness and panic. What can I do? Can I ask to limit my time beyond 4 hours a day?

You can talk with your provider and explain your situation better and, yes, you can request different duty limitations. Not to say they will be granted, but you can ask.
Have you considered applying for SSDI?

I was told today to not show up to work until further notice because of the clearance issue. Has anyone had this happen to them? If so, What can I do? I feel like I have no way to represent myself if I can't be in the facility to do so.
I want to stay in the Navy even though I know the best course of action would be to get out. After my last flight I was given an opportunity to get out. How do you deal with this? The military is all some of us know in our adult lives. I'm not sure I can make it out.

Transition can be difficult in the best of circumstances. I don't know that I can give you a lot of insight. Recall, that very few folks make it to 20 years of service, but, even for those that do, it can be difficult to transition to civilian life. But, at some point, everyone does.

 

[bmp408]

I want to eventually get better and continue my career in the Navy. I honestly don't actually see this happening as I have dealt with this the best I can for the last 2 years. I don't think that I am fit to continue either and my command just pretty much indicated the same. I will continue to go to my psychology appts as I think I have a great psychologist and if anyone can get me to where I want to be it's her. As far as ssdi, I think if I were to apply for it now it would be a sign of giving up to my psychologist and psychiatrist. I have another 10 months of limited duty and If i wave the white flag now. Won't they in a sense give up also?

 

[bmp408]

Alright well I had an appt last Friday with my psychologist and she suggested that I either go to an inpatient program like PRRP or she will have to start the Med board process. I'm not willing to go away for 8 weeks right now due to family health reasons. I told her that I would like to start with the MEB. She talked to my Psychiatrist and that's the road that I'm going down now. I'm going to be transferred to a temporary personnel unit for the duration of the MEB. I'm pretty nervous of this whole process. I have probably read every post on this site so I don't really have any questions. I'm just keeping this updated as I had some of the questions of what happens prior to an MEB and I think this might help someone. I would however like some advice. Should I go ahead and apply for SSDI now or wait till I'm in TPU? Thanks for all the help and i'll keep this updated till the very end of the process.

 

[jeffb]

Klopin I was told to get off of . i was on it for 11 months . thinking i was recovering. get to my new command after pcs and starting VA appointments in the IDES system. At new command they give me effexor. doesnt work as good as klonopin .

 

[Warrior644]

Alright well I had an appt last Friday with my psychologist and she suggested that I either go to an inpatient program like PRRP or she will have to start the Med board process. I'm not willing to go away for 8 weeks right now due to family health reasons. I told her that I would like to start with the MEB. She talked to my Psychiatrist and that's the road that I'm going down now. I'm going to be transferred to a temporary personnel unit for the duration of the MEB. I'm pretty nervous of this whole process. I have probably read every post on this site so I don't really have any questions. I'm just keeping this updated as I had some of the questions of what happens prior to an MEB and I think this might help someone. I would however like some advice. Should I go ahead and apply for SSDI now or wait till I'm in TPU? Thanks for all the help and i'll keep this updated till the very end of the process.

From my experiences with the SSA SSDI process, please consider submitting an application as soon as feasible in order to establish an initial onset date for potential federal disability compensation especially if it's not the same date; eligibility for SSDI back payment shall apply at this point.

Indeed, resolving family health concerns are extremely important albeit please ensure that you maintain your own healthcare treatments concerns, too!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!

 

[bmp408]

I got a call from Social Security today and they said that my application for benefits has been approved and I did all the dependent stuff over the phone also. It took a little over two months from start to finish. I just did the online application and they sent the functionality reports and that is all that I did. I still have not started my MEB as I'm going through psychotherapy and bio feedback right now. Just thought I would update those interested or going through the same.

 

[bmp408]

I was told today that my psychologist will be typing up my NARSUM today. I'm officially going to go through the MEB. I will keep everyone updated. I also get my first SSDI payment on the 11th of this month. So that was official and good to go. Any advice at this point would be greatly appreciated.