Patient Advocacy Program http://www.va.gov/health/patientadvocate/ PTSD therapist within the VA first requires training and license as a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, psychologist, clinical social worker, or master's level clinician as described above. Right! May want to consider changing how they are trained and accountability of their actions and lack of!!!
There is is a follow up I posted today describing somewhat of my recent experience w/ the VA. Why I have been seeking assistance, etc. Hopefully this will be posted with the web links providing video, etc. which adds a bit of reality to my description.
Thanks!
Elaine - you are right!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"This is not acceptable."
Hope other people feel the same way as you Elaine. That folks will simply forward this and others share their stories. Speak up and be heard.
DR. JAMES POLLOCK, MAJ., USAF, (RET.)
CLO at Investment Services Pollock
"OUTSTANDING ! Thank you for all you do. I would also add: 1. The actions of the VA/Fed Gov (or non-action) only makes troops WORSE when they delay fair claims, switch codes to justify BS (see my pulse article on this), or staff clinics with "providers" who do not have a clue other than a BOOK. It takes REAL , HONEST people & preferably "providers" who understand. (some of the BEST drug counselors that I have ever known, were once drug addicts themselves). 2. Get rid of "To Do" lists; it is impossible to achieve everything on the list, which then creates MORE anxiety/depression. 3. "Flashbacks" come in MANY forms; often it is simply DWELLING on the past or events of the past TOO MUCH or having rising spikes of anxiety/depression upon simply seeing sounds/sights of a traumatic period. 4. "Higher-archy of Needs" cannot be understated. When a troop or civilian (Note: About 40-50%+ of Police, OGAs, & the General Public are being treated RIGHT NOW for either 'MOOD DISORDER', 'DEPRESSION', 'ANXIETY' OR 'PTSD'.) does NOT get the baseline $$$ support in the period when they are NOT CLEARED for work, they spiral downward to the point of DEEP DEPRESSION/PTSD........ then other things obviously follow = homelessness, drug addiction, suicide, divorce, etc.... This is WHY I have pressured our nation's biggest Wounded Warrior Organizations (some even under the DOD !) to START giving ALL Wounded Warriors $$$ DIRECT SUPPORT for at LEAST 3 months upon getting the initial diagnosis; despite the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF $$$ COLLECTED TO DATE (BILLIONS NOW), they STILL do NOT do this except on BS scales of PR value. = SAD .... God bless you DAVE ANDERSON....God Bless you. JP. -END-"
This is an example, in my simple opinion, of speaking up and making the voices be heard.
http://freemilitarybenefits.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-degree-of-fortitude-it-took-and.html
Then if they get to therapy, they use EMDR which at best relives he anxiety..for awhile and has to be re-done. The next is CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) in which you learn to change the "triggers" that activate the reliving of a stressor. In order to do this you have to go back into the stress...oh great! Lastly, you go to"Exposure Therapy," here after you learn some relaxation techniques you get to relive each and every stressor over and over again till you're de-sensitized to them...oh, you went through the Holocaust, hey go back and relive it again and again and again. Many Vets come out of this therapy with the stressors increased in intensity. This is the second and much worse Evil.
Solution: Have you ever watched a home movie as a child? At the end the person rewinds it so that everything and everybody moves and talks backwards...most people laugh. Hmmmmm I'll let you think about this one.
If you believe that therapy is long, painful and expensive....you're right, others believe otherwise and their right too.
We became 'warriors' and again, as we all know, a 'warrior' fights to death. Period! This drive, some of the earned pride stemming from the accomplishment of being a Paratrooper for example, isn't of a false pride and to this day, I personally am extremely proud of my service to this Country, I'm proud to be an American coupled with being a Patriot. I'm of the mindset that if a person can not relate to these ideals and does not give our Country (and Veterans) the respect that is due, well, I have no use for that person; a.k.a. ATTITUDE PROBLEM. This brings me to a couple of points I am going to be candid about and I know of no other way to express what I think / believe w/o just saying what I mean.
I have no interest in blowing a lot of false meaning and lies as most politicians do. We all know for the most part, politicians are not strong, lack backbone which this Country was founded on. We as veterans know first hand we can not afford the luxury of double standards when governed by UCMJ nor on the battlefield. As a warrior, we have signed that blank check, to include up and to OUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What I find to be APPALLING, DISGUSTING, AGGRAVATING, UPSETTING, INSULTING, INFURIATING and many other gaps that can be filled in by lots of Veterans that are simply being spit on by the entity that should act according to the highest of standards, as required of us, has no accountability. Yes, the VA. You hear it and read about the despicable behavior demonstrated EACH AND EVERYDAY by the employee's of the VA, the leadership of the VA, the incompetent staff on the front line that are running a muck. NO, NOT EVERY EMPLOYEE, but I know from my personal experience over the years by VA staff, those that are supposed to be 'educated' licensed professionals that are supposed to be the 'warrior' with the dedication and loyalty we expect to be there for us as needed only to be treated at times with such disrespect and insult, anymore I understand the frustration so many fellow Veterans battle against (the VA first of all) to include personal issues we must overcome or at a minimum contend with daily.
Please see and forward the following if you don't mind.
http://freemilitarybenefits.blogspot.com/