After a traumatic event, it’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge or have trouble sleeping. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities like go to work or spend time with people you care about. However, if it’s been longer than a few months and you still have symptoms, you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time.
The good news for Veterans is that VA is the national leader in treating PTSD.
When Army Veteran Kevin Jones, an infantryman who served four years in Iraq, began experiencing PTSD symptoms, he knew he needed help.
Reaching out for help
“PTSD can significantly impact those experiencing it, affecting every aspect of a person’s life, but it’s important to know that there is always someone out there to reach out to for help, like Atlanta VA doctors or fellow Veterans,” Jones said.
Retired Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant Joseph McGee acknowledged that for some service members and Veterans, one of the barriers to asking for help is that they don’t want others to know they’re getting treatment for mental and emotional issues.
“For those who served, there is a lot of stigma associated with PTSD treatment, since it can be perceived as a sign of weakness,” McGee said. “However, the good news is that Veterans dealing with PTSD do not have to suffer silently because treatment is available, it works and it’s within reach.”
Jones and McGee offer an important piece of advice for Veterans and service members dealing with PTSD: acknowledge the problem, find something that works and don’t stay silent.
VA offers a number of different PTSD treatment options that work and can help you regain a sense of control over your life. You and your VA health care provider can decide together which treatment is best for you—based on benefits, risks, side effects and other preferences.
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, dial 988 then press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text 838255.
It’s never too late to apply for the VA health care you’ve earned. If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who has not yet applied for their VA health care benefits, learn how to get started.
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I am trying to wrap my head around the VA and PTSD treatments. I take meds that make me feel like crap. Instead of the VA trying to help me get better I continue to stay on meds. That is why I have left the VA Mental Health program for a place in my community. I struggle to just to exist and I just want to live my life with my family getting the best of me not the worst. I continually pay out of pocket for my Mental Health care because the VA does recognize their certifications. However, they are great at what they do so disheartening to say the least. The next is the Stellate Ganglion Block procedure. I get this every year and the VA or insurance does not cover it. It works and again I pay out of pocket that I am 100% service connected for. I am frustrated and just not sure if the VA if doing enough for those with true PTSD.
My husband applied for ptsd. He was approved then called back in to interview with another gentleman, same rank as the first. He denied it and as such, he receives 90%. After speaking with his local Vet person, she told him to not fight it as they could and would deny all his benefits. He was unable to return to the job saved for him. He lived with his parents until he was 31 yrs old and laid across his bed just staring out the window. His future bride mailed him a letter/card daily. When he returned home he cancelled the wedding. I met him at the age of 31 and the only reason for our marriage was unexpected pregnancy. He was stationed in Nam in 1968 and 1969 and involved in 4 conflicts! I did not have a husband I had a child requiring constant care. To this day, he is unable to be in public. He goes through a drive thru, McDonald’s but has only gone into a ‘sit down’ restaurant very few times. I can count the times on 1 hand. I can’t invite friends into our home because of the ptsd. He is a Christian but can’t go because of the ptsd. He has agreed to attend my funeral services at the church. I DO NOT believe he will be there. And as a result the guilt will eat him alive. He is quick tempered and outraged at least 12 hours per day if not longer. He is excessively verbally abusive with me and one of our daughters and she has severe mental illness. I divorced him at one point after warning him numerous times to treat me better – he didn’t. When I told him I wanted a divorce, he fell to the floor and sobbed. I felt so sad for him but just couldn’t stay with him. Is there any way he can be get 100% for ptsd without losing everything – his 90%??? Please help him, he has been unfairly treated through the VA system and I don’t know what to do at this point. Thank you so much for any assistance you may be able to offer.
I served in the U. S. Air Force, 1967 – 1978. I served in Vietnam (mostly Danang Airbase), 11/68-11/69). My first night at Danang, there was a rocket attack. Fortunately, most of the rockets landed outside the base perimeter that night. There would be many rocket attacks throughout my time at Danang. I was a crew chief on one of five AC-47D Spooky (aka, Puff, The Magic Dragon) gunships. In addition to the maintenance and everything related to keeping the aircraft mission ready, we were also the ammo and flare handlers, making sure the aircraft always had a full load for their support missions. Roughly three months into my year, after witnessing too many aircraft crashes and fatalities, my mind went into shutdown and I felt emotionally neutered. I don’t drink alcohol, never have, I don’t smoke, never have and I don’t use drugs, never have. Many of those I worked with could drink the pain away … I could not. After I returned to the United States and spent my 30 day leave with my parents, they kept asking me what was wrong, why I was so quiet and didn’t want to be around other people, especially when I knew there would be a crowd. I just brushed it off and returned to my job, fixing aircraft. I felt better when I was working by myself. I had a hair-trigger temper that was easily triggered and often. My parents wanted me to talk to their minister but I had walked away from my church when our minister turned into an anti-war type. Many years later, after I retired from my civilian job, it took me a long time to recognize I had mental health issues still affecting my life. I had put it aside when I was working because I had to maintain a security clearance to keep my job. I had a family and had to provide for them. When I finally went to the VA for help, I was poo-pooed because, as everyone knows, Air Force personnel are never in danger in combat zones, like Vietnam. After chalking up a handful of appointments with the VA Mental Health group and not seeing any inclination to offer assistance and support, I went to the state VA Veterans office. Same routine, after a half-dozen appointments of talk, talk, talk and no suggestions to participate in any of the programs they advertised. I gave up. I have given up after 11 years as a volunteer driver at our local VA, frustrated by what I perceive as Reactive medical care instead of Proactive medical care at the VA. I have not seen a regular PCP for the past 18 months, he was either on vacation or getting ready to retire. At my appointment, I got to see whoever had a spare 15 minutes. I am 78. I started using the VA part-time in 2010 and full time in 2014. I have never seen a urologist even though I had prostrate surgery when with my civilian provider. I have not had a colonoscopy or stool sample done since starting with the VA, even though polyps were removed in 2008 under my civilian medical coverage.I have shut down and given up on what used to be my hobbies and interests. If I did not have a wife and two adult children, I could easily become a statistic that the VA uses to get more money.
Don, as a longtime VA employee, fellow veteran, and daughter/mother/ex-spouse of a veteran, I just wanted to say I am so sorry to hear this. My ex-husband has had some minor complaints with his VA care, but my father has had none and always raves over all of his care. Unfortunately, like any large businesses, I think there may be some that are much better than others.
Your comment really touched me too though because my father is also a Vietnam vet, although Army, and I really believe that he also has PTSD that he has never addressed for some of those same reasons. I would hope that if he ever does seek care for that with us, that he feels seen, heard and helped.
Please don’t give up on trying…really push for the care you deserve. I will hope that the right VA employee/provider will come along and change your mind on our care. Not that it helps, but just know that there are a lot of us who do want the best for our veterans and try to help provide that.