Don't know Gary at Togus, DAV, but they're a smokin' operation! Lots of good NSO's a all the organizations at Togus as well.

Good place to have yer claim adjudicated; and quick, too.

quote:

Originally posted by mainedawg:
When you folks were at Togas, Maine, did you run into a guy by the name of Gary Burns in the DAV office. He helped me with my claim more than he will ever know.

Is that Gary Burns from Idaho and was he in the 173rd? Thanks

I'm not shure. He was living in Augusta, Maine when I met him. He went on to be the Head of DAV in Washington, DC.

He was OK for a Democrat.

He stepped on a mine in Viet Nam
Don't mind my spelling it is late and still no sleep for as few days.

Hi, I'm very interested in how to live with PTSD.

Any new ways of thinking about it or how to deal with it?

Thanks,
Cindy

Your best bet right now is to e-mail Dave Barker or oldAFcop. I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, but I think you should talk to them first.

If no help, e-mail me and we can talk.

Hi everyone; I found my way to this new forum from messages left by Dave. Dave, Thanks! As for living with PTSD, I did not know what it was and/or that I had it until after 9-11! For thirty years after being discharged from the Army ! I was told that I had chronic, mild to severe PTSD! I have been in treatment since then. I have taken part in two wonderful groups, coping skills and self management of symptoms. Plus I see my mental health DR. and take my medications. I went from being at the bottom of the pit with PTSD, not caring if I lived or died, to now a functional human being. PTSD is an unseen mental disorder and can be very disabling! I am thankful that I went to the VA here in Seattle and got mental help and filed a claim and got it approved 70% PTSD &30% unable to work. Please people if you think that you and/or a loved one has PTSD get mental health help STAT do not wait for years. Oh by the way, I was not told that I had PTSD and/or that there was help until after 911! Sally

Sally, I am so glad you went for help. I was told for years that I had PTSD, and I told them where to go and there was no such thing.

5 years of councelling now I am a funtioning memeber of society. Well, some what.

I don't drink and don't fight any more.

The Vet Center had a very good counceller here and made a change in my life.

Never look at my spelling, Please.

I like the new look! It has a good feel to it too!

Congrats AFcop, you are a great Mod for this, as is Dave, you both are good at this and I know this site will continue to help people.

One question:

Will the other site still be around?

What about threads that have lots of good stories and stuff on them?

Thanks.

You'll find everything archived just as it was posted. The main thread can be found right here.

GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

This looks like a good new home and I see a lot of new faces I hope will hang out here and become part of our forumily.

WELCOME HOME!!!

Hello Brothers and Sisters

I have been living with PTSD for 36 yrs.. The first couple of years after I returned to the 'World' was hell. The first 9 months I had the same nightmare every night and would wake up with a scream and sweating. However, being young and resilient, I 'sraightened' myself out. The recurrent nightmares stopped(but nightmares continue to this day). Got a steady job and worked my way up to supervisor. Went to college (no degree) and started my own business. Had a nice home in the suburbs, wife and two children, new car in the driveway, and a swimming pool in the back yard. All this at 27 yrs old! With all this, and being an over-achiever, I thought I had it all.

I started to feel something wasn't right. My wife told me I was never happy and had a 'mean' look, never smiled. Friends said I had a kind of 'attitude' they couldn't understand. In '78 I was advised by many to go to the VA because a lot of Nam Vets were having 'difficulties'. I would not accept this inference that I was having difficulty funtioning.
My reaction to this?: No way!! I was a Crew Chief of an armoured track vehicle(M-578) in Nam, was discharged Honorably, and had worked very hard for what I had achieved. Mental problem?...."Say that again and I'll kick your a**"...

Anyway, after about another year of constantly fighting with my wife, we went to the VA for marriage counseling, encouraged by many who said the VA was there for us Vets. This was the beginning of the end. After a few visits to the VA, (marriage counseling doesn't work) the chief psychiatrist there pissed me off so bad I swore I would never have anything to do with the VA again. Shortly after, my wife took our daughter, and left me and my son(12 yrs old). I lost my home and business and became homeless. My son suffered....

To survive, I went into "warrior mode". I pumped iron and trained every day at a friends garage, and at night would go to bars looking for "action"(fights, women, drugs). The '80's was the worst decade of my life. This('80's) decade started started with divorce,loss of home and livelihood; and ended with a major heart attack. It was then('88) that I was thrust back into the VA for my health care; and psycho-therapy('90) that continues to this day. But that's another story.............

Flash, the "Surviver"

Thanks for stopping by Flash, we'll be looking for ya.

Welcome home.

quote:

Originally posted by OldAFcop:
Thanks for stopping by Flash, we'll be looking for ya.

Welcome home.

You're welcome Bro and thank you. Good to be here.

Hello again to all on this forum. I try to relate my PTSD experience in a basic concept with many, many details relating to PTSD left out and therefore open to discusion..

Correction:
as reads; Flash, the "Surviver"

Should read; Flash, a "Surviver"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Flash69,

Hi group
I got my first diagnosis of PTSD in 1990
by a private psychiatrist.
My life and I was falling apart and I had
2 young children to take care of.
When I heard the doctor tell me I had PTSD,
I said I can't have PTSD like a combat veteran.
Even though I was a peacetime veteran, I sure
did have a combative marriage in the Army
and my recruiter used me sexually and I got drunk and woke up with a guy from my platoon
having sex with me. He got me pregnant.
I got out of the Army and denied being pregnant
to myself.

When the baby started kicking, I tried to make myself abort. I don't remember having the baby.
I'd cut off from parts of myself really bad.

Anyway, 25 years later and following my daughter's rape trial and me being homicidal and suicidal, I finally shut down completely.
My past had caught up to me.

I'm trying to learn to live with PTSD and the
nightmares and the pain and the depression.
I went to VA expecting them to be experts
in PTSD and I hoped they could cure me.
I had so much hope! More than I had in a long time. My VA counselor decided I was molested
at 5 and I was throwing myself down stairs and
that I'm a headbanger. (When I requested my
progress reports from VA, I felt sick reading
that therapist's crap.)
I don't go to VA anymore.
But, I'd still carry a little hope in me
or maybe it's wishful thinking that I can live with myself again.

Cindy give them another chance but get another therapist and tell them what you told us just now. Go to A service officer and let them help you file a claim to develop your case and keep working with them to get the proper care. There are good counselors and you just have to fight to get the right help. Unfortunately you got the wrong person. Confront them about the errors in your record. God Bless.

Cindy; Go back to the VA and ask for mental health and tell them what you told us! I do not what state you live in but file a claim with a good veteran service organization. I felt the same way that you did about the VA but you need the help. PTSD is something that does not go away!! Also people remember that you are not alone. Sally

Hello everyone,

Cindy, In my opinion, you need to get a VSO and go to the VA for PTSD counseling. In my last post, I stated some bad things about the VA. But that happened to me 24 yrs ago!

Now I am getting very good treatment at the VA where I go....Respectfully, Flash

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Flash69,

quote:

Originally posted by mainedawg:
When you folks were at Togas, Maine, did you run into a guy by the name of Gary Burns in the DAV office. He helped me with my claim more than he will ever know.

Sure did, he was my claims officer, and a good one at that...it will take alot to fill his boots 'cause he went the extra mile for you. He goes in once in awhile from what I understand, but is virtually retired now.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tower_Flower,

quote:

Originally posted by OldAFcop:
Don't know Gary at Togus, DAV, but they're a smokin' operation! Lots of good NSO's a all the organizations at Togus as well.

Good place to have yer claim adjudicated; and quick, too.

Granted, and we in Maine have the first VA in the United States. It is a shame how the funds just trickle down (up) to Togus. They work with "one hand tied behind their backs" so to speak, and our hospital has been turned more into a big clinic.... Shame, shame on the Region. We need to get some incentitive to get more good doctors into Togus. People work hard there to provide a good service, but are retiring soon.

It is hard for alot of people throughout Maine to get to Togus, and now Boston is trying to rip off their patients along with the funding!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tower_Flower,