What advice do you have for seeking help for PTSD late in life?

SGT Lewis Ray Rains — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:31:05 -0400

I'm not sure how to correctly ask this question concerning PTSD. Up first, I am a Vietnam ETA Veteran, ( Non Combat ), I grew up an Army Military Brat! As usual, my family move around a LOT! My Mother & Stepfather raised me until I was 17 years old, when I met my Biological Father. My Mother & Stepfather were not active Alcoholic's all my life. When I met my Biological Father, I went to live with him & his Family. He was a newly Commissioned 1st Lt. He served in the Army, tail end if WWII, Korea, Discharged from the Army,joins the Air Force untill he received his Commission to 1st Lt. In the Army. I found out that my Stepmother was not asked about, but Told, that I was coming to live with them! Also I found out that there marriage was in real trouble! All of that plus a long list of other things, I didn't feel like I belonged there either!! I didn't want to go back to my Mother & Stepfather's, due to the aforementioned Alcohol problems. So, I got permission from my Mother to drop out of High School & join the Army. That was Feb.1965. Served 3 years active Duty, Non Combat, then 3 years inactive Reserve. Shortly after I was separated , Feb. 1968.,:I had a mental break down! Was in. VA hospital for approximately a year. I was interviewed be a Young Woman at the Denver VA for PTSD. She got very defensive when I asked her if she had any Military Background. She answered NO! The interview went down the crapper from that point!! I learned that I did indeed suffer from PTSD. BUT, NOT FROM COMBAT!!!!
NOW, my real question, dies anyone have any suggestions as to any follow up with this???? Another additional issue, I'm coming up fast on my 73 Rd Birthday.
Should I just "suck it up" and continue to " fight this problem??? PLEASE, Serious Replies Only
THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Nov 3 at 2019 1:44 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:44:38 -0500

You can get PTSD from virtually anything that your mind views as a traumatic event. If you are having problems with PTSD then it can't hurt to seek treatment for it. I know someone who grew up in a hoarder house and now she has anxiety when she smells scents that remind her of the house. She also has nightmares from having to go down to the basement to wash clothes. You don't have to be in combat to get PTSD.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2019 7:41 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 07:41:30 -0500

Brother, PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder and it can happen after a deeply threatening or scary event or sequence of events. Even if you WEREN'T directly involved, the shock of what happened can be so great that you have a hard time living a normal life. People with PTSD can have insomnia, flashbacks, low self-esteem, and a lot of painful and unpleasant emotions. It is treatable and 'one size' does not fit all.
Many well-intending who profess to know in fact have no clue but what comes from a textbook. Many have NO military background but do have life experiences and professional experiences that they have developed being good listeners FIRST and know the questions to ask second.
Your age proves you have survival instincts and most importantly you are NOT finished. You are not a defective product but can head the wrong way on a one-way street. PTSD does not mean you are broken, it just means you have been put to the test and didn't fall apart.
Therapy has three main goals: 1. Improve your symptoms. 2. Teach you skills to deal with it. 3. Restore your self-esteem. So my suggestion, go back to the VA and force them to show you how to live, that is what they are there for. They have vastly improved with their methods this past five or so years and also seek outside avenues...(I have a grandson with severe PTSD who is involved in a men's church group and has video sessions weekly). He has made tremendous progress this last year.
So get your behind back to getting realigned. You are better off than many as you know you need help.

Response by SGT Lewis Ray Rains made Nov 3 at 2019 7:43 AM

SGT Lewis Ray Rains — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 07:43:34 -0500

Thank You for Your honest, sincere, thoughts!

Response by 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel made Nov 3 at 2019 9:17 AM

1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 09:17:10 -0500

Whether you explore these issues or “suck it up” is really your decision. My siblings and my PTSD was induced by our very dysfunctional family system growing up. The fact that I didn’t learn about most of this until after I buried our father made my response to what I didn’t know a different kind of response than the effects of my own trauma. My brother never dealt with the issues. He drank and smoked and tried to stuff all of his PTSD and he died an early death from cancer and stress...and I am convinced that his cancer was in response to his own stress. My other sibling and I both took the proactive approach to dealing with this stuff even thought I didn’t learn all of the crap till in my late 50’s.

What is your emotional intelligence? How do you characteristically deal with stress: do you “stuff” it down and move on or do you engage it immediately or after a short cooling off period? If you have been stuffing, this could be really traumatic.\

What is your relationship with God? As a Christian I have the ultimate reason as to why I have this experience in life and how I deal with it. If you know that you are loved not for your own sake but for the sake of Jesus you may be able to just put this stuff away along with all of the sin that has affected your whole life. Do you emotionally “deal” with trauma? How? Your relationship with God will also determine the “why me?”answer. Do you know that Go loves you beyond your comprehension? If not, explore it. Without my faith, formed all of my life, I would be dead by now. Even with my faith, I was on a destructive road with who I chose as a wife, and in retrospect how she regarded me, which ironically was like that of my father. Helping my son through this is ongoing.

I now this is a long and rambling answer, or my way of saying “tell me more” and if I can be of service to you in sorting this stuff through in your life, please feel free to contact me off this board and we can talk. Regardless, you are in my prayers and will be so for as long as you are suffering.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 3 at 2019 11:46 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 11:46:13 -0500

If you have a problem go get it treated. Sounds like you are ready for a positive change and to accept the treatment. I think that is a huge determinant in its success. If you had a problem with your kidney, would you go to a doctor for help? No different with PTSD. Go get yourself some help and improve your life.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2019 11:53 AM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 11:53:20 -0500

Ask for a referral to the National Center for PTSD. Ask for a referral to the nearest PRRC.Do not hide in your apartment, get out meet others suffering from similar issues, learn there are others that feel somewhat as you do. Learn from them as they learn from you. The key is the strength of the group and what you take from it.

Response by SGT Lewis Ray Rains made Nov 3 at 2019 2:33 PM

SGT Lewis Ray Rains — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 14:33:09 -0500

My biggest problem here is asimple fact! Although I Do understand, I have, in the past, been kind of " shut down" by some that seem to think that I am not in the same "category" as the Combat Veterans, which, to an extent, I'm not! I, up front, admit, I AM NOT A COMBAT VETERAN! I AM A "VIETNAM ERA" VETERAN! I do feel that the actual "COMBAT VETERAN'S" SHOULD HAVE PRIORITY! BUT, NON COMBAT VETERAN'S SWORE THE SAME OATH AS COMBAT VETERAN'S! I PERSONALLY, MISSED 3 DIFFERENT CHANCES OF BEING SENT TO VIETNAM DURING ME 3 YEARS ACTIVE SERVICE. NOT to dismiss any Military Branches & there Service, but I kind of feel the same when the Marines seem to get All the "credit" for there Combat Service & of the other Branches are ignored!!
We ALL Served!
I am just confused by all of the SEPARATION! WE ALL SERVED, regardless of what Branch, Combat, Disability Status, ETC.
WHY CAN'T WE ALL RECEIVE OUR RECOGNITION??!!!
THIS HAS BEEN MY PAST EXPERIENCES IN DEALING WITH MEMBERS OF THE DIFFERENT, BRANCHES, VA REPS., MILITARY ORGANIZATION'S, ETC.
YES, I SERVED PROUDLY & WOULD DO IT AGAIN. I'VE BEEN MILITARY, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, ALL MY LIFE, & WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF IT!!
THANKS FOR ALL FIR YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, ADVICE, AND CONCERN.

Response by SGT David Petree made Nov 3 at 2019 3:54 PM

SGT David Petree — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 15:54:07 -0500

if you are having a bad day call [login to see] press 1 that gets you the ( veterans crisis line ) they will talk to you, 24 /7

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2019 4:27 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 16:27:38 -0500

I'm not sure that I can diagnose PTSD from your story - that takes a mental health professional.
Start there. Get diagnosed.
Where you go next depends on how intrusive this is to your life. Maybe it will take coming to terms with the past. Maybe it will take finding tools to deal with situations currently. Maybe you need to make peace with people in your life.

Speaking for myself, it is a journey, not a magic wand. Be prepared for setbacks along the way, to go with the occasional victory.
Good luck finding your way.

Response by SGT Lewis Ray Rains made Nov 3 at 2019 4:32 PM

SGT Lewis Ray Rains — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 16:32:30 -0500

I could go into much more detail with my history but I believe what I have already posted has garnered me a whole lot of support as well as very good advice continuing to my future. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!

Response by PO2 Michael Martin made Nov 4 at 2019 12:51 PM

PO2 Michael Martin — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 12:51:09 -0500

I seeked out help from advise from a friend. I went to the VA. I checked into a 5150 for evaluation. 21 days later I was in my first program. I was in a total of 3 programs. The people I was with were all ages, a lot of older people bur the good thing about that is, the young people looked for mentoring from the older ones. I worked out very well. So my advise to you. You took the big step by admitting you have a problem, now go get some help. I suggest the VA. These are live in programs. Very structured and you have to apply yourself if you want to get anything out of it. You have doctors, therapists, counselors, nurses, pharmacy, everything you need to succeed. Now, knowing this, it's up to you but I have to tell you.......I'm living proof it works, best thing I ever did for myself and family .
Good Look my brother

Response by PV2 James Pittman made Dec 4 at 2019 9:10 PM

PV2 James Pittman — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 21:10:16 -0500

Mr. Rains, you can go to any Vet Center for help with PTSD of any kind. Every county has one.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Dec 16 at 2019 2:16 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:16:10 -0500

Better late than never. SGT Lewis Ray Rains

Response by SFC Daniel Jarvis made Jan 12 at 2020 12:25 PM

SFC Daniel Jarvis — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 12:25:43 -0500

Where do you live? There’s a new treatment for PTSD called the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol. Five hours and no medication at it will shut off the fight or flight response. Eliminating PTSD symptoms, triggers and negative emotions associated with traumatic memories.