Posted on Dec 19, 2015
What are the reasons that Service Members with PTSD, TBI, or Severely Disabled will not try new services to get help?
56.1K
1.03K
276
63
63
0
What are the reasons that Service Members with PTSD, TBI, or Severely Disabled will not try new services to get help?
I have a number of questions within this post that I would like to get everyone's input on from a professional standpoint. I also have some very important information for veterans and service members that need help and want to keep it anonymous!
As you know I lost a Father-in-Law (Vietnam Veteran diagnoised with PTSD) to Suicide on Tuesday, 8 December 2015 and he was buried on 16 December 2015 in Killeen, TX with full military honors! It is importand to me and the RallyPoint Members that are working with me and Virtual World Solutions to help stop this waive of suicides due to PTSD, TBI, and many other factors affecting our service members (including MST).
Please check the survey box - need the input please!
RP Memebers there are so many new services out there today for individuals that are suffering from PTSD, TBI, and that are Severely Disabled - how do we get them to feel comfortable about any one service or methodology?
Here is a nice evening program every Sunday called: "Warrior for Life" (WFL) Group Suport. This is now a part of Victory for Veterans Foundation. We stay connected (7) days a week on SKYPE with our group members. We welcome Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, Military Family Members, and Civilians that are suffering from PTSD, TBI, MST, and other disabilities to join us on Sunday evenings.
Please connect with me first on SKYPE at: mikel.burroughs
Have a short BIO about yourself ready to go and then I'll add you to the group with a Welcoming Message. You can get to know others via text first and then join us on Sunday evenings. If you want to join the Video Conference just to observe, you can turn off video and audio and just observe until you feel comfortable with the group. All of our members are members of RallyPoint and we've been meeting now going on two (2) years now.
We have members from all over the world and United States, so come join us for this one hour of group support each week.
Here is how you can join this Sunday to just listen in if you want to or any Sunday in the future:
Warrior for Life Group Support Sunday night at 8:00 PM EST (7:00 PM CST) 6:00 PM MST & 5:00 PM PST!
COL (R) Mikel Burroughs is inviting you to a RingCentral meeting.
Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/ [login to see]
Or iPhone one-tap:
+ [login to see] ,, [login to see] #
Or Telephone:
Dial: + [login to see]
Meeting ID: [login to see]
International numbers available: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/teleconference
SGT Michael Thorin has provided some directions for loading Ring Central.
https://youtu.be/M8D_8iSNQ7k
I have a number of questions within this post that I would like to get everyone's input on from a professional standpoint. I also have some very important information for veterans and service members that need help and want to keep it anonymous!
As you know I lost a Father-in-Law (Vietnam Veteran diagnoised with PTSD) to Suicide on Tuesday, 8 December 2015 and he was buried on 16 December 2015 in Killeen, TX with full military honors! It is importand to me and the RallyPoint Members that are working with me and Virtual World Solutions to help stop this waive of suicides due to PTSD, TBI, and many other factors affecting our service members (including MST).
Please check the survey box - need the input please!
RP Memebers there are so many new services out there today for individuals that are suffering from PTSD, TBI, and that are Severely Disabled - how do we get them to feel comfortable about any one service or methodology?
Here is a nice evening program every Sunday called: "Warrior for Life" (WFL) Group Suport. This is now a part of Victory for Veterans Foundation. We stay connected (7) days a week on SKYPE with our group members. We welcome Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, Military Family Members, and Civilians that are suffering from PTSD, TBI, MST, and other disabilities to join us on Sunday evenings.
Please connect with me first on SKYPE at: mikel.burroughs
Have a short BIO about yourself ready to go and then I'll add you to the group with a Welcoming Message. You can get to know others via text first and then join us on Sunday evenings. If you want to join the Video Conference just to observe, you can turn off video and audio and just observe until you feel comfortable with the group. All of our members are members of RallyPoint and we've been meeting now going on two (2) years now.
We have members from all over the world and United States, so come join us for this one hour of group support each week.
Here is how you can join this Sunday to just listen in if you want to or any Sunday in the future:
Warrior for Life Group Support Sunday night at 8:00 PM EST (7:00 PM CST) 6:00 PM MST & 5:00 PM PST!
COL (R) Mikel Burroughs is inviting you to a RingCentral meeting.
Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/ [login to see]
Or iPhone one-tap:
+ [login to see] ,, [login to see] #
Or Telephone:
Dial: + [login to see]
Meeting ID: [login to see]
International numbers available: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/teleconference
SGT Michael Thorin has provided some directions for loading Ring Central.
https://youtu.be/M8D_8iSNQ7k
PTSD
TBI
Victory for Veterans (VFV)
Support
Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 98
4
4
0
Over the years I have been lied to, misled and put on a waiting list so many times that you get to the point where you can't trust anyone.
(4)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SrA Marlin Taylor I completely understand - that seems to be a norm amoung veterans - thank you for your feedback. I'm trying to make a difference and provide some additiional support through our program that isn't tied to the VA. Feel free to reach out anytime for more information!
(2)
(0)
4
4
0
4
4
0
3
3
0
It’s hard to put your trust in a person or a system that may or may not let you down. We are not trained to be sick, hurt, or tired. We are trained to complete our next mission and then the next so on and so on. We are not training to quit! While in service we don’t have the luxury to call in sick or go to the medical services for every sneeze or cough or headache or fever, especially in the combat zone. We suck it up and continue the mission.
When we get home and ETS or retire we often do not have the “proof” of our wounds, scars, TBI, PTSD, explosions under your vehicle or mortars or artillery landing danger close......and why? Because we continue our mission and honorably serve our country and take pride in our time in service.
I thank you for your service, every veteran and current service member.
When we get home and ETS or retire we often do not have the “proof” of our wounds, scars, TBI, PTSD, explosions under your vehicle or mortars or artillery landing danger close......and why? Because we continue our mission and honorably serve our country and take pride in our time in service.
I thank you for your service, every veteran and current service member.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
Frankly - if you haven't been there you won't understand. I had an unnessary surgery done on my right forearm where the MD afterwards made the mention that the procedure worked on 97% of elderly people.
He completely ignored the fact they my injury was not an elderly person's aging injury but a wound to my right forearm that happened 35 years ago.
Pretty sure the system ran me into and out of the surgeon's hand without reading the background on why I had no feeling in my right pinkie and right ring finger.
Tricare paid for it all, but sheez.
He completely ignored the fact they my injury was not an elderly person's aging injury but a wound to my right forearm that happened 35 years ago.
Pretty sure the system ran me into and out of the surgeon's hand without reading the background on why I had no feeling in my right pinkie and right ring finger.
Tricare paid for it all, but sheez.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
When worked with the Fleet & Family Support Center, I saw it as stigma. Members didn't want the negative stigma they thought would be given to them or didn't want it to get back to their commands it work places that they were receiving assistance/help
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Stigma. There are too many stigmas when it comes to getting help. There are stigmas attached to new techniques. There are stigmas attached to asking for help. There are stigmas attached to having a mental health condition (whether genetic or caused by outside stimulus). Until our society can fully accept that mental health is as important (if not more important) than physical health, getting people help is going to continue to be an uphill battle. The best thing we can do is reach out and offer assistance to those in need.
(3)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
In some groups like "Warrior for Life" there is no judgment, right or wrong answer, and there is no stigma attached. Just trust, friendship, and support PO3 Steven Sherrill What more can you ask for?
(2)
(0)
PO3 Steven Sherrill
COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Nothing, that is what society as a whole needs; but sadly has in short supply.
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
Suicide, sadly has been something I've attempted many times. Not proud or anything but my mental state with the ptsd and things in my mind I'm dealing with our out of control at times.
Reaching out to new help is scary. I have had the same doctor since 2011 and have feared seeing or doing something new. But I also don't want to sit in a room full of interns so they can look at me funny and try to determine what's going on in my head.
It's just hard.
Reaching out to new help is scary. I have had the same doctor since 2011 and have feared seeing or doing something new. But I also don't want to sit in a room full of interns so they can look at me funny and try to determine what's going on in my head.
It's just hard.
(3)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SPC Michael Frugoli Just coming out and telling us about it was a huge step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. You can always try with us to see how it goes one time Warrior for Life. You can email me and I'll respond - we can crawl, then walk, and then try to run later. Email: [login to see]
(2)
(0)
SPC Michael Frugoli
COL Mikel J. Burroughs - biggest struggle right now is this medication and recently got out of the hospital after a two-week stay at the VA and my problem is with a lot of the medication yeah some of it helps but then sometimes the side effects kind of out way what the original intended use Swiss for so that there are times where I don't take it and therapy is helpful I'm willing to take any measure to help myself be a functioning member of society and be able to be a functioning father for my children who see my struggle.
(2)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SPC Michael Frugoli - Completely understand - w'eve got a gentlemen that visits our group and a Marine Female that have worked wonders with naturals oils and supplements to ease the symptoms of PTSD and those feelings. They have been able to get themselves off all medications through those means, but its not for everyone. Again, you're always welcome to listen in - when you're ready Michael! Take care of yourself and thansk for opening up here on RP.
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
First, there is that issue of confidentiality, no matter how careful you are you know that sooner or later someone is going to see you at that shrinks and then the gossip will start, and I suspect we all have seen at least one career that was put into the crap-can because of someone saw something and just had to talk.
But next...it can be hard to talk with someone about something you have normalized. And that first talk you have with someone is almost never intentional, you just say something that you take for granted as being normal while that other person gives you the 'WTF' look.
And last is it damages credibility, and this is something in which anyone who has any toxic relation in their personal or professional life knows that they need to avoid, for instance 5 years ago my landlord knew I was seeing a shrink, and when I complained about a leaking natural gas line and demonstrated to him with a bottle of soapy water that yes it was indeed leaking enough gas to make bubbles, he still was able to dismiss it because he had 'reasonable doubts about my sanity'
And just to give you an idea how much he trusted those doubts rather than the evidence of his own eyes, he would smoke in the area. (2 years later they had to replace all of the pipes) because as he said 'there is no way a crazy person could be right'
But next...it can be hard to talk with someone about something you have normalized. And that first talk you have with someone is almost never intentional, you just say something that you take for granted as being normal while that other person gives you the 'WTF' look.
And last is it damages credibility, and this is something in which anyone who has any toxic relation in their personal or professional life knows that they need to avoid, for instance 5 years ago my landlord knew I was seeing a shrink, and when I complained about a leaking natural gas line and demonstrated to him with a bottle of soapy water that yes it was indeed leaking enough gas to make bubbles, he still was able to dismiss it because he had 'reasonable doubts about my sanity'
And just to give you an idea how much he trusted those doubts rather than the evidence of his own eyes, he would smoke in the area. (2 years later they had to replace all of the pipes) because as he said 'there is no way a crazy person could be right'
(3)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and personal feelings AA Joseph Moody I've found that to be a very helpful method of sharing with others that experience the same issues.
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
I tagged need more information because more help is not available. The VA's classes and meetings are held during the week while I am working, I still am working a normal job because I have bills to pay and I can work so I do. The Vet centers locally Vietnam Veterans, Vet Center and the rest who have night time and weekend classes have standards that I do not meet, I was not in boots on the ground COMBAT, or I am not a holder of the Purple Heart, One group only has Army vets. Another group only works with suicidal vets. Sometimes its not that a Vet does not want help, it may be that they cannot find help.
(3)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM Please feel free to reach to me Frederick here on RP through a message, on SKYPE at: mikel.burroughs (or) personally at: [login to see] I will respond. Thanks
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google 