What are the reasons that Service Members with PTSD, TBI, or Severely Disabled will not try new services to get help?

It is a multi-headed Demon. It is extremely frustrating and nerve racking to even try to discuss this with a civilian who "has no clue!" Get damn tired of folks wanting to throw a label on you and file you away on a shelf, supposing that once your labeled you are helped/cured. Just as bad are the idiots who think/say "you'll get over it, or just get over it, that's ancient history". VA is trying to be helpful, but I have gone thru 3 counselors/?? in 10 years- 2 were civilians. It takes great amount of time to build trust and just talking about it brings back memories that are too vivid. I have had great help with Vet Peer groups, cause we all have "seen the elephant" regardless of service. There is always that question cropping up with the VA about having guns, which makes you think that a SWAT team will raid your house one day. It is also very hard to get the VA from dumping a pound of pills in your hand and saying, come back if this doesn't work, leaving a walking zombie.

I suppose pride and not admitting they need to confide and if they do.. they get handed off like a sack of potatoes..

It'd be nice to be allowed to vote on more than one.. jus' saying because oft times it is more than one reason, Colonel....

Trust in most cases i Veterans feel uncomfortable disclosing to someone who has no clue what you went through, most counselors have never served so with them it's more mental then trauma. Trust I would say.

I believe that there are multiple reasons for it. All revolving around fear and trust. Fear of not trusting people to keep it confidential, fear of losing certain rights, fear of losing family and friends, and the list goes on. There is not just one catch all reason.

GOES hand in hand with the fact ethics is at an all time low. There can be no real help if you do not trust your providers. I am working for setting up an early intervention for families to spot the subtle trigger signs and find ways to stabilize family in the healing process. America is made up of families. Destroying families is destroying the fabric of our country. Warriors beed to feel safe and have people they trust to help them survive the complex PTSI. Prayers until more resolution is found!

Lack of information, trust, fear, and perhaps the biggest and most destructive one, pride.

First off, as a fairly new member of the RP program I was unaware of your loss sir. Condolences and respect and honor for your family's for your Father's service and sacrifice to/for our country. Also, thanks for another thoughtful question.

Joining immediately after Viet Nam I served with many Marines suffering from PTSD before it was legitimized as a real illness. Some very scary situations when you're dealing with manic behaviors in a person carrying a loaded weapon, even if they are "on your side"...so then it was the unknown; it wasn't a "sickness" until 1980. And who wants to be classified as mentally sick"?

I think it is how we are made that makes it hard to get help. For many, that training goes to the bone, it becomes a part of our altered DNA. We are taught to bottle it up, suck it up and accomplish the mission. Through the discipline of training we become conditioned to the idea that pain, fear, or emotion are signs of weakness and frailty. So what helps us face and overcome our fears; to overcome it and do more than our weaker mindset could believe was possible, becomes the wall that blocks us from seeking help, or admitting that we need help...to ourselves, or others.

Secondly, it's not like a bullet wound, or broken leg, something that you can see by examination or in a MRI, or x-ray. You're not going to get a purple heart for having a wounded mind. You're going to be questioned, your sense of worth is going to be diminished by the process of proving your need. Even if all you need is some friendly support, if you're diagnosed you could be safe to yourself and everyone else, but you will carry a stigma. You cannot legally own a firearm. You're marked as damaged goods; even if that's not true, you believe it.

Lastly, some have lost so many close friends, that while their bonds in combat are tight because of their warrior credo, fighting for the guy to their left or right; they do not commit to deep friendships...maybe don't even know what that looks like. They share their military brotherhood, but they do not allow themselves to look deep into their hearts, let alone letting anyone else in. And what is needed more than anything in these situations is connections, connections to all kinds of people, not just other current and former military, but to anybody and everybody that can help re-establish your sense of worth beyond your service; because if that's all I have, then when I don't have that what's left?

I think it is changing, and many of the programs you mentioned and platforms like RP are doing a lot of good work to change that. I look forward to the day when the attrition in our military is solely due to the intensity of battle and not the intensity of depression, fear, loss of self value and loneliness.

Martin
Semper Fi

My experience is the system plays juggler with you and is not prepared to deal with VA caused issues

It really all comes down to trust in the care system. It has failed so many of us, so many times that we are afraid to even try anymore. New "patients" see this and they begin to distrust and fear the same happening to them. Some counselors, doctors (med & psych) and medical staff sometimes don't speak behind closed doors or keep their mouths shut as well. So, there's a fear that confidentiality will be broken.