What are your experiences with PTSD support groups? Would you recommend any group in particular?

SGT David Ortiz-González — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 11:59:05 -0400

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made Aug 29 at 2016 12:06 PM

SFC Craig Dalen — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 12:06:31 -0400

There are many good ones to choose from.

Response by LTC Stephen Kubiszewski made Aug 29 at 2016 12:23 PM

LTC Stephen Kubiszewski — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 12:23:59 -0400

For over two decades, a number of us in the the mil/vet community have been asking the same thing with little success. Now we as Americans, vets, and mental health providers can clearly see the need remains and many in our general population continue to ask for unbiased peer support groups for their areas.

We all need and deserve a nationwide, locally focused network of peer support groups for all those impacted by PTSD and other conditions.

With all the monies out there and the now thousands of charities existing, surely we can do actually more with less and more effectively at all levels.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 29 at 2016 8:01 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 20:01:52 -0400

Be careful what you ask for SGT David Ortiz-González, I recently spoke with a professional and was told combat Soldiers seeking help nowadays are a rarity which really befuckled me up a bit, but hey, whatever floats your boat......they told me most are pre-military aged young people and spouses with problems in the military community 9i found that very hard to believe)......I am not able to recommend any group other than the FRG, as the ones I have been around were actually functional support groups and supported and took care of the families when we were deployed/training.

Response by PO2 Kristy Williams made Aug 29 at 2016 8:35 PM

PO2 Kristy Williams — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 20:35:33 -0400

I saw a VA counselor and she was amazing. She set up a support group for us in Greenville,NC. It was nice to talk to other veterans who had been through what I had been through. We were in different stages of dealing with it. I was deep in the self destruction stage and pushing everyone as far away as possible. No, my PTSD is not combat related and honestly it's always bothered me that everyone assumes that only combat can give you PTSD, there are horrors that can happen to a young female in the military who has never had to watch out for herself and was dumb enough not to. Anyways....

I think the most important thing a veteran or active duty military member suffering from PTSD is admit there is a problem and seek help. I don't know if she still works there and for the life of me I can't remember her name. But there are good people in the VA, working hard to help us. They are just overworked.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 30 at 2016 12:03 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 00:03:07 -0400

SGT David Ortiz-González PSTD support groups I do not know about. An Alzheimer's Support group, that I 'happened' to be told of, was an immense help.

A support group of folks w/ similar problems can be helpful. As Dave Ramsey always says, "shop around", please, see how you fit in!