Faces of PTSD

Maj Kim Patterson I know all too well about how PTSD affects a person. I'm 100% disabled because of it, and I hate it. It's plagued me for all of my past 50+ years. I'm a poster child for the success I've acquired by doing what I'm supposed to do, so I don't try suicide again. Thanks for your response. It's very nice seeing you participating in RP again.

Cynthia Croft - You're welcome.

Cynthia Croft - Hopefully that will be soon. It took the VA too long to admit to PTSD, and so a lot of those vets are dead by suicide, or living on the street, or both. It would help tremendously if PTSD clinics expanded in size, or add more clinics to alleviate the wait time. Most VA's are still the same size as they were after Vietnam. I've seen my VA so packed with vets, a lot of them don't receive any treatment. I was one of those on Thursday. I waited five hours to be seen, only to be told I'd have to wait until there was an opening. So, I left and went to a civilian doctor. There have been five medical clinics at my VA since I began going in 1999. There are still only five clinics and all of them are packed with patients. If they would add two more, it would alleviate the crowded clinics. The vets have increased but the VA has remained the same size with the same amount of PA's and doctors.

Cynthia Croft - Yes ma'am. Our Vets have always been on the back burner after they did what was asked of them. Hopefully the new administration will keep its promise and use some weed and feed to eliminate all the bad employees.

I'm very happy they're doing this extensive research on PTSD. I hope it really helps our Vets, soon.

Yes Sir, you're welcome.